A/N: I'm so sorry for the super long wait for this. I always planned to come back to this. Part of why this took so long had to do with writing multiple stories at once, seeming like this story wasn't as popular as some of the others, busyness with life like with school and work. Also, inspiration to write this. I've had many ideas for this story though. I'm still not sure how often I will update, but it definitely won't be as long as it was this time, I'll try to make sure of it.
Already, Izaya's thoughts were going a million miles an hour as he was anticipating his father catching up to him soon. Thinking how to avoid answering some questions when he would undoubtedly have to deal with Shinra again and how much information he could actually give. He sighed at the thought. Shinra truly was his only actual friend. As surprising as it may seem, he actually did feel bad about leaving his friend's apartment the way he did. Especially after such a bomb shell was dropped about Izaya's life.
Not to mention, now that Shinra knew he wasn't fully human, Shinra would most likely become more interested in him (scientifically that is). Not to mention more invasive. He really did not look forward to having to be one of Shinra's scientific fascinations. He hated talking about his past with the Q in general, and he could already feel a headache coming knowing how many questions would come his way about it.
On second thought…maybe it was a good thing he left when he had. At least that was one uncomfortable situation he could avoid temporarily.
Unlike my obnoxiously omnipotent father that is, he thought to himself in irritation.
Sighing, Izaya tried to focus on his surroundings as he walked to the train station. He was too distracted though to be able to focus on anything around him. His father could do that to him. That's just one of the frustrations of having a father who was more unpredictable than he was. Izaya never knew what could happen, so taking precautions on possibilities were simply difficult to do.
His father could give him another speech about how superior the Q were again or drag Izaya into one of his complex illusionary games out of boredom, or even mess with the people in Izaya's life in ways that Izaya couldn't help. After all, just because he was here to help didn't mean he wasn't going to have some Q fun while he's at it. Izaya knew his father enough to think so.
As he walked through the city, everything appeared to be the way things normally were. Yet despite this, Izaya felt different inside. He was very lost in thought, and in a different way than he normally was.
"You know, you could have just zapped into your apartment."
Izaya didn't even flinch when his father's voice suddenly came from right next to him. He had expected it to happen sooner or later anyways. He barely glanced at him to notice his change in appearance. Q had gone from a business suit-like outfit, to dressing practically identical to Izaya himself. The only difference was that the fur lining on his coat was purple. Why he choose that color instead, Izaya had no idea, and simply rolled his eyes at Q's lack of originality.
"I actually like walking." He simply replied. Q was almost skipping as he kept pace with Izaya, facing him yet continuing forward.
"Really? It's such an ancient way of getting places though. Surely humans by now have faster ways to get places they would like to go. Walking seems like such a pointless waste of time."
"I didn't say I was going to walk the whole way there. I am heading towards a subway station to ride the rest of the way."
"Oh, I see. Still though. What is it you could possibly like about walking though?"
Izaya sighed, not wanting to have this conversation with him now.
"I don't exactly expect you to understand even if I were to try to tell you."
"Hmm, you may have a point there. So why did you rush out of your friend's apartment?"
Q didn't seem to stick to one topic for long. He seemed curious about humans, at least more than other Qs that is, but at the same time he always got bored easily or changed his mind often. That was a big reason why Izaya always felt so unsettled around him. Izaya was fairly good at keeping a control over most things in his life…except for this.
"Simply put, I didn't want to deal with Shinra's annoying questions after you just happened to drop that bomb shell about my life. He is fascinated by odd and unusual scientific things. He's not going to leave me alone about this now, thanks a lot."
Q let out a chuckle.
"Oh, come on, you can't be too upset about that. He is your friend. You must not mind him knowing that much."
"Maybe if it weren't for the way you popped in out of nowhere. I could have prepared him a little more at least if I had known it was okay for him to know."
Q sighed.
"Sorry, but this was an urgent thing you had to know about."
"What are you doing anyways?"
"I thought that was clear. I'm walking with you."
"You know what I mean. Why?"
"To spend time with my son of course."
Izaya gave him a look.
"Is that really so hard to believe?"
"Well, it might not be if you weren't walking like an inferior mortal that is." Izaya pointed out, trying really hard not to think of alternatives he could see his father doing. He didn't want to give him any ideas.
"Well considering what it is the continuum is deliberating regarding you, I feel better being with you knowing that I can protect you if things change suddenly."
"Like you couldn't keep track of me from anywhere."
"That may be true. But I would still like to be with you during this time."
