-!December 5th!-
"The number you have dialed is no longer in service-" the mechanical female voice rattled off.
"God freaking dammit Anni. You went and broke your phone AGAIN" Alex snarled over the voice. He angrily shoved his phone back into his pocket. That was probably why he hadn't heard from her in nearly a week. He'd been so busy these past few days he hadn't even noticed. He did not have the money right now to both buy her a replacement and fly back out to give it to her, as he'd already spent enough on Christmas shopping and his last round trip ticket.
"Mrrrweeeewr" Athena squeaked in protest. The black runt of a cat was on her back underneath the much larger Bruce, struggling to find any claw-hold that would get her an advantage.
"Play nice, Bruce" Alex scolded, scruffing the cat and carting him off to his favorite chair. "She's still just a kitten." As soon as Alex had released him, Bruce jumped off the chair and sauntered off. Alex stomped over to his swivel chair and plopped down, so he could spin and glare at the whole world. He finally stopped facing his computer setup. "She's still just a kitten" he muttered again. As if on cue, Athena jumped up into his lap. Alex picked her up and held her over his head so he could lean back and watch her. He started spinning slowly, watching the cats head turn curiously as she looked around. "But she has a big bad Bruce to protect her! She'll be just fine" he told the juvenile.
"Mrew" Athena replied, starting to squirm. Alex lowered her down to cuddle into his chest.
"Dammit Annibel" he growled. It only took a few minutes of head-rubbing before Athena's purr trailed off into sleep. With his left hand occupied as a cat pillow, Alex turned his computer on and went on his usual circuit of social media and email before he started up any games. It had been a few days since he'd last been on, so a few people had actually tried to get in touch with him that he needed to respond to. A good hour had passed before he finally opened his email. There he found a message from his sister, dated two days ago. 'I'm sorry' the subject line read. "OH you better be, Annibel Elizabeth Hael. Now did you break it to make a point again, or are you just being a klutz as usual?" he laughed, sarcasm and venom seeping through his tone. He opened her message as his glare drilled holes into the screen.
'First things first, I'm fine right now, and everything turned out alright in the end. I still don't really know about Maya, but hopefully I'll be able to maintain an internet connection and keep you up to date' her message started.
"Oh for the love of-! What mess did you get yourself into now, Trouble?" Alex asked with a resigned sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose and rubbing his eyes. After reading through her explanation, he sent her a response that had her flinching away from her computer screen.
-!December 8th!-
It started with a simple picnic. Shizuo brought a blanket to spread out over the grass, so they could sit and admire the pond while they ate. Once the food was polished off, Shizuo sprawled out to bask in the sunlight. Anni, despite being intensely aware that she was wearing a skirt instead of pants, made her lap his pillow. From there, she was in the perfect position to cradle his head and play with his hair, which he didn't seem to mind in the least. He just closed his eyes and wore his soft, contented smile.
Anni had discovered rather quickly just how careful he was when it came to displays of affection. He rarely reached out to her on his own, but he never pulled away from her either. It felt strange to her, to have to be the one to start everything. It wasn't much of a bother though. After falling asleep in his arms a few times, she'd gotten used to the idea of being close to him, and needing to be the one to request such things was no far stretch.
Anni smiled down at her precious guardian. While he was so relaxed, with his eyes closed, he certainly looked like he was living up to his name. A quiet hero. She turned her gaze out to the gleaming pond. It didn't really qualify as the 'peaceful island' that made up his surname, but it was close enough, right?
When Anni got tired of sitting still, she started poking her boyfriend's nose until he opened his eyes.
"Let's get moving" she suggested with a playful giggle. With Shizuo's approval, they got up and headed out. After dropping the blanket off at home, they just went strolling around the city. Anni was all too happy to tour Ikebukuro while holding her guardian's hand.
A quick stop at a candy shop was followed by watching another sunset from the rooftop Shizuo had taken her to last week. With everything that had happened in those few days, Anni felt like an entirely different person from the last time. It felt strange to come here again with such a different atmosphere.
Darkness fell, so the pair retreated back down the fire escape and started the walk to the restaurant Shizuo had made reservations for. It was rather fancy, and Anni felt out of place with her plane skirt and blouse. The only thing that made it better was standing beside someone who looked more like staff than a customer. She wasn't alone in her oddity, at least. Neither one of them would have been comfortable in that environment normally, but being there together set them both at ease.
