A growing bond

A/N:- Thank you for the reviews and onto to the next chapter. Enjoy.

Maybe he was lucky, maybe everything in his life was just a bad dream. Reluctantly opening his eyes, he could see that he was in his bed, underneath the covers. Glancing down he could see Izaya in the bed next to him, head on his shoulder, slim arm around his waist. What the hell had happened? Shaking his head, he tried to move, alerting the flea that he was awake.

"Are you awake? Shizu-chan." His breath hitched as he met sharp crimson eyes. "...Yeah." Izaya still hadn't let go of him. "Did I-?" He couldn't bring himself to ask if he had managed to harm yet another person. "Hm? No, no one got hurt." It was weird, he should be breaking away and running, but right now having Izaya next to him wasn't that bad. His bedroom door was closed, the mess he had created was gone.

Was Kyouko okay? Had he hurt her feelings? Was his dad back yet? Or maybe Kasuka? He was full of self pity and questions, but then again what changed. "...Sorry." He would never normally apologise to the flea, but this time he hadn't done anything wrong. It was him that had messed up and that was something Shizuo couldn't forgive himself for. "For what? What do you think is your fault?"

"...It doesn't matter." If Izaya only knew a little, he wasn't going to be the one filling in the blanks. "You're mine, protozoan. I won't allow anyone to harm you." The blond gave him a bitter laugh. "No, you do that perfectly fine yourself. Our deal is done Izaya, we're finished." Breaking out of the grip, he made his way to the door. "You can't run away any more." Shaking his head, he stormed out of the room. He wasn't running from anything.

Still his heart beat quickened as he made his way downstairs, nearly all the lights were off, it looked like it was late. "Kichirou! If I'm to be a part of this family, I need to know if there are any problems." His future step mother sounded upset. The lights from the kitchen were on, he could already hear raised voices. "Its in the past, we thought there would be nothing to worry about."Slumping down on the bottom of the stairs, he rested his head on the wall.

He had done this. He was pulling his family apart again. Shizuo gripped his head in his hands. Stupid. Stupid. Why was he always doing things like this? Coffee eyes stared at the door in front of him. You can't run away any more. Try me. Throwing open the door, he ran into the cold night, he didn't bother looking back, his feet pounding against the ground, with no where to go. Where could a monster like him go?

He was exactly what his mother had told him he was. A monster, an abomination, a curse, a child that should never have been born. Shizuo continued to run, his breathing becoming harsher the more he put into it. His legs hadn't started cramping yet, so he knew he could handle it. After all you couldn't take down a monster, using human methods. So he carried on, the moon his guide as he followed the twists and turns, quickly becoming lost. Who was he kidding? He had been lost a long time ago.

"Shizuo!" Shit he wasn't expecting anyone to recognize him. He knew straight away, it wasn't Izaya. Looking up, he saw a familiar looking car, guilt eating away at him as he saw the driver. "...Tom." He wasn't ready to face him yet, not after... Now his legs started to tire, rendering him unable to move. He was helpless as his lover climbed out of the car, walking towards him. "Shizuo! What are you doing out this late?" What was his lover doing out this late?

The older man looked worried about him. Turning his head away he couldn't bear to see the concern in those soft eyes. "Shizuo? What are you doing out in your pyjamas?" Huh? Glancing down he saw that he was wearing his flannel pyjamas, his feet bare, already cut up and bleeding. Shrugging his shoulders, his eyes widened as he was picked up bridal style and carried towards the car. He couldn't find the strength to argue.

The blond was placed in the passenger seat, the seat belt fastened. Neither one said anything as Tom drove them god knows where. They stopped outside somewhere unfamiliar, once again, he was carried in his lover's arms. "You know I can walk." Tom shook his head. "Have you seen the state of your feet? I can't send you home like that."

Which meant he was at his lover's home. The door was unlocked and he was carried inside. It was the last place he wanted to be. Tom's home was neat and tidy, an old television and sofa sat in the room, along with a couple of cabinets. He was lowered onto the sofa, the older man already fussing over him. "You weren't in school today. Should you be out of bed?"

