Prepare yourself for cavities.

…~-~…

Izaya sighed, rolling onto his stomach and pressing his face into the mattress. He hadn't meant to say as much as he did to Shizuo, but for some reason he simply couldn't control himself around the man. Maybe it really was love that made him feel this way, though honestly he didn't want to find out.

However Shizuo seemed so adamant on him saying "yes". He could tell that Shizuo's words were genuine. The man really did think that love would chase away the nightmares and deep down, Izaya hoped it could. He needed a cure for that feeling he got whenever someone got too close—whenever someone touched him. He needed to be able to feel confident again and if accepting Shizuo's love was the answer, well…

It couldn't be so bad…

After all, there were moments in these past few weeks when Shizuo had made him feel really good. Even when he held him earlier and kissed him… he couldn't think of a single viable reason to deny himself that feeling when someone was so willing to provide it specifically for him.

Although now that he was actually considering this, it seemed that the nagging voice in the back of his head had changed position. Don't do it, it said, You don't know what you're getting in to. This will only hurt you.

Maybe he shouldn't. His thoughts were clouded by the spell Shizuo had put him under with that kiss. It made no sense really. How could something as stupid and cliché as love fix him after feeling so broken?

But that kiss had felt so passionate to the point where Izaya could almost feel how much Shizuo wanted him to give it a try. Being embraced made him feel as if his bones had been replaced with pudding—almost as if he could melt into it and never leave.

—That's not necessarily a good thing. Something having that much power over you is dangerous.

But he wanted it.

"AAAAHHHHHGG!" Izaya screamed into the comforter, hands grasping his hair. He couldn't take it anymore.

As if to mock him, a cheery pop song began blaring from his phone.

Izaya opened one eye at the sound of his phone ringing. Looking at the caller ID he decided he couldn't ignore this one.

"Hello, Shiki-san," he greeted, trying his best to sound calm. If was difficult when his masks had already broken ten minutes ago.

"We found Hayashi where you told us. Thank you for the information and the… gift wrapping. This seems to be Heiwajima-san's work, yes? I trust you are not hurt?"

"Ah, yes, I'm just fine Shiki-san!" he said a bit hurried. It didn't slip past the Awakusu executive.

"Are you sure? If you are in danger we can send someone."

Izaya sighed, "Really, I am okay. I'm home right now."

Shiki seemed to accept that answer as the truth. "Good. I will wire the money to your usual account for capturing him for us. Until next time, Orihara-san."

"Thank you."

Izaya ended the call, tossing the phone to the side. The last one was taken care of. He should feel happy. But his mind was still torn between his thoughts.

He definitely needed more time to think this over, but he wasn't ready to send Shizuo out the door just yet either.

Sitting up, Izaya took a few deep breaths to regain his composure.

A small knock on the door startled him a moment before Shizuo's voice brought him back to reality.

"Izaya…? I uhh… heard a noise. You okay?" he asked through the door.

Sitting at the foot of the bed, Izaya's shoulders dropped when he remembered he had yelled.

"I'm fine," he said, "Come in."

There was a hesitation before Shizuo opened the door and carefully entered the room.

"Sit," he gestured to the space next to him on the bed.

Shizuo silently obeyed, sitting next to Izaya with a posture that made him look smaller than usual. His hands were in his lap and his shoulders were raised. Izaya realized he was likely trying to look less threatening because for all he knew, Izaya had screamed because he had another flashback.

"I'm okay," he said, though it felt like a lie, "I was just frustrated."

"I figured since I heard you talking on the phone when I came up to make sure something wasn't wrong," he said, "Oh, um, I wasn't eavesdropping, I just heard your phone ring and you talking but I couldn't hear what you said."

"Don't worry about it. It was just someone I had pick up that trash we left in the alley."

"Oh," Shizuo paused, "What's going to happen to him?"

"Don't know, don't care. I just know I won't be seeing him or his friends ever again." Izaya replied, falling back onto the bed. Eight years of instinct screamed at him that he shouldn't feel this relaxed with Shizuo in the room, but he knew he was safe. He even closed his eyes while he mulled over the answer he was about to give to Shizuo.

"Do you need more time to think?" Shizuo questioned, noticing Izaya's behavior.

"No—well, yes actually, but I'm going to give you a chance to impact my decision more directly."

"What do you mean by that?" Shizuo urged.

Izaya sat up with a small grin on his face. "You can have me if you can win me over."

"That shouldn't be too hard," Shizuo chuckled, reaching out and pulling the informant in to seal his lips over his once again.

Izaya's eyes fluttered shut as he allowed Shizuo to capture his lips once again. He was really starting to like this whole kissing thing. It made his limbs tingle especially when Shizuo ran his fingers through his dark hair, lightly rubbing back and forth. Izaya gave in completely, letting himself go limp in Shizuo's hold. The blond did a fine job of holding him upright and all he had to do was enjoy the taste of Shizuo's tongue and relish in the warmth and security his hold provided.