The food was wonderful. It was hard to chose a dish at first, but she was very happy with what she decided on. Shizuo seemed to enjoy his serving as well, though Anni got the distinct impression he didn't pay much attention to it.
A few drinks and a split bill later, the couple headed back home. There, they changed into their sleepwear and set about the final part of their date; movie night. It started with Shizuo's favorite of Kasuka's movies, and moved on to the rest of Kasuka's films once Anni admitted she hadn't seen any of them. They made it to 4am before eyelids became too heavy and they were forced to give up cuddling in favor of sleep. Their day started with a picnic and ended as they drifted off in each other's arms.
-!December 25th!-
"You've got a package" Shizuo announced as he came back inside. Anni peeked her head out of their room with still bleary eyes.
"From Alex?" she guessed as she stumbled out in her favorite pajamas. Instead of answering, he handed her the cardboard box. "How in the world did he get this here?" she muttered as she fell on the couch a little too hard. She had been so antsy and excited last night too. His little blonde could be surprisingly childish sometimes.
"What is it?" he asked as he hovered over her.
"I won't know until I open it. Knowing my brother, it could be just about anything" she explained as she tore off the packing tape. Inside was a christmas wrapped box, surrounded by crumpled paper so it wouldn't rattle around. Taped to the top of present was an envelope labeled 'Trouble'.
"Trouble? What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's what he calls me when he's cross with me. I'm almost afraid to open it" Anni said, peeling off the tape and eyeing it like it would bite her.
"What's the point if you don't open it? It's a Christmas present, isn't it?" Shizuo took his spot next to her in hopes of reading whatever was inside the strange envelope.
"Here goes" she sighed, tearing open the top and pulling out a folded paper. Out of the paper fell a tiny plastic bag, filled with what looked like red and green glitter. The paper itself only had a line of writing in english, and two vertical red lines drawn under it.
"What does it say?" he asked, picking up the sealed glitter baggie from where it had landed on his leg.
"'Three strikes and you're out'" Anni recounted. "He's threatening to glitterbomb me. I wonder what I've done to get two strikes already" she mused as she set the paper aside and pulled out the gift.
"Just make sure you don't get 'glitterbombed' in the house" Shizuo sighed, dropping the baggie back into the box. "I don't even want to think about how irritating that would be to get rid of."
"I'll try" she laughed. With a few quick rips, the wrapping paper was tossed aside to reveal the logo for some smartphone or other. Shizuo didn't care enough to know the differences between the fragile little things. As soon as Anni recognized the plastic sealed gift, she broke out laughing. "I see! I'm never allowed to break my phone again, or my brother will restart the prank wars from a universe away."
-!January 28th!-
Shizuo wasn't in the best of moods today. He trudged around Ikebukuro looking for something or someone to cheer him up. He hadn't seen anyone else he knew all day. Simon wasn't out in front of Russia Sushi. Having the day off of work, he hadn't seen Tom either. Even Anni had left to spend the night with Maya yesterday, and he hadn't heard from her since. Shizuo was even considering tolerating Shinra, if only so he wouldn't spend today alone. The highlight of his day so far had been when Kasuka had called him around noon to wish him a happy birthday.
He eventually gave up his search and decided to just go home.
He was standing outside his building when he noticed something was off. Anni's friend, Maya, was hanging around as well, doing something on her phone. "Hey Shizuo-san! Would you care to join me for a little bit?" she called as she saw him. After another moment spent playing with her phone, she tucked it away into her purse.
"What are you doing hanging out here?" he asked as he drifted over, deciding he could spare a few minutes of his time for her. So long as she didn't stand there and ignore him in favor of her phone, that is.
"I'm just waiting for Anni" she answered quickly. "We… had to split up for a bit this morning, so she agreed to meet back up here."
"I gotcha. Later then" Shizuo said with a wave, walking past her.
"Hold on!" Maya called out, making him stop.
"Did ya need something else?"
"I just don't want to wait alone. Could you stay with me until Anni gets here?"
"Fine. I'll stick around for a little bit" he agreed, scratching the back of his neck. Maya wasn't his first choice, but at least he wouldn't be spending his birthday entirely alone.
"Thank you" she said, smiling. Then her phone went off. Shizuo begrudgingly watched as she dug it out of her purse. "Oh, nevermind. Anni… ditched me. I'll be off then. See ya!"
"See ya" Shizuo answered as Maya went skipping off. "That doesn't sound very much like Anni though" he mused before heading upstairs.