Shrugging his shoulders, he found a patch of floor to stare at. "Shizuo, talk to me. Please." He couldn't bare to look at him. With a sigh his lover vanished coming back with a first aid kit. "Keep your feet elevated." He barely moved as his feet were dabbed with antiseptic and wrapped in bandages. He hadn't felt anything and he still couldn't feel anything. "Why were you running?" He said nothing. "Do you want me to call your parents?" Again nothing.

A warm hand rested on his, he knew he didn't deserve it. "Shizuo, let me in. Please. You're only hurting yourself." Raising his head he looked into his lover's concerned eyes. He never wanted to hurt him, but he had never wanted them to become so close. "Tom, we can't do this any more." The best way forward was for him to end it all, cut everything away. "Shizuo, I love you." Shaking his head, he could feel his eyes leaking unwanted tears. "I don't. I'm sorry."

This time he did wince as he stood, putting pressure on his injured feet. "I can change your mind. Just give me a chance." His heart stopped in his chest, seeing the pained expression. "I slept with some one else." He was scooped up, carried into the bedroom and dropped onto the bed. "Shizuo, I love you." Shaking his head he tried to move, finding he couldn't. "Tom, didn't you hear me?"

The buttons on his top were quickly undone, revealing every mark Izaya had given him. Forcing himself to look up he could see the heartbroken look. "...It doesn't matter." His eyes widened at the predatory look he was given. His lover's hand slid into his boxers. "Tom, stop." He didn't want to do this any more. Sitting up he found himself pushed against the headboard, his top was removed along with his bottoms.

"I love you." His flaccid dick was gripped in Tom's large hand. Already he was comparing him to Izaya, no not even that. All he was thinking about was the flea. "I love you." He couldn't do anything as smooth lips made their way along his chest. "I love you." That hand moved, but it wasn't doing anything for him, he was too torn up emotionally. "Tom, do-" His words were snatched away as insistent lips pressed against his own.

His body jolted as he felt something big press against his entrance, he hadn't even been prepared. His wrists were held against the bed, the larger body crushing against his own, making him feel...scared. "I love you, Shizuo." And then the door rang. He was released, as his broken lover went to answer the door. As quick as he could he put his clothes on, slightly disturbed that he was shaking. "Hey there, Tom-Sensei, is Shizu-chan here?" Izaya. Already he was making his way to the door. "No, he's not. How did you find this address?"

Shaking his head, he turned away, cracking the window open and climbing down. Shizuo grimaced as his feet touched the ground. Now where the hell did he go? Taking a guess he turned away from the house. Tom hadn't taken it well and he had to wonder if his lover would actually hurt him. A hand rested on his shoulder, making him jump. "Shizu-chan."

It was nearly impossible, but he felt himself relax. "What are you doing here? Flea." His hands were still shaking. "You ran away again, protozoan. Your father isn't happy." Yeah, he knew that. He had a lot to think about. "What happened to your feet?" Great, Izaya was being talkative. "That's what you get when you run around without shoes on."

The flea grabbed his arm forcing him to stop. "Come on then, I'll try and carry you." Shizuo laughed at the thought. "It would be a waste of time. I can walk fine." He jumped when Izaya gripped around his knee. "Hey, I'm serious. I'm not letting you carry me." The annoyance pouted. "You let Tom carry you." He felt his blood run cold. "You saw?" He hadn't known he was being followed.

"Yeah. I was at the window, before I knocked on the door." Which meant he had seen everything. "Thanks. I tried ending things with him." He had no idea where he was going, continuing to follow Izaya, who stopped to sit on a wall. "He didn't take it so well. I knew you'd choose me in the end." The teen shook his head. "Who's choosing you? There is no us Izaya."

"We'll see, Shizu-chan." Izaya remained his usual happy self, swinging his legs. Shizuo tilted his head, gazing up at the sky. "How did you know about my mother?" Judging by what he had heard it looked like Kyouko didn't even know. "Hm? You talk in your sleep. And I got curious about my new family." Thanks to the flea knowing, he had been able to calm him down. Izaya of all people. "Was it bad? There's nothing about you going to a therapist or anything."

