Chapter 73: True love

Everything was red.

The fireplace, the dress, Izaya's face-

Unsure eyes flickered up to meet Shizuo's as the steps from the corridor advanced without mercy. It was but a few seconds they had to react and they were both aware of that fact.

Izaya's mind was overwhelmed by too many things and Shizuo didn't mean to rush as his body moved faster than his mind.

Shizuo's pants were pulled up, Izaya's thighs were pulled down- the dress too- or rather a layer of it.

The wrong one, it appeared?

Like an unwanted riddle the mixture of Izaya's white undergarments, red cover and a couple strings coming from god knows where transformed into an unconquerable quest. The earrings sparkled in the fireplace as Shizuo struggled to put the fabrics back into their usual order- but the few seconds they had were too little to succeed.

Shizuo's breath stilled and the steps stopped before the kitchen.

It was a moment's fraction that allowed for Izaya's glance to meet his own.

His hands were resting on his shoulders and his grip tightening as the slightest hint of fear-

He couldn't be discovered here- neither as the queen nor as an impostor-

No matter how fast Shizuo was, no matter how witty Izaya spoke- his hair was too disheveled to deny what they did and his dress a weak excuse for a wonderful experience.

Pushing himself off the counter Izaya intended to at least face the intruders standing but fate seemed to mock him even further as his knees buckled immediately and strong arms circled his body as Shizuo caught him.

And then it was there-

The hand on the doorknob.

It turned.

And Izaya's grip on Shizuo tightened.

Fuck it.

Was it a decision that had been contemplated before? Not at all. Was it a wise one? Neither that.

But was it fast?

Yes.

Clearly.

As it took only a second for the experienced warrior of many quests to move.

Izaya didn't see it coming when Shizuo threw him over his shoulder- didn't expect the rash movement when he turned back towards the counter-

And he certainly didn't expect it when Shizuo jumped out of the goddamn kitchen window-

Air brushed past Izaya's face- his eyes closed for a pure second of a mixture of surprise and mild anxiety as they became weightless- but faster than expected the ground returned.

Force buckled Shizuo's knees and with the softest yelp even the king found his body losing its balance as the two of them fell into what appeared to be a freshly blooming shrub of hydrangea.

Leaves, flowers and a ladybug raced past Izaya's sight as his fall was cushioned by nothing else but Shizuo himself.

Mild surprise and a quick turn of head allowed him to glimpse the height of the kitchen window. It wasn't all too high. Just the first floor of the mansion.

And quicker than expected Izaya heard the voices.

"This is a bad idea-"

Clanking of bottles and sounds of heavy steps stilled inside the room as the low voices spoke. It were a couple of men that had entered the kitchen from what Izaya could tell. Older ones.

"See? I tell you they always hide the best stuff." Another one announced and Izaya realized that they had been in search of alcohol better befitting their personal tastes than the one being poured at the banquet.

But just as quickly as they had appeared, the men were gone. The heavy door leading to the kitchen was shut audibly and Izaya's face turned back to face Shizuo.

His eyes were locked onto the window as well and only now turned to face Izaya.

Izaya who was sitting on top of his body. Dress awkwardly scattered everywhere and disheveled beyond means.

It was a moment of peace and silence that rendered them speechless before it finally bubbled forth- sweet laughter.

"What was that?" Izaya chuckled, too overwhelmed by this series of events to keep his composure.

"A fast escape?" Shizuo declared, "I think I hit my head." And only seemed to worsen Izaya's attempt to regain his cool.

"You are such an idiot," Izaya whispered and somehow nothing in the world seemed more beautiful than Izaya in that single instance. With his hair disheveled, his eyes glittering, so happy, and his alluring skin touched by a ray of moonlight peaking forth from a small cloud. His dress was anything but orderly and his sleeves pushed past his shoulders and yet he couldn't have seemed more gorgeous.

A cloud moved away in the starry sky and for a second Shizuo was just too enraptured by Izaya's sight. By his smile. The soft light touching his shoulders and the angelic sound that was his voice.

Reaching upward his palm cupped Izaya's face- and Izaya followed as Shizuo pulled him down. Softly. And a gentle kiss met his lips once more.

Izaya didn't know how much time had passed, couldn't tell how long they had been sitting there.

All he knew was Shizuo's hand on his skin, his lips on his own and his body underneath. How? How did he deserve this?

Was he dreaming?

Why was this happening?

Questions with answers to clear yet so blurred swarmed Izaya's mind and his eyes flickered up to meet Shizuo's in a mild daze as their kiss finally broke.

Expectations, cautious and unsure glittered in his eyes and somehow Shizuo held a similar expression as he snorted.

"If we weren't already married I would ask for your hand now," he whispered, and somehow Izaya's lips moved, naturally, as if they had never wasted a single thought about their relationship.

"If we weren't already I might just say yes."