"And why is that?"
"Surely you could have figured this out by now, but alright. I want to be near you in case I have to act fast to stay ahead of the continuum."
That caused Izaya to stop for a moment.
"What do you mean?"
Q sighed.
"Oh, come on, son. I know you are smart enough to figure out what I mean. You just don't want to think about it. "
Izaya bit his lips and started walking again. He knew Q was right. His ability to read Izaya was another frustration. He had an unfair advantage over Izaya in that department though because of his powers.
"There's nothing I can say to get you to leave me alone, is there?"
"Not in this situation there isn't, no."
"It's not like you would have in the past anyways."
"Well, I can't deny that. At least this time I have a legit reason though."
"Mmhmm. How long do you think they'll take with deciding?"
"Not sure. Time is different for the Q, but they know you have a human lifespan now, so they'll probably try to consider that."
"Why wouldn't we be there while they are deliberating? To like defend ourselves?"
"Well, because they've already made their decision that you are dangerous to humans in an unfair way."
"Well that doesn't seem very fair."
"The Q are not known for being fair, Izaya. They don't have many criminals, so those who are they like to just deal with. I don't think there's a way to change that."
Izaya scoffed and avoided looking at the other again. He had his suspicions on possibly an additional reason as to why they might want to punish him. Part of this came from his father telling him that he was the only half- Q half-human.
He was considering commenting on this, when his muscles tensed up. He heard something coming from behind, and immediately moved quickly out of the way. However, the vending machine crashed into his father and knocked him forward into the ground, landing on him. Izaya just stood there for a moment with his mouth agape, having not expected that. Then he burst into hysterical laughter. As long as he had known him, this was the first time he had ever seen his father caught off guard enough that something had actually managed to knock him over. It was incredibly amusing, and Izaya took some enjoyment in seeing him in such an unusual state. Of course, Izaya knew that Q wasn't actually hurt, but still.
Izaya tried to get ahold of himself some as he turned to face the thrower of said vending machine.
Shizuo Heiwajima.
He was standing there, scowling like he usually was, especially around Izaya. It took him a moment to realize he actually hadn't hit his intended target though.
Izaya was still struggling to keep his giggles under control.
"Thanks for that, Shizu-chan. That really made my day."
He was still scowling but looked more confused.
"What the hell, Flea? Didn't I tell you to stay out of Ikebukuro!"
Ah, he decided to ignore my unusual comment. How amusing.
"Indeed, you did. I'm surprised you're not more concerned about your accidental target though."
He still looked confused for a moment until his eyebrows rose in realization when he looked over to see that indeed, someone else had been hit by the vending machine that he hadn't meant to.
"Oh, don't worry, Shizu-chan. He definitely deserves it. And he is totally fine."
H scowled at Izaya again.
"What kind of BS are you spewing now?"
Izaya sighed dramatically.
"Oh nothing, I don't really expect one with your minimal brain capacity to understand anyways." Izaya slowly brought his knife out and pointed it at Shizuo.
"Now, how about you let me go, hmm? I was just heading out of Ikebukuro anyways, so you have no reason to attack me this time. Plus, the close call should be enough to keep me from crossing you any time soon…well, maybe. I would like to get on my way before your most recent victim comes out from under the machine, so if you don't mind?"
Shizuo just growled in response and reached over to grab a nearby street sign. The metal bent to his strength and made an unpleasant sound as he pulled it out from the ground.
"Not going to be reasonable, hmm?" He sighed overdramatically. "Ah well, I should have expected as much. Beasts can't do a lot of thinking anyways."
Shizuo growled and began to raise the street sign back. Before he did anything, a giggling sounded from right next to the two.
"My, well isn't this interesting!" Q exclaimed with a clap. Izaya groaned in annoyance but didn't move from his position.
Shizuo froze what he was doing in confusion.
"What the hell!?"
"Oh my, Izaya, you didn't tell me you interacted with such entertaining company! Oh, if only more humans were like him. They would be far less boring."
"It's simply none of your concern, and I don't really consider him an ordinary human. Now would you just bud out?"
"Oh, now why would I do that? Things just got more interesting!"
Izaya groaned again.
"I mean, here we have an unusual terran, one who you call a beast who is quite interesting. Who is capable of throwing vending machines and pulling street signs out of the ground! He scowls as he possessively protects his city from you, apparently." He motioned at Shizuo excitedly as he spoke. Then did the same towards Izaya.
