If Shizuo had thought the day that he'd eaten that cookie was a bad one, every day after he failed to hit Izaya with that trash can was somehow even worse.

The taste of the cookies never left his mind, no matter what he was doing. When he had his milk in the morning before work, he wondered how the cookies would taste dipped in the milk. When his sweet tooth reared its ugly head, it also yearned for those mouth watering chocolate chip cookies. When Tom bought him sweets from what used to be his favorite bakery, they didn't compare to the ones the flea had made.

He hated it.

He hated it so much he couldn't handle it.

His temper flared again, to the point that only a few days after his encounter with Izaya all their clients were quick to pay instead of facing a visit to the Intensive Care Unit courtesy of the furious blonde.

Tom was obviously worried about him, but Shizuo couldn't bring himself to explain it. How the hell was he supposed to tell his senpai that one bite of one stupid cookie led to him becoming a complete disaster? He would just have to pretend that everything was fine.

Unfortunately, his attempts to act normal combined with everything else only left him even more distracted. This time, he didn't notice the client's gun until the trigger was pulled. Thankfully, the gun was aimed at Shizuo, and he was able to move enough that the bullet only hit his shoulder.

"Don't say 'thankfully!' when you're talking about getting shot!" Tom worriedly snapped at him as Shinra carefully dug out the bullet.

Shizuo narrowed his eyes and stared at the table. "It's fine, I can take the hit better than you can."

"That doesn't mean it's okay that you got shot. He could have killed you." Tom's tone calmed as he let out a concerned sigh. "Shizuo, you've been distracted like this all week. What's bothering you?"

The bodyguard was silent, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment as he thought about exactly why he was so distracted. It was so stupid, he got shot because he was busy thinking of a cookie. How the hell could he admit that?

When he didn't reply after a full minute, Celty got up from her spot next to Shinra, went to the kitchen, and returned with a pile of ice cream mochi on a decorative red plate. She set it on the table in front of him and slid it forward, an obvious bribe.

"Celty!" Shinra exclaimed from next to the bodyguard, eyes shining behind his glasses. "My love, you are so kind! Bringing delicious food to your hardworking husband! It's so domestic! Why maybe next time you come home from work I can return the favor by-"

A chocolate ice cream mochi quickly slammed into Shinra's face and then tumbled down into his lap as Celty shut up his ramblings, smoke billowing out of her neck. Shinra, unashamed, happily scooped the mochi off his lap and popped it in his mouth, then continued stitching Shizuo's wound.

Shizuo stared at the mochi with a frown. He wasn't sure if mochi would make him feel better, when he was still craving a specific flea's annoyingly delicious food. Still, Celty was his friend and was trying to make him feel better. The least he could do was help ease their worrying a little bit.

He slowly reached out and grabbed one of the white mochi, holding the cold desert in his hand as he sighed. "It's the flea." He admitted, deciding on going with a half truth. "He's being extra annoying recently."

Tom looked a little unsure. "Really? But he hasn't bothered us on our shifts in a few weeks now." Then, his gaze turned protective. "Is he bothering you outside of work?"

"Something like that." Shizuo muttered. "It's making it hard to focus on things like work, or relaxing, or people with guns."

[You know that's what Izaya wants, right? He wants you to be distracted and frustrated all day because of him.] Celty pointed out. [The best way to get him off your back is to not show him that it's working.]

Shizuo shrugged his uninjured shoulder. "I know, but it's easier said than done with the flea. If I do that, he'll probably escalate and get me fired from another job."

"He does have a habit of that." Tom agreed. "But don't forget, our company will never fire you. We know his history with your jobs, so it won't work with us. That's one less thing to worry about, right?"

"I guess…" Shizuo rolled the mochi between his fingers. "But he'll still find a way to ruin my life. It's what he does. I think I'm safe, and then he ruins the day when I least expect it."

Desperate for an excuse to stop talking, Shizuo bit into the mochi ice cream. The cold against his teeth didn't bother him as usual, and he let the flavors overwhelm him. The vanilla taste filled his mouth, the ice cream was just the right consistency and the mochi was the perfect texture.

It was a delicious treat.

With a… Familiar sweetness.

Shizuo froze as a realization hit him, his heart beating against his chest. "Shinra…" He began, his words slow and deliberate. "Where did you get these mochi?"

Shinra didn't look up from where he was cleaning his surgical tools. "Huh? The mochi?" He hummed thoughtfully. "I, uh, got them from the store."

The blonde bodyguard instantly jumped to his feet, his knees hitting the low table and flipping it over. He turned his ire to Shinra, pointing a finger in the startled doctor's face. "That's a fucking lie, and you know it!" He pointed to the desert that now was scattered across the floor. "Izaya made those! I know he did!"

[Shizuo! You need to calm down!] Celty tried to tell him, but he shoved the phone out of his line of sight and glared down at the doctor.

"TELL THE TRUTH!" He ordered, no longer asking.

