A/N: Thank you, as always for your patience and comments! This will most likely be the second to last chapter. Enjoy!

Three weeks later, Shinra announced that Shizuo was well enough to go home. His bruises and cuts had healed and he no longer needed an IV. He would need to be in a wheelchair or use crutches for a few more weeks until his leg healed, but other than that, he was mostly back to his old self. It was clear to everyone that weeks in a hospital bed had made him antsy. He was constantly fidgeting with his fingers. The expression he carried on his face was a mixture of gloominess and frustration.

Tom came by to visit him a few times. The first time, Shizuo had apologized profusely for not being able to work. Izaya watched as Tom scolded him for worrying about such a thing. "Just focus on getting better, okay?" Tom had said with a smile. Shizuo had looked upset—his eyes, downcast, a frown plastered onto his face. One aspect of Shizuo's personality came through to Izaya in that moment. He hated to feel useless. He hated to let people down. Izaya had felt the guilt rise in his throat like hot bile.

However, it appeared that Shizuo didn't want Izaya to blame himself. Every time Izaya brought up what had happened—with the exception of his original, heartfelt apology at his bedside—Shizuo would silence him with a wave of his hand.

"It's not your fault. Those two gangs wanted you and me dead, and there's nothing we could have done about it. Besides, you saved me," he had said during one of Izaya's attempted apologies.

Although he had been one of the people to save Shizuo, Izaya didn't want to claim credit for it. If Shiki hadn't been there or if Celty hadn't shown up, they both probably would have died. Not to mention the fact that Shizuo had been captured, in part, to get to Izaya. He wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to forgive himself for that.

"So, where do you wanna go?" Asked Shinra as they wheeled Shizuo out of his hospital room for the final time.

It was a question that had been debated for some time. Izaya wanted him to stay at his apartment so that he could watch over him and help him recuperate. Shizuo always said that he didn't want to burden him, and that he should just go home to his own apartment. These arguments had no winners. Both of them were so stubborn in their opinions, that they had waited until the last minute to resolve the issue.

"He's coming home with me," said Izaya before Shizuo had a chance to speak. Shizuo looked up at him, clearly annoyed, but didn't protest this time.

They helped him into Celty's carriage and drove to Shinjuku. Everyone was quiet during the journey. They should have been happy, or at least content. After all, Izaya was completely healed, other than the twinge of pain he got in his shoulder from time to time, and Shizuo had pulled through, as well. But they had never celebrated. They felt lucky to be alive, but didn't voice this out loud. Maybe they were worried that they weren't quite out of the woods yet. The Black Hats and White Gloves weren't necessarily gone. Shiki and some of his men had gone to check out the warehouse a few days after the battle had taken place. He hadn't found anything. No bodies. No blood. Nothing. None of the papers had reported what had happened. There were no police reports. It was pretty obvious that someone affiliated with the gangs had cleaned the place up before anyone else could see what had happened. None of them had discussed this either, although they all knew that it would need to be discussed sooner or later.

It didn't take long to get to Izaya's apartment. They had left Shinra's at sundown, and now the sky was pitch black. A crescent moon hung overhead. No stars were visible.

"I'll sleep on the couch," said Shizuo as Izaya unlocked the door.

"Don't be ridiculous."

Celty wheeled the reluctant, yet silent Shizuo to Izaya's room and helped him into the bed. She asked Izaya if they needed anything else before she left. Izaya shook his head. Shinra had given them medicine to manage Shizuo's pain and the bit of swelling he still had. Everything else, Izaya could take care of.

"Thank you," Izaya said quietly as Celty left his apartment. She turned on her heel, started at him a moment, and gave him a short wave before turning back around and walking toward the elevator.

His apartment was eerily silent. The fridge emitted a steady, low hum, but other than that, he couldn't hear anything. He and Shizuo hadn't been alone together for a while, and Izaya felt his heart began to beat faster as anxiety flooded his mind. He poured a glass of water before entering his bedroom.

"Do you need anything?" He asked, his voice slightly higher pitched than usual. He placed the glass of water on the nightstand next to Shizuo.