Shizuo lowered both of them onto the bed and it took a while for Izaya to even notice that the man was practically on top of him, now kissing his jaw and neck.

It did make him feel a tad uncomfortable, but it was absolutely nothing like that night a few weeks ago. Izaya tilted his head to the side to give Shizuo better access. Shizuo continued kissing and lightly sucking on Izaya's neck, pausing at the places that made Izaya let out a nearly inaudible moan. Izaya's breath hitched when Shizuo's hand touched his hip. It was okay this time, he realized as Shizuo's thumb began rubbing small circles over his hip. His hand occasionally slid part way down Izaya's outer thigh, but never moved towards his inner thighs.

Izaya was curious, he had to admit. What would be too much…? Shizuo nibbled at his collar bone, just barely showing through the neckline of his shirt and Izaya could feel his blood rush south. He moaned louder when Shizuo's thumb rubbed just a bit closer to the inside of his thigh.

His hand didn't stay there though. Slowly, fingertips trailed up above his hip, along his side and soon his hand was snaking its way under his shirt.

"Is this okay?" Shizuo whispered as he grew closer to Izaya's chest.

Izaya nodded, arms wrapping tighter around the back of Shizuo's neck and pulling him down to kiss him again. The hand cautiously continued until it found one of Izaya's nipples, lightly running his fingers over it.

Yes, those men had touched him there, but their hands were cold and rough. Shizuo's were gentle and warm. There was no confusing the touches at this point. Izaya let out a louder moan as Shizuo continued, lightly twisting one nipple, barely pinching it until it was hard. Izaya whined when Shizuo broke the kiss only to let out an embarrassingly loud gasp and moan when that mouth moved to lick and suck on that hard nipple.

Izaya was hard by now. Ridiculously hard, and straining against his jeans. Shizuo's hand had returned to rubbing his hip and Izaya had to wonder where he had learned all of this.

Though the pleasure didn't last much longer for Izaya. When Shizuo's hand made a daring move and began running up his inner thigh from the knee up something changed in Izaya's head. Suddenly, Shizuo's actions weren't so pleasurable.

He held on. He didn't want to tell Shizuo to stop. After all, this wasn't a flashback. Izaya bit his lip when Shizuo's hand lightly brushed his balls through his jeans. He decided it was enough but before he could vocalize it, he realized he had already flinched away and Shizuo had stopped in his tracks.

Shizuo's eyes widened when he realized what he had done and he instantly flung himself off of Izaya, backing away towards the door.

"S-shit…" he stuttered, "Izaya, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking—"

"It's okay," Izaya responded, still lying on the bed, "I didn't hate it. I just…"

"You're not ready," Shizuo finished for him, "I should have held back. I'm so sorry—"

"Shizu-chan," Izaya giggled, "Really, it's fine! I'm okay! You don't need to apologize."

Izaya was still smiling even while Shizuo looked akin to a dog that had been smacked on the nose with a newspaper. Pulling himself up, Izaya opened the door and gestured for Shizuo to follow.

"We can try it again sometime. For now, let's enjoy a night in. We can order takeout and watch a movie or two. How's that?"

A smile spread over Shizuo's face more genuine than Izaya had ever seen anyone smile. It made his heart beat quicken for a moment thinking that anyone could be that happy at the idea of spending time with him.

"It sounds perfect," he said following Izaya down the stairs.

For the rest of the night, Izaya made a deal with himself. He wouldn't over think anything or allow himself to reconsider his decision. Instead, he chose to let the evening progress and roll with whatever happened. He would relax and just try to enjoy spending time with someone.

Two and a half hours later, Izaya determined that he had made the right choice. Seated comfortably between Shizuo's legs with his back pressed against the blond's warm chest was the best thing he had felt in years—possibly even in his life. It only felt better when Shizuo picked up his new habit of running his fingers through Izaya's hair and kissing the back of his neck every few minutes.

"Is it working yet?" Shizuo asked quietly.

"Hmm?" Izaya questioned, lost in the sound of Shizuo breathing beneath him.

"Am I winning you over?"

Izaya smiled—he really couldn't remember the last time he'd felt himself smile like this—and shifted so that he could whisper into Shizuo's ear.

"It's definitely a good start."

Shizuo's arms tightened around Izaya, his face buried in the crook of Izaya's neck. "This is all I ever wanted," he whispered.

Izaya didn't think Shizuo cared if he got a response to that statement, so Izaya just settled for enjoying the next few hours right where Shizuo wanted him.

"Mmm, Shizu-chan," Izaya muttered when began to get late, "We should probably change your bandages before bed, Ne?

…~-~…

I realized I could technically end this fic here and let the rest be implied. But who am I to end a story without a proper sex scene and million more fluffy as hell scenes?