Shinra had the common sense to look a little nervous. "Okay, okay! Orihara-kun made the mochi!"

[Wait, really?] Celty was confused.

"What?" Tom muttered, also completely lost.

"I KNEW IT!" Shizuo roared, his anger fully resurfacing and focused completely on his traitorous childhood friend. "Are you in on this too?! Giving me something Izaya messed with so that he can get a chance to kill me?!"

Shinra frowned, eyebrows knitting together. "Shizuo-kun, that doesn't make any sense-"

"It does to me! He's always trying to find a way to hurt me!" Shizuo frantically continued, motioning to his wound, and then the mochi. "He knew I'd have to get patched up eventually, so he figured out how to make something he knew I would eat, it was a trap, just like Mairu and Kururi with those damned cookies, don't you see that?!"

The underground doctor had the audacity to chuckle. "Shizuo-kun, that's ridiculous. Izaya would never poison his mochi, or anything else he made."

"Yes he would!" Shizuo vainly argued as he desperately looked at Tom and Celty for backup.

Tom tilted his head back and forth. "I mean, it does sound like him…"

Celty focused on her boyfriend. [How are you so sure that he wouldn't do that?]

Shinra proudly patted his chest. "Because I'm his friend, and I know that Orihara-kun would never poison his sweets. He has too much pride in his baking and respect for the craft of it to do that."

Shizuo scoffed. He couldn't imagine Izaya respecting anything. This was the flea they were talking about; A man who wore stupidly fancy clothes, lived in a stupidly expensive apartment, and thought he was some kind of god. He always assumed the louse would see mundane things like cooking and baking as below him.

"Wait, wait…" Tom tried to follow the implications. "So… Izaya can bake?"

The underground doctor nodded with a big smile. "He can! It's a hobby he's had for a long time, and he's an amazing baker. He made me some cake in middle school, and I've been hooked ever since!"

[How come you never told me?] Celty asked, her body language showing she felt a little betrayed.

Shinra was on his feet in an instant, attempting to envelope Celty in an apologetic bear hug but quickly held back by her strong hand on his chest. "Aw, Celty, my love! I wanted to tell you, but Orihara-kun asked me not to! I love you very much, but I also respect my best friend's wishes!"

[So then you're the only one who knew?]

"Me, his sisters, and Shiki-san." Shinra listed on one finger. "But that's it."

"If it's really just a simple hobby, why would the flea keep it so secretive?" Shizuo sent the underground doctor a challenging glare. "There's no reason to hide something stupid like that."

Shinra sighed and crossed his arms, looking exactly like a disapproving parent. "Shizuo-kun, maybe what you just said is exactly why he keeps it a secret?" He motioned to the three adults in the room. "I know you all think he's heartless, and while he is kind of an asshole, he's more human than you think, and there's a lot more to him than what he shows."

Without warning the underground doctor suddenly got up and hurried down the hall. After a minute or two of shuffling noises he returned, this time with a slightly wrinkled photo. He held it out to Shizuo first, with a pointed look.

The bodyguard slowly took the photo, and found himself surprised by its contents. There was a younger Izaya, likely middle school age, his face and red shirt stained covered with flour. He was stirring some kind of batter in a bowl, with a small smile on his face as he stared down at his companions.

Next to him were a much younger Mairu and Kururi, watching their brother work with gleeful anticipation. In the very corner of the photo was Shinra, who was holding a peace sign up with a sly grin, obviousing having taken the photo in secret.

It was such a peaceful and comforting moment that he could help but feel a little warmth in his chest at the sight.

"I don't think he's embarrassed about his talent for baking." Shinra continued. "I think it's just that it's something special for him, something he really treasures, and so he only wanted to share it with the people he cares about the most. I count myself as lucky to be part of that group."

Shizuo frowned, his eyes still on the photo. He stared at the flea, at that genuine, happy smile on his worst enemy's face, and was left feeling even more conflicted. He flipped over the photo, looking at the date written on the back, and then flipped it back around.

When he didn't speak, Shinra pushed the conversation forward again. "How did you even find out about all of this? I can't imagine he'd tell you."

"Mairu and Kururi were eating some of his cookies and I ate one." Shizuo reluctantly explained. "I haven't been able to get the taste out of my head since then."

Shinra chuckled again. "Oh, I understand that! Izaya is the best baker I know. I crave his food all the time."

The bodyguard angrily tossed the confusing photo back to Shinra. "That's the problem! It was delicious! I haven't been able to stop thinking about it and I hate it!" He groaned and ran a hand through his messy blonde hair. "We try to kill each other all the time, and now I can't even hit him with anything because whenever I see him I think about those damn cookies! And now that damned mochi, too! It's torture!"

Tom's eyebrows suddenly rose in realization. "Oh… That's why you've been so distracted these past few days."

