Chapter 41: Heroic angel
Victory was probably the sensation brought to Shiki's expression. Victory and a disgustingly wide grin.
Horses neighed, soldiers chattered some of which Shizuo had already known and some that he had never seen before.
Of course.
The training grounds were always training new ones to sacrifice in this war.
Would they be running off too? Urging to kill more than to survive?
Was he supposed to stop them? If so, how?
Was he allowed to just knock them out?
What if he left one behind? On purpose? By chance? Was he going to be framed for that?
Executed?
Or did that bastard simply send him out in hope that he would die?
A soft smile spread across his face as Shizuo touched his lips absentmindedly.
He would do that bastard a lot of favors just to maintain their stalemate, but he had no intention to roll on his back and simply die.
Not after that.
It had really not been his intention, but before he knew it his focus was gone and a suppressed smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Their previous encounters replayed in his head and he swallowed.
He remembered that time in Izaya's room when he was reading to him in that book.
Volcanoes.
Izaya had been right, the topic was one he was really curious about. Even more so for what followed. Or the day before.
The party Shinra had thrown for them-
Taking a deep breath he shook his head.
This was not the time to get lost in memories.
Warmth collected on his chest and Shizuo raised his head. He was already sitting on his horse and the setting sun was covering his troop in her soothing rays like a prisoner's last meal before he was sent to the execution chamber.
The comparison struck Shizuo as more accurate than he liked.
Banters, heated discussions and an occasional glance of fear reigned the rows and Shizuo noticed with relief that this troop- half consisting of the men that had joined Izaya on the last mission, had doused their enthusiasm.
Not that he disliked their fervor or motivation to act- but compared to that idiot last time that almost ended up killing them all by screaming and charging at the titans like a madman, he was very much grateful for the difference.
"Ready, captain?"
It had been one of the soldiers that had approached Shizuo. His horse neighed shortly and he pulled at the reins to keep it silent.
The mission was fairly easy, repetitive in its content even, but not any less dangerous.
They were supposed to examine the forest once more. The one Izaya had almost gotten killed in. The reasoning given by the uppers, or rather, Shiki, had been that they needed to check for a regathering.
After all, just because they had managed to kill the titans there the last time they had visited that area didn't mean that they hadn't regathered.
Shizuo suspected that Shiki hoped for exactly that.
It would be easy. Send him out and get everyone annihilated. Then place someone as the new survey corps head that would act just right to Shiki's orders and obey every command given without asking questions.
It was a gruesome order.
Not just because of their potential death, but the corpses of their fallen men were probably still scattered everywhere as well.
Nodding quickly towards the soldier, Shizuo signed for his men to move.
At least the time that had been chosen acted in their favor.
The sun would set in a few minutes and the titans would not attack them as long as they were protected by the darkness of night.
"Let's go!" He announced louder and with more confidence that he actually felt- and so they moved.
Past the gate, out into the open enemy territory.
It was an odd feeling to leave without Izaya by his side and yet somehow that fact alone spiked his resolve.
For the first time in the last few years he had something to look forward to upon his return.
Not Kasuka's lifeless body back at the hospital, but something real. Someone real.
Izaya's expression flashed through his mind and a smile stuck to Shizuo's lips.
He was waiting for him.
And he didn't plan to disappoint Izaya.
.
.
.
This season was supposed to be warm. Not only the days, but also the nights. A full moon gazed upon the wall, casting shadows everywhere it touched.
Again the wind picked up and Izaya suppressed a quick shudder while pulling a cover of heavy linen upon his shoulders.
His breath was forming soft heaps of fog and he lifted his hands for a moment to douse them in the artificial warmth.
Why was he here?
He couldn't really tell.
Before he knew it he had abandoned his sisters with empty words of being busy. Of having to complete another order, and a promise to return again soon.
Lies.
They had been complete and utter lies.
Reflecting the blue light of the moon made his eyes seem almost purple. Quite like a demon resting someplace high to spot its next victim.
Shinra couldn't help but chuckle shortly, giving away his presence immediately as he ascended the last couple of stairs to the top of the wall.
Head turned Izaya faced his old friend just as quick and surprise flashed across his face.
"Surprise to meet you up here." Izaya announced and Shinra leisurely approached the former captain of the survey corps and let himself slump down next to him. "Any reason you left your laboratory?"
A shrug was given and Shinra merely flashed a quick smile.
"Just thought I would check on a friend."
Izaya snorted. This guy really-
"I'm already fine, you know." That wasn't even a straight up lie. Maybe just a soft tweak on reality, because Izaya did actually feel fine.
His legs were still giving him trouble here and then, not responding to his orders, but apart from that the pain had subsided considerably.
"Of course you do, I was the one who treated you after all," Shinra boasted immediately, overly pleased with himself and Izaya rolled his eyes.