"And here you are, with a mere knife held up against him. Not showing any fear, but almost seeming thrilled by the idea of fighting one who holds such a power. Then again, you also dodged a fast flying vending machine faster than an average human could. I haven't felt such excitement from an event like this on earth in a very long time. Oh, what's going to happen? How will things turn out? Who knew that you could be part of such a thrilling event here!?"
He was talking about them enthusiastically like he was the voiceover for the trailer of some action movie.
"Flea, what the heck is going on!?"
"Flea, huh?"
"Just don't worry about it. Stay out of this, Q! These fights I handle on my own. These are between me and Shizu-chan."
"Oh my, so possessive and obsessive over your fights with him? Hmm, I wonder what human psychology would say about that."
"Will you just shut up!"
"Flea, who the hell is this nutjob!?"
"Oh, don't tell me you can't see the physical resemblance? I am his father."
"The hell you talking about!? You barely look older than him."
"Ah, that's where you assume my age matches my appearance. I am actually much older, I just choose to look this age."
"Hah?"
"Oh, would you just stop! You have fun with your games, why can't you let me be with my fights!"
"Ah, so this is a game then?"
"Don't even go there! This is nothing like your games!"
"You like the adrenaline rush then, hmm? I can feel it. I suppose that is some way to get sort of a similar thrill when you are not a Q."
"Just Shut Up-"Izaya turned to face him, for a moment not seeing that Shizuo had snapped out of his confusion enough to continue attacking Izaya. When Izaya noticed the sign coming towards him, he let out an undignified eep. He held his hands up in defense and closed his eyes in reflex, having noticed too late to be able to dodge in time.
He stayed like that for a moment, anticipating the very painful hit. When he still didn't feel the metal sign bruising him, he very hesitantly opened his eyes to see what was going on. He gasped at what he saw, mouth agape. Shizuo was standing there frozen in time, with the sign held just before Izaya, an instant before it would have hit him. The shock of what he was seeing caused Izaya to fall back onto his bottom, still staring unbelievingly at the frozen Shizuo in front of him.
Izaya had not meant to do that to him.
The sound of clapping next to him shook him out of it.
"Well down, son. He looks like he is completely frozen in time. Although, I'm a little surprised you had to."
Izaya clenched his fists and stood up facing his father.
"It's your fault for distracting me! I can normally handle Shizu-chan fine on my own without powers!"
"Well, I'm kind of glad I did then, so you could see what you're capable of. Isn't this a truly amazing feat!?"
Izaya bit his lips, not wanting to answer that. Around them, they could hear whispers about Shizuo be frozen in place like that. No doubt already suspecting something unusual going on here.
Well, I know what is surely going to end up on the Dollars website, Izaya thought with a sigh. Without answering his father, Izaya turned around and continued the rest of the way to the subway station. Q caught up with Izaya almost right away.
"So, why did you leave him there frozen like that?"
"He would have continued attacking me, and I need to get home. I'm not exactly in the fighting mindset when I have to worry about you being here. I'll unfreeze him when I'm safe and sound at home."
Q chuckled at that but didn't say anything.
Surprisingly, Q kept quiet for the rest of the way there. Although he did try to get Izaya to communicate mentally a few times, but Izaya did his best to try to ignore him.
When he got to his apartment, there was Namie at her desk doing what she was supposed to be doing. She looked up and gave a quizzical look when she saw who was with him.
"Who is that?"
"No one you need to worry about." Izaya headed over to his own desk, Q of course following him.
"Namie, you are off work until further notice."
"Excuse me? I still have plenty of work you gave me."
"You'll still be paid. If you really insist on working, feel free to do it from your own home or my other office. My point is, I need you out of here."
She raised an eyebrow at him, but then began to gather her things and then left.
"So, who was that?"
"My secretary, and somebody you don't need to worry about." Izaya said shortly, already feeling a headache from dealing with his father. He was half acknowledging his father mentally as he was already working fast on his laptop. He had to make a lot of changes, anticipating what needed to be rearranged from his father being here. Most of his appointments would have to be canceled. The clients he could work for and communicate with solely on his computer would be informed that they need to change their rendezvouses to strictly online communications. The only ones he couldn't change had to do with his very important (and some dangerous) clients, like the Awakusu-kai.
Izaya tried his best to ignore his father as he made these changes but couldn't help but be aware of what his father was doing because of his paranoia from the past. Q was looking over his shoulder to watch.
"So, what are you doing?"
"Can't talk right now. Wait until I finish this."
"If you're changing things because you're worried with me being here, then you don't have to be."