"No, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

The silence that followed was awkward and maddening. Izaya couldn't take it.

"Are you mad at me?"

Shizuo looked at him, mouth open in surprise.

"I wouldn't blame you if you were, you know? Please, just tell me what you're thinking." Izaya looked at the ground.

"Are you tired?" Shizuo asked.

"Yeah, a bit…I guess." Izaya hadn't been expecting the question. It seemed like a strange response.

"Can we go to sleep?"

"Uh, yeah, of course. Do you need to use the bathroom?"

Shizuo shook his head.

"Alright. Goodnight, then. Just call for me if you need anything."

Izaya turned to go, but Shizuo stopped him.

"Wait, I don't want you to sleep on the couch," he paused, "I want you to sleep here. With me."

Izaya felt a warmth flood his body. He knew he was blushing.

"Uh…okay. I-I'll be right back."

Izaya almost ran to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face and vigorously brushed his teeth. I sounded so stupid back there. What's wrong with me? He thought as he tore a brush through his hair. Why am I so nervous? What am I afraid of? He wanted this. He loved Shizuo. However, this seemed like it was going way too fast. He had never slept next to anyone before. It seemed to him like he was letting his guard down. Intimacy wasn't his strong suit.

He changed into a long-sleeved shirt and sweatpants. It was February now, and even in his apartment, the air was cold and biting. His feet were numb. His eyes felt dry and unfocused.

He took a series of deep breaths as he walked back to his bedroom. They did little to calm his nerves. Around him, the apartment was dark barren. Light faintly seeped in through the curtains covering his living room window. Streetlights. Headlights shining from cars rocketing to and from unknowable origins and destinations. He stepped inside his room.

Shizuo hadn't moved. He sat there, propped up on a couple of pillows and stared straight at Izaya. Neither of them spoke. Eventually, Shizuo sank onto the bed, sighing as his back straightened out against the mattress. After a moment of hesitation, Izaya scooted in next to him, leaving almost a foot of space between them.

"What is this?" Izaya finally asked, unable to bear the silence any longer. "What are we?"

Izaya heard Shizuo roll over. He was pretty sure he was staring at him. "What do you want to be?" Shizuo asked.

Izaya couldn't form words. He had no exact, correct answer. No words existed that could possibly represent what they had been, what they were now, and what they could be in the future. Instead, Izaya decided to answer by leaning over and cupping Shizuo's face in his hands. He ran a thumb over his skin until he found his lips. He planted a soft peck there before pulling away, heart racing.

However, they weren't apart for long. Shizuo grabbed the back of Izaya's head and pulled him in close while running his fingers through his hair. The gesture caused warmth to rise in Izaya's cheeks. He felt hairs stand up on the back of his neck. Shizuo brought their lips together. After a moment, Izaya parted his lips and slid his tongue out, intertwining it with Shizuo's. Shizuo sighed and ran his hands up Izaya's chest. A minute later, he broke this kiss and made his way down Izaya's neck, leaving small, delicate kisses in his wake. Izaya gasped as Shizuo began sucking and nibbling at the base of his throat. He grabbed onto Shizuo's strong shoulders to steady himself.

Shizuo stopped and tugged at Izaya's shirt, which Izaya then hurriedly ripped off before helping Shizuo out of his own shirt. As the room was dark, neither of them could really see the other. Instead, they felt their way up each other's chests. Izaya gingerly traced his fingers over Shizuo's abs. Shizuo stroked the curve of Izaya's spine. Izaya felt a shiver run through him and he melted further into Shizuo's embrace.

Shizuo yawned, and Izaya felt a twinge of panic run through him. Was he boring him? Had he done something wrong?

"I'm really sorry," Shizuo said with in a groggy tone, "these pain meds make me tired."

"That's okay," said Izaya softly. He was relieved. "Let's go to bed."

Izaya flipped over onto his side and Shizuo snuggled up behind him. His right arm curled around Izaya's stomach, bringing him close. Suddenly, he felt so, indescribably peaceful. A few seconds later, Shizuo began to snore softly. It took no time at all for Izaya to fall asleep, as well, feeling warm and safe in Shizuo's arms.