He found his door was left unlocked. That set him on edge immediately. Anni always remembered to lock the door, and he was sure he'd done the same when he left this morning. He couldn't hear anything inside, so he eased the door open.
"Surprise!" came a chorus of familiar voices. Brightly colored confetti was tossed in his direction.
"Happy birthday!" read the PDA held in his direction. Celty, Tom, Shinra, and Anni stood in a line, just inside his apartment. What the hell is this? he thought in stunned silence, his hand still locked around the doorknob.
"Get in here already" Anni sighed, dragging him forward by his elbow so she could close the door behind him. His apartment had colored streamers strung up everywhere. The coffee table was taken over by one large present, complete with bow.
"Happy birthday bud" Tom greeted, stepping forward to pat Shizuo's shoulder.
"Who set this up?" Shizuo asked, still reeling.
"No one in particular" Anni chirped before Tom could answer. "It was a group effort!" With that she darted past to start setting a cake on fire in the kitchen. In her place, Celty came forward, typing.
"I don't know about your other friend, but it was Anni who told me to come today." After he'd read that much, she added another line. "She said I had to 'transport' myself and Shinra here for a special event."
"I see" he chuckled. "Thank you everyone! I really appreciate you all coming."
"It's party time!" Shinra chimed, swooping up with the burning cake.
"Make a wish!" someone called.
-!February 5th!-
Mikado smiled as he waved his goodbye. Sonohara disappeared all too quickly, lost in the crowd on her way home. He was left on his own to brood his way back to his little apartment. The end of the semester was fast approaching. Life had gone back to normal after everything that had happened nearly half a year ago. It was hard to understand how little those drastic, insane events had changed his everyday. He lost himself for a moment in thought as he walked, reflecting on the past excitement. Because he wasn't paying attention, he didn't hear the people who came charging up from behind him. He almost fell then when the three men pushed him out of their way as they dashed past.
"Hurry up, or their sacrifice will be in vain!" one of the running trio exclaimed. The group's footsteps quickly faded as they turned into a dark side street. Now that he was paying more attention, he heard the sounds of fighting coming from behind him, where the trio must have come from. To Mikado's horror, he saw and heard two different things at once. A newspaper kiosk came skidding across the street from a cross street a ways back, where the fight supposedly was, and a feminine shriek was clipped short from the side street the trio had taken. He made a split second decision. He had no idea what was going on, but whoever had screamed probably needed help, and since there was no one else around but him…
He started running after the three men who'd nearly bowled him over. Down the street they'd taken and around the corner, he found them. Two of them were trying to pick up a limp girl between them, while the third seemed to be hurriedly making a call. The girl herself looked familiar, but Mikado didn't have time to try and place where'd he'd seen her before, she was being kidnapped!
"Wait!" he yelled without thinking. The men seemed to pause, but only for a moment.
"Get lost kid, this's got nothing to do with you" the man on the phone ordered.
"Why are you doing this?" Mikado demanded.
"I said get out of here! We don't have time to deal with a pipsqueak like you. If we don't get moving-" The man on his phone was cut off by a crash. The kiosk Mikado had seen earlier had just sailed through the air where two of the kidnappers heads had been. If they hadn't both immediately dropped the girl and fallen on their backsides, there was no doubt they wouldn't be conscious anymore. They scrambled up and away together. The one who had been attempting to make a phone call gave up everything and started running the other way, right on the tail of his two comrades.
"You don't get to run away!" a voice behind Mikado proclaimed. Mikado turned in time to see Heiwajima Shizuo wrench a nearby speed limit sign from the ground before charging after them. Mikado felt the air whip by as the bartender passed him and caught up with his prey, somehow not stepping on the unconscious girl in the middle of the street. In his wake, Mikado rushed to her side.
"Wake up! We need to get out of here" he instructed, shaking her by a shoulder. She only groaned at him in response. Farther down the street, the two men who had been trying to carry the girl off were batted into a wall by the street sign. They rebounded off the wall in sync, making one large thud as they crumpled to the ground. The third man skidded to a stop, with Shizuo now in front of him, and started running back towards Mikado. She wasn't about to wake up and run away from this now, so Mikado slung one of her arms around the back of his neck so he could try and carry her out of harm's way.