Shizuo gave a quick nod, rubbing his uninjured arm on the back of his head. "I didn't know how to explain it to you without sounding ridiculous…" He muttered. "How was I supposed to explain that Izaya being a good baker is making me lose my mind?"

Tom looked thoughtful. "Are you sure that's the only reason?"

"What do you mean?" Shizuo questioned back, brown eyes locked on his senpai.

The older man took a moment to think, then elaborated. "While Izaya being a good baker could definitely mess with you, I think it's more than that. Maybe the reason you're struggling with this so much is because it's something so, erm… human?"

Shizuo opened his mouth to deny his friend's suggestion, but paused as the idea hit him full force. He was so used to seeing Izaya as an enemy, someone who showed up only to cause problems and vanished as soon as he was done. He was a villain, he was supposed to stay that way.

He was a nuisance, a flea, a pest, and nothing more. Which was why it was so hard to wrap his head around the idea that Izaya held such love for something as mundane as baking.

Shizuo sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I think you're right… It's a lot easier to try and kill him when I don't see him as a human. Now that I know something like this, it's really hard to not feel guilty…" He clenched his fists and growled. "And that makes me angry, but then I can't act on that anger because it makes me feel GUILTY and then I feel even ANGRIER!"

He waved his hands wildly at the others. "So what the hell am I supposed to do?!"

The three exchanged glances, and initially it seemed like none of them had any ideas for how to help the bodyguard with his conflict. Then, Shinra started to fidget and twiddle his thumbs.

"Well…" The underground doctor slowly began. "You could always try… Not trying to kill him anymore?"

Shizuo returned the suggestion with a furious glare. "Are you kidding me?"

Shinra shook his head. "I'm serious! I have been since high school! I introduced you two because I wanted you to be friends, remember?"

"Right." Shizuo drawled. "And you think that if I suddenly stop trying to kill him, that Izaya will do the same? He lives to torment me, remember?"

[Didn't Tom say earlier that he hasn't bothered you guys in weeks?] Celty hesitantly pointed out.

Shizuo scoffed. "That doesn't mean anything. He's probably busy, or plotting the next way he can try and ruin my life."

Suddenly, a traitorous part of his mind forced its way forward. "Or…" His mouth moved without his permission. "Maybe he's confused, too. Last time I saw him, I missed my throw completely and then I ran away from him."

"My bet is on that last one! Which means you're both confused, and both currently feeling less violent than usual!" Shinra cheerfully pointed out. "A perfect opportunity to stop the fighting! And if you aren't fighting, it means Izaya won't be trying to ruin your life."

Shizuo crossed his arms. "Even if I wanted that, which I'm not saying I do, how exactly do you expect that to work? We try to kill each other on a daily basis, he wouldn't trust me asking for some kind of truce."

[You do make a good point.] Celty said. [It could be tough, considering you're both extremely stubborn.]

"Izaya's more stubborn…" Shizuo grumbled under his breath.

[Sure he is.] She said, her sarcasm somehow conveyed through her PDA. [With that in mind, maybe the best course of action would be something more businesslike?]

Shizuo frowned at that. "Like a deal? You think I should make some kind of deal with him?"

Shinra clasped his hands against his chest and swooned. "It's a perfect idea, Celty! You're a genius!" He turned to Shizuo to explain. "Izaya's not likely to trust you either way, but if you present this truce as a deal with both of you benefitting in some way, I think he'd be more likely to take it!"

The suggestion made an alarming amount of sense the more he thought about it. If Izaya had approached him and randomly asked for a truce, he wouldn't have believed it. With some kind of conditions? Well, he wouldn't trust it either way but he would trust it more than the other option.

"Maybe it could work." He grudgingly admitted. "It would be a lot of stress off my plate if he wasn't trying to kill me all the time."

Shinra grinned, looking far too pleased by the bodyguard's words. "Wonderful! I'd love it if you two could become friends-"

"A truce does not make us friends, don't even suggest something like that." Shizuo firmly shut down that line of thinking. Even if they stopped fighting, Shizuo could never imagine a universe where he and Izaya would be anything more than neutral towards each other.

Speaking of said truce, he would need to decide what he could offer to Izaya when- if -he decided he wanted to go that route. He racked his brain a bit. Well… Izaya is always sneaking into Ikebukuro anyways. I could always offer to stop chasing him out. That's a good offer right?

But if he were going to do that, he'd need something in return, something absolutely amazing that would stave off the frustration and anger anytime he saw the stupid flea sauntering around the city.

It had to be something realistic, something only Izaya could give him so that the truce made sense. It couldn't be something random, it had to make letting Izaya into his city worth it. Something of that magnitude would have to be priceless, something like-

Involuntarily, his eyes trailed down to the photo still clutched in his hand, and then towards the ice cream mochi sadly melting on the ground. All at once he felt his yearning for that amazing taste return, and in an instant his mind was made up.

He knew exactly what he wanted.

As the decision solidified in his head, Shizuo could only groan and buried his face in his hands. I can't believe I'm going to do this.