Uhh... hi. It has certainly been a while and a lot has happened since I last posted a chapter. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone still following this fic and those of you that commented during it's unplanned hiatus. You all are so sweet and wonderful and I appreciate each and every one of you! I took some time to re-evaluate my original plan for this story and decided to make a few changes to my original plan and I'm feeling much more confident about where this is going now. I'm hoping to get some more progress made in the next coming weeks but for now I managed to finish another chapter to help hold you over. I really don't want to leave this thing incomplete so I will do my best to finish it! Thank you so much for reading and commenting!

…~-~...

Izaya woke the next morning with his limbs tangled in Shizuo's, their faces nearly touching.

Light was filtering in through the window, the cheap blinds not doing much against the morning sun in an east-facing window. Normally this would be annoying, but right now Izaya couldn't find a reason to care.

His arm was positioned in a way that left his hand over Shizuo's head, giving him perfect access to play with the ends of blond hair sticking straight up on Shizuo's head.

Yesterday had been yet another day filled with emotional highs and lows, way more than Izaya had been prepared for while at the same time ending with everything he'd ever wanted. He could still feel that euphoria that had come over him when Shizuo touched him. Thinking about the way Shizuo's inexperienced hands explored his body excited him and sent a light shiver down his spine. Every time he thought about the events of the previous night the nagging urge to run away and end it was lessened.

Maybe I really could live in this city again… maybe I don't have to leave…

Maybe…

Izaya turned his focus to the man with whom he was currently entangled. He acknowledged the space between their faces and decided it didn't belong there, carefully closing that gap to lightly press their lips together. Shizuo's grip tightened around him as he stirred and Izaya returned the embrace, lightly running his fingers through blond hair.

"Mmmph-'zaya?" Shizuo grumbled out while Izaya continued his fervent kissing.

"Mm?" He hummed back lightly in response.

Shizuo placed a hand on Izaya's cheek, lightly pushing him back to look at him. "G'morning I guess?" He said, grimacing at the light hitting his face.

Izaya smiled, lightly tracing the tips of his fingers down the back of Shizuo's neck. They stayed that way for a while, silently exploring each other with light touches. Izaya considered at that moment that touching like this was likely something they both needed for a long time. It was incredible how humans craved touch to such an extent. It was painfully obvious that neither of them had that craving fulfilled in a long time.

"So what's the plan for today?" Shizuo asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Honestly, I'm kind of good with this for today," Izaya replied, shifting to stretch his arms over his head. He tested his wrist finding it felt better than he'd expected it to considering it was only the other day he'd reinjured it punching the wall. That or he was just getting used to being in pain all the time over the past few months which was a concerning thought.

Taking a moment Izaya considered the options for today. He wasn't usually the type to stay in bed all day resting, even pushing himself to walk sooner than the doctors had recommended after Shizuo essentially destroyed his body. But today? Maybe it was what they did last night but today felt like a good day to take it easy.

Spending the day naked in the bed of the man he loved with said man also being naked? It was a very tempting offer.

Izaya rolled over to lay on his stomach and rested his head on crossed arms with a long sigh only half realizing he was still naked and Shizuo could see every inch of his skin in the morning light. He didn't really care this time though. Everything was out now and he didn't want to hide himself anymore. Not from Shizuo at least.

…~-~...

Shizuo couldn't help but stare as Izaya shifted, stretching and rolling onto his stomach. His gaze wandered up and down Izaya's lithe form, taking notice of each scar that stood out against his otherwise smooth skin. The ones on his back were the most noticeable but there were others. He couldn't be sure if all of them were from Jiro. It was entirely possible some were from himself or other fights Izaya had been in. One on his side caught his attention. It was small but looked like it had been deep. He remembered that one. He recalled the dagger sticking out of Izaya's side while his arms hung useless in front of him. Thinking back he wasn't even sure how Izaya was still standing at that point. He really was extremely resilient. Shizuo himself has quite the tolerance for pain, but he remembered what it felt like to break bones when he was younger. But even so, he'd broken a lot of bones over time. Izaya's arms, and probably ribs were all broken at once along with a badly dislocated shoulder and a stab wound… and he was still standing.

Fingers brushed over that particular scar. He couldn't be sure the origin of the others, but he knew he was at least partially responsible for this one. Shizuo ran his fingers along the other scars next. The ones he had seen video of when they were inflicted. He remembered the sound of Izaya screaming with each cut as he traced around each scar, feeling the difference in texture of the scars compared to his skin.

Izaya let out a long breath and his shoulders sank slightly. It was only then he'd realized Izaya was holding tension in his upper back while he was transfixed on the scars. He was definitely self-conscious about them, Shizuo could tell that much. But he wasn't making an effort to hide it from him anymore which made Shizuo relieved.