There was a metallic twang, calling him to look up again. The last man went soaring over his head, coming to a rolling stop in the street behind him. Mikado was left staring down the furious bartender, and he couldn't pull the mostly unconscious girl to her feet. He watched in terror as Shizuo raised the speed limit sign above his head and threw it like a javelin. Somehow, he managed to dodge to the side, letting the projectile zip past where his head had been less than a second ago. The girl fell in his absence, growling as she hit the ground. "Heiwajima-san! It's not-" Mikado started, quickly standing.
"Shut up!" Shizuo snarled in response, cutting him off. "The type of scum who resort to kidnapping girls because you have a problem with ME don't get to talk!" The bartender started to quickly close the distance between them. Mikado stood frozen. Every part of him was screaming that he should run, but he couldn't bring himself to move. He couldn't leave that girl alone here. So he closed his eyes and braced himself for whatever was coming. He waited. A wayward breeze stirred his hair.
And nothing happened.
Mikado experimentally opened one eye. He couldn't wrap his head around what he saw at first, so he took a step back. Shizuo's fist hovered just beside where Mikado's ear had been. The girl he had been trying to save stood between them, her arms spread out, and Shizuo's arm passing just over her shoulder. What had just happened? Mikado wouldn't go so far as to call himself an expert on the bartender, but he had never known the man to miss, so long as his target wasn't Izaya. So what had happened now, that he would miss someone who wasn't moving?
"The kid is innocent" the girl explained flatly.
"Alright" Shizuo said as he withdrew his arm. He then wound that arm around the girl's waist as she let her arms fall and staggered into him, letting him catch her weight.
"Why…" Mikado wondered aloud, drawing their attention. "Why would you risk yourself for me?"
"You were trying to save me, right?" she asked in return, twisting in place and leaning against Shizuo like it was the most comfortable place in the world. "I was just returning the favor."
"We need to get going" Shizuo reminded.
"Wait a minute" Mikado begged. He quickly bowed to the girl still locked in Shizuo's hold. "Thank you for saving me."
"Don't mention it. Realy. I'm nothing special, so just forget about me, ok? You'll be better off for it" she asserted. With that much, the two walked off. Mikado was left there to wonder about the whole situation for a minute before finally finishing his walk home.
-!March 23rd!-
Anni was trapped. Shizuo's arms were locked around her torso, keeping her back pressed firmly against his chest. His breath tickled her neck as he slept. She had no intention of waking him, but the bathroom was a whole room over, and she couldn't move. So Anni wiggled her toes. She tried to remember what she'd been dreaming about last night. She did anything but listen to her bladder's complaints. What a way to start my birthday.
While it wasn't uncommon for them to fall asleep cuddling like this, it was rare to wake in such positions. Anni was simply too mobile in her sleep, and usually woke up with only a foot hooked on his ankle, or a hand on his arm. Maybe he'd had her pinned like this all night. Time seemed to crawl along at a snail's pace, but eventually her guardian began to stir.
"Mornin'" he mumbled at the back of her neck.
"Good morning sleepy head. Can I get up real quick?" Anni requested, pulling at one of his arms.
"Hmmm? Oh, 'course" Shizuo agreed drowsily, releasing her. In a matter of seconds, she had freed herself from the blankets and made the hasty dash across the little hall. The moment she closed the door behind herself, Anni heard her phone start ringing from the other room. Grumbling a curse, she ignored it and went about her business.
She came back to find Shizuo sitting on the futon with her phone pressed against his ear. As soon as she opened the door, he shot her a glare to root her in place. Whenever he didn't have them covered with his sunglasses, it was painfully obvious how expressionate his eyes were. They were also especially good at displaying irritation. "No, she never really mentioned it" he growled. After a moment's pause, he added "Tell her yourself." Without sparing her an instant from his glare, Shizuo stood to offer Anni her phone.
"Hello?" the little blonde asked hesitantly.
"You went and dug yourself quite a hole, eh birthday girl?" Alex asked with a taunting lilt.
"What?" she asked in return, watching as her boyfriend retreated back to bed. Anni took her call out into the livingroom.
"Were you trying to keep your special day a secret from him, or are you just that much of a ditz? How long have you been dating again? For shame."
"I'm no ditz, I just haven't thought to mention it, that's all. Am I a horrible person for that?" she asked as she plopped into her favorite cushion.
"Only a little. If I do recall, correct me if I'm wrong, he didn't tell you when his birthday was either, right?" he laughed through her whining.