"I refused to go. Why am I telling you this?" Crimson eyes met his own. "Because you need someone to listen." Shaking his head, he found his mouth opening. "It was my fault. Everything was fine until she found out I had this strength. To her I was nothing but a monster. You said the same thing when we first met." Izaya shifted closer and he found small tremors running through him. "Ah, but I was saying it to tease you. I'm an informant, Shizu-chan. I know a lot of monsters. You're more like an over-active puppy."

Shizuo gaped. "You're calling me a dog?" But it wasn't a monster. "No, a puppy. Not fully grown yet. With the blond hair maybe a labrador or a golden retriever." Izaya started giggling. "You know I can crush you." Izaya's hand slipped into his own. "Most likely, but I could do the same. You can't get rid of me, Shizu-chan. So don't bother trying." The flea jumped from the wall, sticking his arm out. "Our cab is here."

He knew he was screwed when they stepped outside, the front door was already open, his dad was standing in the doorway. "Shit." Izaya took his hand leading him down the path. "Kichirou, I found Shizu-chan." His father smiled. "Thank you. Good night Izaya." And just like that the flea was dismissed. "Shizuo follow me." Closing the door, he stepped lightly following his father into the living room. "Sit."

Shizuo sat on the sofa, his father standing with his arms crossed. "What's the problem?" He looked up seeing, not anger but worry. "I can't help you if you don't tell me." Clenching his hands together, he lowered his head, knowing he couldn't get out of their little heart to heart. "Me. I'm the problem." He heard sigh. "There's nothing wrong with you, what your mother-" The blond cut him off.

"Was true. I'm not normal, dad. I hurt anyone and anything I touch." Now the older man took a seat next to him. "I should have known you weren't okay. You remember everything?" Reluctantly he nodded. "Yeah, I have nightmares every night. This time I almost hurt Kyouko." A hand rested on his shoulder. "You didn't. This isn't your fault. If it's too soon, I can slow things down."

That was the last thing he wanted. "No! I want you to be happy. The Orihara's are nice people." Even Izaya had his moments. "Then what can I do?" Shizuo had thought a lot about everything, what was happening around him only made him more certain. "When you move...I won't be coming with you."

"Son, where do you plan to go? You have school." The teen nodded. "I'll still go to school. I'll still come and see you, but I think I should live on my own. It will be safer for everyone." He watched his father frown, mouth opening to object. "Please dad."

"Damn it. We'll talk about this when you've calmed down. If its what you still want then, I'll find somewhere for you." Leaning over, he threw his arms around his father. "Thanks." The older man nodded stiffly. "Hurry and go to bed, you're freezing." Moving as quickly as he could, he made his way upstairs. It wouldn't be long until he and Izaya were separated.

Speaking of the devil, the flea was still awake, the light still on in his bedroom. Switching it off, he climbed into bed, not at all surprised when a slim arm wrapped around his waist. "If you start molesting me, I will throw you through the window." It earned him a laugh, Izaya's breath tickling the back of his neck. "I'd still climb back in."

The two lay next to each other, neither one quite ready for sleep yet. "You know a lot about me, don't you?" He didn't think Izaya would answer. "I know everything about you, Shizu-chan. You're mine." Shaking his head, he tried to calm the heat filling his cheeks. "Keep dreaming. You know who my stalker is, but you won't tell me." The arm across his waist twitched. "No, I'm not telling you."

"Then give me a clue. Is it...Tom?" After his lover's reaction, he was becoming full of doubt. A sigh told him Izaya didn't want to continue this conversation. "If I said yes, you'd make sure you stayed clear of him. No, its not." Shizuo relaxed. "Good." It was just a slip then. He wouldn't really hurt him. "Protozoan. Be careful." His eyes widened, at the genuine concern in Izaya's voice. Sitting up, he lifted his top over his head, before laying back down, the flea's bare arm touching his skin.

"You did that on purpose." Shrugging his shoulders, he closed his eyes. "Its too hot, night flea." The arm around him tightened. "Night, Shizu-chan." Biting his lip he wondered how many remaining days they had together. If they got past everything, the two could actually become... friends. A set of knuckles rapped against his forehead. "Stop thinking and go to sleep." Yeah, everything else could wait.

Next:- A forgotten promise