"Come on, I know that's not what you came here for. Shoot it." Because this was Shinra. And there was certainly a lot that bespectacled weirdo wanted to know of Izaya, but his constitution was probably the only fact he was more aware of than Izaya himself.
A moment of silence followed in which Shinra sheepishly adjusted his glasses. "Smart as always, huh?" he mumbled, and then his expression grew serious. "I heard you were called to court."
Ah.
So that's what this was about.
Of course.
Shinra had probably heard about Shizuo's promotion from one of his patients.
Letting his chin rest on top of his knees, Izaya's eyes closed for a moment.
"Yeah. He got me really good this time around."
Shiki was who he was talking about of course, but he didn't need to specify. Not with Shinra around. He was smart enough to grasp the situation without having to go into detail.
Again the wind picked up and the doctor hummed shortly.
"Do you need help?"
Izaya had almost expected the question, yet hoped Shinra wasn't going to ask.
"You know as well as I do that you shouldn't get involved," he sighed, but Shinra seemed far from willing to agree on that.
"But I can."
A bitter smile crossed Izaya's features and he shook his head. "Yeah, once probably and then Shiki will be aware of our connection."
"Would that be so bad?"
"He would kill you."
Facts. He was merely dishing out facts.
Izaya had known Shinra for a long time. Longer than Shiki was aware of. He knew about his stupid quirks and impulsive behavior. And he also knew what kind of decision's this doctor was ready to take if needed.
It was that one unexpected card Izaya had hoped to draw one day in a final battle of wits against this overwhelming opponent.
But now… with his position lost, was there actually anything he could achieve?
An exaggerated sigh followed and Shinra let his back slump to the ground. "And there I was hoping to be the knight in shining armor," he complained and crossed his arms behind his back.
Stars were glittering down upon them from the sky and he greedly took in the pretty sight.
"You are an angel in white already, isn't that enough for heroic figures?" Izaya asked, while joining the action. A part of the heavy linen blanket was spared and shoved towards Shinra who wordlessly took it.
Head turned and mischievous smile in place Shinra hummed, "What if I want to be both?"
"An angel and a knight? Would be fascinating for sure," Izaya laughed, "Though I don't think I have ever seen a knight this weak and slow."
"Hey." A jab to the side followed for that comment and Shinra feigned offense as Izaya moved just a tad further from the assaulter.
Again the oppressing silence returned and Izaya decided to sit up again after all. Not because he wasn't comfortable, but because he had no clear vision on his desired path.
Staying down it was Shinra who spoke next, quietly. "So, which direction will he return from?"
Whipping around Izaya frowned at his friend.
"Who?" But it seemed his act of not knowing what Shinra was talking about was nothing but futile.
A gentle smile spread across Shinra's face. "You know who I mean, you are looking for him."
That-
The unexpected feeling of having been caught doing something that he shouldn't have, surfaced somewhere from the back of Izaya's mind as he feigned innocence.
"Whatever gave you that impression?"
"Maybe the fact that you two were busier making out and getting to your room than to attend my party?" The heat that rose to Izaya's face came quicker than he expected it to.
"How do you-" and it certainly came faster than the realization of Shinra's purpose.
A sly grin had spread across the bespectacled face and Izaya realized with a groan that he had just fallen for his trap.
"That was a trick question wasn't it?"
"Can't believe I guessed right actually," Shinra laughed, and Izaya swore one day he was going to murder this guy instead of a titan.
"So you and Shizuo, huh?" Shinra hummed to himself, his eyes unfocusing as he recalled all previous encounters he had seen the guy in so far. Especially together with Izaya. "How long have I been missing that?"
Izaya snorted, "There is nothing to miss."
"No. Don't do that." The colding came as unexpectedly as Izaya should have anticipated. Shinra had turned awfully serious, despite still wearing his usual smile. "You seem happier recently and I can't say I dislike that."
Izaya felt that. The intention in Shinra's words as well as the truth of their contents.
"All the more reason to keep what we have a secret," he announced with a soft sigh and Shinra grinned.
"So you do have something to keep?"
"Shut up."
This guy. Despite nothing in the world being able to lift this worry off Izaya's chest he had somehow managed to make him feel more at ease.
"So," Shinra started once more, the joking smile replacing itself with gentle concern. "Which direction is he going to return from?"
And Izaya returned it, because there was no use to deny that he was sitting here just to wait for Shizuo anymore, was there?
"... east," he answered softly, and his eyes traveled to the skyline facing up front. "They should return on this route."
to be continued~
Yo xD Sorry this chapters is a little short, I know, but I had like 3 scenes, 1 short one, another short one, and a HUGE one xD And it was either chopping up the 3rd scene in weird bits or stop after 2, so I decided to not do an unnecessary cliffhanger for once xDDD
With that being said you can look forward to the last 2 chapters in a relatively… "calm" setting xDDD Because after 2 more updates, well, hell will break loose and you will be in for an unexpected ride to god knows where xDDD
With that being said, see you next Saturday haha xD