A long night spent with your most obvious weakness and you start shaking at the thought. You are everything I want, 'cause you are everything I'm not.

-MakeDamnSure
Taking Back Sunday

Izaya breathed in, drawing his switchblade from his jacket pocket. The silver glinted with the city lights and moon, "What...did you...tell her?" he spat though his teeth.

"Hit a nerve?"

"Shut your mouth." Izaya rushed forward, slashing at Shizuo skillfully with the blade, dodging punches and a street sign. People skittered away from their fight, used to the action by now.

Shizuo tripped backwards, Izaya just kept coming and coming, he was too fast. 'I have to end this...and fast.' he swung out with a kick, knocking Izaya to the side before the information broker shot forward again. 'All I needed.' Shizuo punched him in the gut, and hit the beck of his neck. Izaya fell to the ground, unconscious. His switchblade clattering across the pavement.

"God dammit flea. God fucking dammit." the blond swore, picking his sunglasses off the front of his dress shirt and putting them on, lighting himself a cigarette.

Cars drove by in the street, people cast anxious glances toward the man Shizuo just knocked out, others ignored them both; stepping over Izaya as they continued along their way.

Shizuo walked over to the steps outside the building, sitting down on them his head in his hand. 'Fuck.' his eyes wandered to the king of Ikebukuro laying face down on the concrete with people stepping over and around him. It was sobering, but sad at the same time.

'God fucking dammit that fucking flea.' the bodyguard stood and walked away.

….

Sunlight, gasoline, cars, car honking and...shoes? People.
Izaya rolled onto his back and squinted into the light, buildings towered over him and people walked by. There was a bit of blood on the sidewalk beside him, 'mine.'

A sharp prod made him blink and open his eyes fully. A blue uniformed, brown haired woman was reaching out with her foot to nudge him again, he knocked her boot away, "Good morning officer."

"I usually ticket drunks passed out on the sidewalk y'know." she said pointedly, "Get up."

He pressed his eyes shut and stood, his body stiff and objecting from the damage Shizuo inflicted on him as well as the night spent on the hard ground, 'Night. Night? I was here since last night. That bastard!"

"Awh fuck." he spun on his heel, head throbbing and took off. The officer yelled something at him but he didn't quite catch it. Izaya brought his arm up to muffle a violent cough.

The blocks blurred by him as he wove in and out of passer bys, ignoring his massive head ache and bruised ribs. Neck sore as hell. Bags hung under his crimson eyes, raven hair dusty and gritty.

A motocycle veered over and skidded to a stop in the street, Celty wished more than anything that she could yell at Izaya and call him over, but no need. He flashed her a look and immediately came over, "Is she at your place?" Celty nodded and Izaya climbed on the back of the bike.

….

The door shut and Emi shot up off the couch, racing over and hugging Izaya around his torso, he flinched and patted her head grimacing.'I'm an idiot.'

"You're an idiot." Shinra put bluntly, ironically voicing Izaya's thoughts. The doctor's face was neutral, giving no hints as to what he thought, it was stone. Even his eyes were loose. "Shizuo called this morning."

"That asshole." Izaya scoffed, Emi stepped away from him and frowned her eyes glassy.

"Where were you? You didn't come back, for hours, I called Celty and she looked for you, then she just told me to come with her here." Her voice was anxious, but timid and it sounded a little...betrayed.

He shook his head, "Shit, I'm sorry. It won't happen agai-" Izaya couldn't promise that, he couldn't promise anything. "I'll be more..." he trailed off, unsure of what to say, all eyes were on him. Shinra's were accusing; a taunting 'I told you so'.

"You'll be less of a douche bag?" The doctor offered helpfully, but his words weren't light. Emi's eyebrows furrowed, but she didn't speak.

Izaya gave Shinra a hard look, "Sure, lets go with that."

"Good. Because we need to talk."

….

Izaya gaped at his friend, for the first time in his life he was struck speechless. A panicked feeling leaked into his heart, it thudded dully yet erratically at the same time. He felt like he had just been stabbed. His voice came out slightly strangled and stuttering, "W-wait, what?"

Shinra wasn't smiling, "I'm serious. You can't do this, I knew it was a bad idea, it was only a matter of time." he almost sighed.

Izaya's blood boiled, "A matter of time before I made a mistake? A matter of time before I made one slip up? A matter of time for what? FOR WHAT?" He rose his voice, anger building.

"It's not a mistake...it's...different for you." Shinra regretted his words almost as soon as they left his lips.

"Different for me? What the FUCK does that mean? I get in a fight with Shizuo, whoa surprise surprise, and you think that changes shit?"

"Izaya, you know what I mean. This alone isn't...normal for you, you can't do this."

"CARE TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU PRICK?"

"LOOK AT YOU! You're a mess, you aren't even 'you' right now! Since when does Izaya Orihara lose his face? Since when does he start thinking about anyone or anything besides himself and his entertainment? You're majorly out of character!" Shinra snapped, standing and jabbing an accusatory finger at Izaya.

"...I don't even know myself lately." he said quietly, almost to no one.

Shinra's shoulders dropped and he sat back down, "I don't know, but you're freaking us all out. I think someone else should take care of the kid." he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

Izaya turned away and ran a shaking hand through his dusty hair, "Yeah. I think that would be best."

...

I'm gonna make damn sure that you can't ever leave. No, you won't ever get too far from me, you won't ever get too far from me, I'll make damn sure that you can't ever leave.

-MakeDamnSure
Taking Back Sunday