"That hardly counts. I already knew when-"
"Double standards, little miss equality?" Alex asked, cutting her off. "It's hardly fair to hold him to-"
"Don't give me that spiel" Anni growled in return, crossing her legs on the couch.
"Then don't beat yourself up over being a forgetful little twerp! It's your day! Find some way to enjoy it, Little Anni. Oh, and I almost forgot. Since I didn't expect your better half, who is still far more handsome than yourself, to pick up your phone instead, you never got to hear this." Her brother then took a moment to sing her the entirety of the birthday song in a horrible key. Anni could only smile and enjoy the minute of blissful torture.
"You still can't sing, dork. Thank you."
"Any time! Go have yourself an awesome day. Enjoy your peace, while it still lasts of course" he bid with a chuckle, hanging up on her before she could respond.
Still smirking at her brother's small insight, Anni got up and headed back to the room she and her boyfriend shared. She had hoped to be able to climb under the covers and go back to snuggling him, but he was mostly dressed when she opened the door. He did up the last button of his shirt and was reaching for his vest when he saw her. A small part of Anni wished she had decided to barge in a little bit earlier.
"I'm heading out for a bit" Shizuo informed her.
"Sure. Before you go though, I'm sorry-"
"Don't start apologizing now" he sighed. With his vest on, he pushed past her and out the door, ruffling her hair along the way. Then he was gone.
It was far too lonely to stick around an empty apartment today of all days, so Anni decided to follow her brother's advice for once. She was going to go out and make her own day awesome. Once she'd taken care of herself, she was off on her own as well. Icecream for breakfast and a some time to meander about and think made for a wonderful contrast to her everyday. Between work, training, Maya and Shizuo, Anni never really had much time to herself anymore. Maybe spending her birthday on her own was just what she needed.
Her meandering left her on an overpass above some train tracks. She leaned a little over the railing and decided on a whim to wait around for a train to roll by. It was a nice day anyway. The sun was out, and there was only a small breeze. It was much too peaceful. With the chaos that would take over the city soon…
Her phone decided to take that moment and start going off, playing the tone she had set for texts. Anni growled softly in response and considered ignoring it. It was her day. She was supposed to do what she wanted, right? But it might also be someone trying to tell her something important. She begrudgingly pulled out her leash.
'Where did you go?' Shizuo asked. A variety of excuses and sarcastic responses came to mind, but her only real option was to regale him with a description of her location. Once she'd sent her response, she went back to her patient brooding. Wait, was it really brooding? She was just enjoying time by herself. It had nothing to do with no one else being around. Maya and her skink of a boyfriend didn't know anything about today anyway. Alex had called her and everything! She was still loved. The train she had been waiting for started to rattle on it's rails up from behind her, rewarding her patience. Anni had no reason to brood, right?
Something colorful suddenly appeared in front of her face, making her blink. It was an orange flower. Was that… a daylily? It certainly smelled like one. Anni traced the source of the flower to her side, where Shizuo stood, offering it to her. "Thank you" she said with reverence as she accepted the present, in awe that he would bring her such a thing. It seemed far more beautiful than it should, considering she'd grown up around these flowers.
"Happy birthday" Shizuo offered, bringing her attention back. "It's no surprise party, but I hope-"
"It's wonderful" Anni interrupted. She twirled the stem slowly between her fingers as the train rumbled closer. Somehow, she couldn't wrap her head around the fact that he had gotten her something so perfect, then hunted her down to give it to her. "How did-" she started, stopping in the middle as her boyfriend did something she hadn't expected. He placed a finger under her chin to direct her face back up from admiring her flower.
Anni would claim that she had become a bit of an expert with it came to her guardian's expressions, partly out of concern for her own safety, but now she had no idea what he was thinking. His face was so calm as the be completely unreadable.
Later, the little blonde would swear her heart was doing backflips as Shizuo leaned in. She would adamantly assert that the freight train rumbling by underneath her was the only reason her knees felt weak. She would insist that it was impossible for the forte of Ikebukuro to have lips that soft. Then she would gloss over the part where she lept forward to steal more kisses the moment he pulled away.
-A/N-
I'm terribly sorry I've been away so long. It took me a while to finally put this one together. I hope you enjoyed it!
On another note, this is the last chapter before we start with the events of x2 Shou. Once I start writing there, I should be able to get chapters out more quickly. Anni will be much more involved in the events of second season, so I'll have a lot of guidelines to write with. Until then, take care!
Edited by my dear friend Faded Phoenix