Shizuo flattened his hand and began lightly running it up and down the length of Izaya's back. He could feel more tension leave Izaya's shoulders as he continued. A light hum of approval came from Izaya prompting him to continue.

Shifting onto his knees, Shizuo used both hands now, applying more pressure in small, circular motions with his thumbs, starting near the back of his neck and slowly working his way down. A low groan escaped Izaya's lips as he began, rubbing away any traces of tension Izaya still held in his muscles. Shizuo paid attention to where izaya responded the most, trying his best to do something that felt good to this part of his body that had seen too much pain.

…~_~...

Izaya felt Shizuo's fingers lightly skim over one particular area near his side. He knew what Shizuo was looking at. That would be where Varona stabbed him. Shizuo must have remembered that one to go for it first. Izaya tensed slightly, wondering what was going through Shizuo's mind but at the same time being afraid to call attention to it.

After a few moments that hand began moving up and down in a soothing motion and Izaya no longer cared what the other was thinking. Instead he just decided to enjoy the way Shizuo's hands made him feel. A hum escaped as he exhaled a deep breath, letting himself relax a bit more. He could get used to this feeling.

Until it got better. Shizuo quickly changed position and for a moment Izaya thought it was over and Shizuo was going to get up out of bed. Instead both hands came back, applying firm and even pressure on tired muscles and Izaya let out a groan. Shizuo's hands worked their way down his spine, kneading the tension away that he didn't even know he was holding.

"Fuck…" he whispered, which Shizuo seemed to take as encouragement. Every area that was even a little tight Shizuo found and worked on the muscles there. Izaya didn't bother trying to stifle his moans and let them out to show his approval. He probably couldn't have held them back if he'd wanted.

Those hands began to wander out more, now rubbing his upper arms, over to his shoulders and the back of his neck before trailing back down to his lower back and rubbing circles at the base of his spine.

He didn't stop there either. Shizuo continued further, past his glutes and down the back of his legs. Izaya felt like one with the mattress as Shizuo chased away tension everywhere in his body. His eyes had been closed for a while now he realized, feeling like he could easily drift back to sleep…

…

Izaya opened his eyes and quickly realized Shizuo was gone. Lifting himself from the bed a blanket slipped off of his shoulders as well. Izaya looked around for a moment until he realized he must have fallen asleep during the massage. Shizuo must have covered him back up before leaving too, Izaya noted.

Pulling himself away from the bed was quite difficult, but eventually he managed to stand up and get dressed in shorts and a hoodie. He shuffled out of the bedroom and headed into the bathroom before going to find where Shizuo went. It didn't take long to find him standing out on the balcony, smoking a cigarette.

Izaya sat on the couch and watched him through the door paying extra attention to the way the cigarette rested between his fingers and the way his lips wrapped around the end every time he brought it up to his mouth.

Great, now I'm just sitting here wishing I was a cigarette… What are you doing to me, Shizuo?

A moment later Shizuo's gaze caught his own and he seemed to snap out of a trance. He stubbed out his cigarette before coming back inside with a light smile that made Izaya's chest flutter.

"Sorry for leaving you there," he said, closing the door behind him, "how are you feeling?"

"Divine," Izaya replied, a smile forming on his own face as well. "Thank you for that."

"I'm just glad you liked it. I didn't hurt you at any point, did I?"

Always so afraid of hurting people, aren't you?

"No, it was perfect. Honestly," Izaya replied, "It's uhh… been a very long time since anyone has done that for me… or I guess at all really to that extent. It was nice."

Shizuo closed the distance between them, cupping Izaya's face in his hands and placing a soft kiss on his lips. Izaya's eyes fluttered closed as he leaned into the kiss.

Shizuo's hands found their way down to Izaya's hips, pulling him closer while Izaya's arms wrapped around Shizuo's shoulders.

They were silent for a moment after breaking the kiss. Their eyes met and Izaya couldn't tear his gaze away if he wanted. Everything felt different now. They'd crossed yet another line last night and Izaya couldn't stop replaying it in his head. He could feel excitement building in his chest–it was almost the same type of feeling he felt every time something exciting was beginning in the city. That excitement and anticipation he felt when plans and people converged in ways he never expected. This was uncharted territory and every inch of him felt so alive. He'd always felt the thrill of adrenaline when encountering Shizuo out in the city but something about the way Shizuo touched him now sent his brain into a frenzy. He'd had a taste of what being with Shizuo could be like and he craved so much more.

