Shizuo followed Izaya into his apartment, closing the door behind him as the informant fell onto the couch with a sigh.

"Ahh, always working me to the bone. I never get a break!" Izaya whined. Shizuo walked toward him and leaned over the couch, looking down at the flea.

"Can't you just turn him down?"

"You make it sound like we're planning a trip to the zoo." Izaya mumbled under his breath. He opened his eyes into slits and stared up at Shizuo. "I'll just say that no one turns down Shiki-san."

"Mmm…that high up on the food chain?"

"Aye."

Shizuo nodded with understanding, and rested his elbows on the back of the couch. He tilted his head a bit and watched as Izaya closed his eyes again. "You need a minute to relax?"

"Mmm…just a second to wind down, I suppose." Izaya grinned, "So thoughtful. Never thought a beast could be that way."

The ex-blonde rolled his eyes, "Yeah yeah. Well I never thought a pest could resist causing problems." Izaya laughed at that, and shook his head.

"Oh Shizu-chan, you have no idea what problems I get myself caught up in."

"I have an idea."

"Oh?" Izaya opened his eyes and tilted his head up to look at Shizuo, "Now you've peaked my curiosity. What problems do you think I'm waist deep in?"

Shizuo chuckled a bit, "Me."

Izaya frowned and sighed, sitting up quickly with a grunt. "Ahh, Shizu-chan. Always taking the blame, ne?" The informant hunched over, resting his elbows on his knees. "Perhaps I have read you wrong all these years. Thinking that you tried to flea from the blame when I threw it at you. Yet you always try to grasp it and embrace it."

"Flea, what are you even talking about?" Shizuo rumbled, narrowing his eyes. Izaya looked over his shoulder with a sly grin.

"Oh nothing. Just talking to myself." Izaya stood up, turning to walk over toward the coat rack where his jacket was hung. As Izaya walked past Shizuo, he patted his hand on the Shizuo's shoulder, "You're not the biggest of my problems. So just don't focus on it."

Shizuo trailed Izaya with his eyes, turning in his seat to watch as the informant pulled his trademark jacket over his shoulders. Izaya pulled the hood over his head, hiding the melancholy grimace he had on his face. However, Shizuo had already caught the glimpse of it.

"Oi, Flea. You ok?"

Izaya stood silent for a moment, taking a deep breath. No, Shizu-chan. Because you're becoming too big of a factor in my life. Izaya clenched his hand and turned around with a grin on his face, hiding his emotions and thoughts with a perfect mask, "Never been better, Shizu-chan~! Now let's go for that walk, shall we?"

Shizuo nodded and stood up, brow creasing as he tried to peel away the mask that he knew Izaya had glued onto his expression. But no matter how hard he stared, Izaya smiled back at him with a gleam of confidence in his eyes. He truly looked unfazed, but deep down Shizuo knew he was rattled; the gears in his head were turning and trying to figure out how to get through life now that Shizuo was a big part of it.

He didn't want to be a burden. Not even to the flea.

"Izaya-"

"I think we should stop by the pastry shop on our trip today. I don't know about you, but I would love to get more of those delicious truffles. And I'm sure you want a new treat, ne?"

Izaya continued to ramble as they walked to the elevators. Shizuo wanted to interject, but Izaya refused to let him. The informant knew exactly what Shizuo wanted to do. He was overly concerned with him, and Izaya wanted no part of that. So he continued to talk whenever Shizuo would take a breath to try and speak up.

Skipping into the open elevator, Izaya spun around; his jacket twirling around him as he smiled. "Oh, Shizu-chan, don't you think that -"

"Izaya! Shut up already!" Shizuo barked. He scowled and rolled his eyes. Shizuo stepped inside and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "Won't you let me get one word in?"

Red eyes dragged over to watch the doors close, the frown on his face twitching slightly. "Nn, didn't exactly plan on that." He heard Shizuo groan and giggled a bit, "Ahaha, do you have something on your mind?~"

"Yeah. It's about you actually."

"If you're going to say something about not wanting to be a burden, you don't have to talk. You're not being a burden Shizu-chan. Perhaps a bump in the road, but not something you should be concerned about." Izaya sighed, leaning on the opposite walls, his fingers running along the metal bar attached to the side. "So just don't bring it up."

"But why?" Shizuo grunted, shrugging, "I mean, you don't even have to do this anymore. According to the deal."

"Ahh yeah, the deal. I extended it."

"Extended it?" Shizuo gaped, causing Izaya to look up at him. The smaller man nodded.

"Aye. I decided that you were winning this game, and decided to continue to play along until I win." Izaya chuckled. He could practically feel the anger radiating off the ex-blonde.

"Fleaaa…you don't just extend rules you cheater." Shizuo scowled. Suddenly, he thought of a simple reason why Izaya might extend his own deadline, "Heh, unless you want to ke-"

Shizuo was cut short as a low rumble echoed in the elevator. Izaya looked up toward the center of the ceiling swiftly, eyes widening a bit.

"Shizu-chan?"

"What was that…?"