Izaya didn't bother knocking before he barged into Shinra's apartment. There he was, the doctor, casually sitting on the couch with Shizuo over a cup of tea.
"Izaya? What are you doing here?" he asked, looking at him with his concerned expression. He probably was looking for wounds on him.
"Where is she?"
"Oh, you came to see Celty?"
"Namie. Where is she?"
Shinra looked at him for a long moment, visibly confused. "You mean Yagiri-san? Why would I know?"
And before Izaya could say anything, there was laughter behind him. Malicious, arrogant laughter.
"Oh, Orihara, Orihara... When did you become so gullible?"
Shiki entered the apartment slowly.
"Oh, and there he is, Shizuo Heiwajima. The man you were so desperately trying to escape."
"What the hell is going on, flea?" Shizuo stood up, cautious.
"I'd like to know as well," Izaya muttered, eyeing his employer. "Where's Namie?"
"Now that's the riddle," Shiki spread his arms, pretending to be clueless. "I must admit, I've never seen you so worked up about something. Who would've guessed that secretary of yours is so precious to you?"
Izaya took out his switchblade and pointed it at Shiki, "I'm gonna ask again. Where is Namie?"
"Oh, Orihara..." Shiki faked concern, "I did tell you you need to be reminded of your place, right? Would losing Yagiri-san make you more cooperative?"
And Izaya laughed, shaking his head. "If you really think so, I've overestimated you."
"Oh?"
"Didn't I tell you this is no way to do business with me? Bad news, you just lost an informant."
"Is that so?" Shiki smirked. "Orihara, your stubbornness was something I admired, but now it's just irritating. I assure you, you're where you are only because I allowed it. You're in no place to make demands."
He lit up a cigarette, before continuing: "You said this is no way to do business with you. Look at yourself. Pointing that silly little thing at everything you don't comprehend." he took a puff, "I'm giving you a week to figure out your life or whatever. Consider it a token of my respect to you." and he left.
Izaya stood frozen in the same position for a moment, before hiding his knife and fishing out his phone from his pocket.
One signal, two-
"Izaya, what the fuck!? Where are you!? Do you need me to pick you up!?" Namie's voice rang in his ear.
He sighed, "That fucking- No, I'll be fine. But you can order some ootoro."
"Ootoro? Did something happen?"
"I'll tell you when I get home." and with that he hung up.
"What the heck was that about, flea?" Shizuo asked, and only then Izaya remembered that he was still at Shinra's.
He waved his hand dismissively, "Yakuza shit," he said, and after moment of silence, he added: "Sorry 'bout that."
"It's okay," Shinra replied, sitting down with a sigh, "Wouldn't be the first time."
"Alright, have fun with whatever it is that you were doing and I'll be on my way." Izaya announced, making his way towards the door.
"Wait!" he heard Shizuo's voice, and froze, "Actually, I'll be on my way, too."
Izaya blinked, "So?"
"I'll walk with you for a bit."
The informant's heart was beating fast, as he tried to comprehend what exactly was going on. Shizuo wanted to walk with him? Why?
Was it about earlier? When he showed up, saying he was Hercules? Saying he was tired of fighting and wanted to be friends with him?
That must've been it. But just how crazy Shizuo could get? Wanting to befriend him? Izaya Orihara, his greatest enemy? The man who ruined his life?
"Whatever," Izaya muttered and walked out of Shinra's apartment.
The streets were full of busy, hurrying people. It would be easy to lose Shizuo in the crowd. But for some reason, Izaya was curious. And so he kept quiet, waiting for Shizuo to start talking.
"It's weird when you're quiet like this." the blonde started, taking out a cigarette from his pocket.
Izaya just shrugged, not looking in his direction.
"Look, I meant what I said earlier." he continued.
"That you're Hercules?" the raven couldn't help but snort.
"That I want to stop fighting!"
"We're not fighting right now. Yay~ congratulations, Shizu-chan! Satisfied?" he mocked Shizuo, hoping he'd just get mad and go away.
But instead, he just sighed and said, "Can you stop for a second?"
"Stop what?"
"You know what."
Izaya narrowed his eyes, "Well then, what do you want from me, Shizu-chan?"
"Just cooperate. Have a normal fucking conversation with me."
"Talk then. I'm listening."
Shizuo closed his eyes for a moment with a soft sigh. He wasn't expecting befriending Izaya to be easy, no. But this? The raven seemed on edge, like a child that was forced to do something, but also... A little bit... Nervous?
"I- uh... Just- shit, why is it so difficult?" he groaned. How was he supposed to even start?
Meanwhile Izaya was getting more and more intrigued. "What is?"
"I felt like a monster." Shizuo said quietly.
"What?"
"When I broke your hand. I felt like a monster."
"Apology accepted... I guess?" Izaya muttered, taken aback.
"And I realized, that I am exactly what you're always calling me. And I don't want that, Izaya. So, from now on, I- I would like to try and talk to you, like this, instead of chasing you around, throwing stuff at you."
"You want me to be your therapist?" Izaya snorted.
"No, I want you to be my friend."
And suddenly, his smile felt forced. Friend, huh?
"You're no fun when you're not mad." he whispered, somewhat hurt by the suggestion. He felt lost. He didn't understand Shizuo, and he hated it.
"Well, you'll have to deal with it." the blonde just shrugged.
Izaya scoffed.
Shizuo was taken aback by Izaya's behavior. What the hell was going on with the flea? He was acting almost like a normal person, without his insults and mocking.
Now that he thought about it, the yakuza guy did say Izaya was trying to escape him. Indeed when they met earlier... Izaya was carrying a suitcase, and his secretary was trying to stop him. So... Was he fleeing?
Shizuo froze. "Izaya..." he murmured, not sure what he wanted to say next.
"Great. Now your protozoan brain overheated." the informant stated after a few moments of silence. "You there, Shizu-chan?" he waved his hand in front of Shizuo's face.
"Stop it!" Shizuo tsked, grabbing it.
Only barely he noticed how Izaya's eyes widened.
"Stupid flea." and he let the raven go.
To say Izaya wasn't expecting that would be a huge understatement. Shizuo just lit up another cigarette, and continued to walk side by side with him.
"So, where were you going? Earlier, I mean." the brute casually asked, as if it was the most normal thing on earth.
"Vacation." he lied with ease, hoping to satisfy blonde's fake curiosity. But, as always, Shizuo was unpredictable.
"Except yakuza guys don't go after you for going on vacation, do they?"
"And why the hell do you care?" Izaya tsked.
"'Cause he said you were trying to escape from me."
"Well, all the more reason to be happy. Your greatest enemy - gone and defeated."
They looked at each other for a moment. Izaya angry, Shizuo surprised. Because, since when did Izaya lose his composure like that?
Shizuo took a puff, and said: "Except were not enemies anymore. We're friends, remember?"
"Shizu-chan, I swear to god, if you don't stop calling us friends, I'll kill you here and now."
But Shizuo just laughed. Wait, he did what?
"What are you laughing at, you protozoan!?" Izaya swung his knife at the brute, but he grabbed his hand again, gently.
"It's like we switched our roles, isn't it?" he continued to chuckle.
Izaya blinked. And then, he laughed, too.
"Now, did you say you have ootoro?"