Izaya let out a small laugh as he finally broke eye contact to press his lips to Shizuo's neck, just below his jaw. He could feel Shizuo's grip on his hips tighten ever so slightly as he continued, nipping at Shizuo's neck between giggles.

"What's so funny?" He asked, trying to lean away to look at Izaya's face.

Izaya responded by pressing his body even closer, burying his face into Shizuo's neck before dragging his tongue over Shizuo's pulse. He could feel Shizuo shiver in response.

"Damn it, flea," he whispered, "what's gotten into you?"

"Don't know, don't care," Izaya replied, "but I like it."

"Yeah, me too," he said shyly, "but I also have no idea what I'm doing."

"You just do what feels right," Izaya replied with a shrug.

"If you say so," Shizuo grinned. Before Izaya could respond, Shizuo sealed their lips together again but with a bit more force than before. Izaya stumbled back a bit which Shizuo took full advantage of, guiding him backwards towards the couch. Izaya held on, his arms still wrapped around Shizuo's shoulders as he fell backwards. Shizuo guided their fall so that he ended up hovering over him on the couch, his knee between Izaya's legs and arms resting on either side of his head.

Shizuo's hand found his hair, gripping it to tilt his head up so he could trail his lips down Izaya's jaw. Izaya let out a moan, tightening his hold on Shizuo to try and keep him there. Shizuo nipped lightly at the side of his neck causing Izaya to immediately writhe under him, hips shifting to rub himself against the leg between his own, already feeling starved for contact. It was almost comical how fast Shizuo turned him into a moaning mess, immediately hard and desperate.

But Shizuo seemed determined to tease him first. With slow, yet confident movements–much more confident than last night, Izaya noted–Shizuo slid a hand up underneath Izaya's shirt, his fingertips grazing over his skin and building anticipation. When that hand lightly grazed across a nipple Izaya shuddered, letting out a small gasp at the sensation. Taking the invitation Shizuo traced over the same spot with his thumb, simultaneously sinking his teeth lightly into the side of Izaya's neck. He quickly buried his hands into Shizuo's hair, gripping tight as he cried out. Every inch of him was suddenly hypersensitive to Shizuo's touch and he wanted nothing more than to let Shizuo do whatever he wanted to him. Shizuo's hand slid down to the waistband of the shorts he was wearing, lightly tracing the edge before sliding down his hip and to his thigh.

Izaya whined when his erection was ignored but Shizuo was clearly enjoying watching him struggle. That hand found its way to his inner thigh, slowly sliding up to where he wanted and Izaya bucked his hips up begging for the touch. When Shizuo pulled back once again Izaya laughed.

"Fucking hell, Shizuo," he said, smacking Shizuo in the head.

"Sorry," he replied playfully against Izaya's neck, "I can stop if you want,"

"If you stop now I might actually kill you," he replied breathlessly.

Shizuo pulled back, eyes looking him up and down. There was a hungry look in his eyes that only excited Izaya more.

Might as well put on a show, Izaya thought, slowly lifting his hoodie over his head and tossing it to the side. Shizuo's eyes followed his every move while his hands began to explore the skin that had been exposed.

Izaya hummed his approval before moving to free himself from his shorts, his erection finally out in the open. Shizuo's hands went to his own clothes next, quickly freeing himself as well before coming back down to continue his assault on the sensitive parts of Izaya's neck. Izaya's hips jolted up when Shizuo's cock brushed up against his own, simultaneously tilting his head back to give Shizuo better access to his neck. Shizuo continued trailing his lips down Izaya's neck, nipping at his collar bone.

When Shizuo's hand finally wrapped around his cock Izaya was already way too close to climax. He held on the best he could until Shizuo shifted, taking them both in his hand together. Shizuo's fingers stroked him on one side while moving in perfect time with his cock sliding against the other side. In seconds Izaya came, fingers clawing at Shizuo's back as he did, thrusting his hips in time with that hand. Barely a second later he felt Shizuo's cock throb against his and Shizuo's cum hitting his chest along with his own.

Panting, Shizuo held still for a moment while Izaya also did his best to catch his breath. Izaya closed his eyes, letting the euphoria of release wash over him as he ran his hands up Shizuo's arms.

"Wait there for a minute," he said, standing up and leaving Izaya slightly disappointed at his departure. But he was back almost immediately, towel in hand and he began cleaning up the mess left on Izaya's chest and stomach.

"What a gentleman," Izaya said with a grin, "still, I think a shower is a better idea."

"Then let's go," Shizuo responded, returning the grin and offering a hand to help Izaya up. "Wanna go get something for breakfast after?"

Izaya nodded. "Yeah, that sounds great."