A cool breeze sent fallen leaves scattering across the slowly emptying streets.
It was a beautiful Halloween night, and things were starting to wind down as the trick-or-treaters headed home with their haul of candy.
Even though they weren't trick-or-treating themselves, Shizuo and Izaya had both donned costumes for the occasion, and they walked the streets of Ikebukuro together to enjoy the festivities. Izaya liked to observe all of the people around them and make guesses about their lives based on their choice of costume. Shizuo, on the other hand, was content to just listen to him talk and enjoy the autumn atmosphere.
Izaya had grown particularly fond of Halloween lately. Now that he wasn't exactly human anymore, seeing everyone else dressed up as monsters and other non-human creatures made him feel just a little more accepted. Like he had a place in society even if he could no longer say he was one of them.
Not that most people knew what he truly was.
When Shizuo had found out his true nature, Izaya was expecting him to treat him with derision like he usually did, or maybe even a little fear. He didn't expect Shizuo to cock his head with a mildly confused expression and ask if that meant he was a dog now.
No, werewolves and dogs were not the same thing, but no matter how many times Izaya corrected him, Shizuo had apparently latched on to the idea, and now Shizuo just kept buying him dog treats.
Izaya was not going to admit that the treats actually tasted pretty good. Because he was most definitely not eating them.
Not very often, anyway.
But somehow, the arrangement worked out, and Izaya found himself spending more and more time with Shizuo. It was almost as if Shizuo had determined that the ability to transform into a wolf was an endearing trait.
And that was how they wound up spending time together for Halloween. They didn't tell each other in advance what kind of costumes they were going to wear, and Shizuo had decided to go with a werewolf costume. Izaya could see the logic there.
Izaya, however, had shown up at Shizuo's doorstep wearing a sheep costume. It wasn't just for shock value, though Shizuo seemed to think so. There was actually a bit of an inside joke among the werewolf community where they'd all decide to go out wearing sheep costumes on Halloween. Frankly, Izaya thought it was hilarious, so he went along with it.
They went outside after that. The night air was bracing, and as they walked, Izaya enjoyed the sights and sounds around them. It wasn't a full moon tonight, but the moon was pretty bright regardless, illuminating the area as clearly as if it were daytime.
"It's a nice night tonight," Shizuo said.
"Yeah," Izaya agreed. "It is."
"I think they mowed the grass recently."
"Smells like it."
"Can you tell how long it was since they mowed it?"
Izaya paused, confused. "No, why?"
"Oh, no reason," Shizuo said. "I was just curious if you could narrow down the specific time based purely on the smell."
"Based on the smell?" Izaya repeated.
"Yeah."
"And why would you think I'm capable of that?"
Shizuo smirked. "No reason."
Izaya glared at him and Shizuo held his hands up defensively. Izaya shook his head in annoyance, and they fell back into silence as they continued walking.
After a while, Shizuo stretched his arms up above his head and spoke again, "Still, it's a nice night to go for a run, don't you think?"
Izaya looked at him and smirked. "Why, Shizu-chan, are you suggesting chasing me around the streets like we used to do?"
Shizuo smiled mischievously. "Maybe."
Izaya grinned wider and started getting ready to make a run for it.
But Shizuo suddenly pulled out a stick and showed it to him. "You see the stick?"
Izaya's pupils blew wide. "Yes, I see the stick."
Shizuo grinned. "You see the stick? Then, go get the stick."
Shizuo launched the stick as far as he possibly could, and Izaya scrambled to chase after it, dropping down to all fours and sprinting off after the thrown stick.
Izaya would deny it later, but right now, he was having the time of his life.
Author's Note:
Werewolf go overtherewolf