Izaya scoffed at that.
"Right."
"I'm serious. I came here for a serious reason this time, as you know. I really am just watching out for you, I'm not going to mess with anything."
Izaya really couldn't trust him though.
Better safe than sorry.
Q sighed but didn't argue his point further.
He watched for a bit, surprisingly remaining quite as Izaya worked on his tasks. But then, he groaned.
"I'm bored."
Izaya rolled his eyes. Shocker. He glanced up to see that Q was hovering in the air, laying as though he was on a bed and not in midair. His arms were crossed behind his head, and he was looking up with a bored look.
"Well, I don't know what to tell you. I'm not really sure what could keep you from being bored that would not be annoying to me. Just make sure it's still quite in here." Izaya went back to what he was doing. He didn't hear anymore complaining from Q though. However, out of the of the corner of his eye, he couldn't see Q hovering by him anymore.
Izaya wasn't all that surprised that Q had gone somewhere else. He had a short attention span it seemed. He could always see where Izaya was with his powers anyways. He would be back of course, due to the concern of their current situation. Izaya tried to appreciate the quiet while he could though. He got sent out all the messages that he needed to, and now was onto his actual work. The moment was shorter than he hoped though before he heard,
"You know, this Ikebukuro is unusual compared to some other cities on this planet."
Izaya didn't look up from his computer, yet somehow guessed Q was hovering again.
"Is that so?" He responded with, not seeing a point in ignoring the other.
"And why would you say that?"
"Hmm, it's probably because of the, what you humans would call, supernatural creatures?"
"Hmm, Oh yeah? And what would you call them?"
"Oh, we try to call things on certain planets by what they are called there."
"Hmm, alright."
"I mean, there are creatures like that elsewhere on this planet, but the ones here are well known. Who would have thought my own son would be in such an interesting city, even as a human?"
"Mmm, yeah." He was only half listening, not like that seemed to stop Q at all though.
"I took care of the incident with Shizuo from earlier, by the way."
Izaya stopped what he was doing and looked over.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I got rid of the messages about the Shizuo freezing along with any other recording of the event from the Dollars websites and erased the memories of those who saw it."
Izaya sighed in relief. For a moment, Izaya had thought that Q meant something completely different (and concerning).
"Oh, um thanks."
"Well, it was probably more for me than you, but you're welcome."
"…okay."
Izaya turned around again to his computer when,
"We should practice your powers."
Izaya paused midturn to give his father a look.
"No." Then he got back to his computer.
"Aw, come on~. It'll be fun."
"Still no."
"The reason I gave you back these powers was so that you would be able to help yourself in case the continuum decides on something unfair for you."
"I'm working right now. Like I have been, in case you didn't notice. It may surprise you, but I actually have a job I need to do."
"But we don't know when they will make their decision though."
"I need to get this done. Some of my clients are not very patient, and it would be very bad for me if I make them wait."
"You shouldn't be afraid with me here to protect you."
"I don't want you to get involved in anything I don't need you to. I can handle this on my own, like I can handle anything that is not Q related."
"You still don't trust me, do you?"
"That is correct."
"Ouch."
"Oh, please. It shouldn't be that surprising."
"Well, I guess not, but still."
"You can handle it."
A notification popped up on Izaya's screen. Izaya stood up to gather the things he needed.
"Well, it looks like I have to go anyways. A Yakuza group I work with called the Awakusu-kai have scheduled an important meeting with me, so if you don't mind- "
As he turned around, he noticed that Q had a faraway look on his face. His eyes looked glassed over, and he seemed to be paying attention to something too far to be seen. He narrowed his eyes as he was staring. Izaya was about to ask him what was up, when his eyes immediately widened.
"They're almost done making their decision." Then he snapped his fingers and was gone. Izaya continued staring at where Q was, momentarily forgetting about the important meeting he had to go to. What was that about? Izaya wasn't sure how to take that. He figured Q would probably be back. Most likely to tell him what the decision was.
He couldn't help the unnerving feeling that was in his stomach. To be honest, he was terrified of what would happen. Q would do his best to help Izaya with whatever happened, but would he be fast enough? Izaya took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to compose himself. He would try to worry about that later. Right now, he had to be 100% there for the yakuza meeting. He would deal with the Q issue when he got back. As Izaya left his apartment, to meet Shiki's limo outside, he just hoped that with whatever was going on, Q wouldn't need to interrupt him at his work.
A/N: Fyi, The crossover stuff should be starting next chapter.