Surprise reflected in Shizuo's face and his chest filled with the searing heat of a thousand summer days' worth.

"Really?" he whispered and Izaya's voice stuck in his throat for the shortest second.

Insecurity pushed him dangerously close towards the edge of hesitation and his lips slowed down as he breathed.

"I don't know, is it so bad?" he asked, and Shizuo stilled.

"Couldn't imagine anything worse," he answered. Quietly. Unsure of his own actions. Of his own feelings. Of the reasons he acted the way he did.

And suddenly Izaya met his eyes and the confusion lifted.

Quite as if someone had lifted a heavy veil covering the truth.

"Fuck."

A curse, natural but unintended slipped past his lips and Izaya froze.

"Shizuo?"

And suddenly they were there.

Words Izaya never thought he would hear.

"I love you, Izaya." Shizuo declared. Clear. Certain. Not a shred of doubt lingered and no moment of hesitation or regret dared to cloud his confession as his eyes softened.

It was funny, but despite everything that had happened, despite having asked Shinra questions he shouldn't have and having done things to Izaya that Shizuo should have never even considered, he only realized at that moment with pure honesty what it was that had driven him to this point.

Love.

He loved Izaya.

And suddenly it felt as though his chest was going to burst right then and there.

With want.

With desire.

With happiness and the unbearable thought of having this joy disappear.

Grasping Izaya's wrists he circled the skin with unknown desperation.

"I really love you. You. As you are. Not the queen, not the pretense. It's you. It's been only you for a while now." All of a sudden the words flowed from his lips, as if they had always been the only truth he knew.

And Izaya felt the same way.

Felt the heat in his head from his cheeks, down to his hands touching Shizuo's- but he also saw Shizuo's expression and the way it held more than pure joy.

Thumb brushing across Shizuo's hand, Izaya reached out for the king. For his cheek and the strand of hair having come loose and he whispered as he brushed it aside.

"Why do you look so pained when you say that?"

He wasn't sure whether Shizuo was aware of his expression, whether he knew what he looked like or not, but his question only seemed to make matters worse as he closed his eyes and Shizuo's head thudded against Izaya's chest.

Bringing his palm up Izaya couldn't help but feel the need to provide comfort as he softly brushed across his blond hair.

"I don't know," Shizuo whispered. "It's suffocating-" and suddenly he raised his gaze to meet Izaya's and his eyes reflected the truth of his pain. "You are feeling alright, right?"

And Izaya understood what it was that had caused that expression.

Shizuo was scared.

Scared of what it meant to love Izaya.

He was afraid he would lose him. To his illness. Still, despite having improved.

And somehow that fact caused Izaya's chest to burst with the warmth of emotions he felt.

He felt loved. He felt secure. Small, yet so protected.

Like his only duty in the world was to exist to make this man happy and it was so easy and fulfilling it was making his chest burst with emotions.

"Ah, that's why."

He suddenly realized and whispered, barely loud enough for Shizuo to hear.

"What?" Shizuo asked and raised his head to meet Izaya's gaze.

No word was spoken, just actions taken.

And without further hesitation Izaya trapped Shizuo in a kiss.

Jealousy.

That's what he had been feeling all evening.

When he saw all these women.

How they fawned over Shizuo. How his blood boiled by merely seeing them laugh in his presence.

But now with Shizuo's collarbone under his palm and his hot skin brushing against his own, all of that madness disappeared.

Breaking the kiss shortly Izaya leaned back and his lips moved in ways he never thought they would.

"Heiwajima Shizuo, king of lands, I think I might just have fallen for you as well."

It was funny, they both said the same thing and yet they couldn't have differed more in their wording. But no matter the absence or presence of fancy words, the meaning remained the same, and Shizuo was left in absolute delight.

In surprise.

In happiness.

Cupping Izaya's face, a radiant smile colored the corner of his lips all the way up to his eyes.

"I'm so happy I might die," he whispered and the sweet sound of a soft chuckle met his ears through a gentle gaze.

"Please don't. That would make me sad."

"It would?" Shizuo joked, but his words easily relayed his lack of doubt. It wasn't necessary for Izaya to even answer, but he did anyway.

"Of course."

How?

How did this happen?

Izaya didn't know. Couldn't tell the exact point in time or a moment that might have led to this. He knew about Shizuo's care, about his gentle sides, about the worry in his eyes- was it before the wedding? After? Just what had he done to deserve Shizuo's love?

Something so pure- so forgiving, just so-

Thoughts swarming into a cocktail of worries, Izaya suddenly felt as though he didn't deserve his words and funnily enough it seemed Shizuo held the same concerns.

Eyes dipping into slight confusion he tilted his head.

"Why?" he whispered and looked at Izaya, "Why me?" he asked, and cupped Izaya*s face. It was a gentle gesture, one easily brushed aside, but who was Izaya to end something this soothing and pleasant?

"I could ask you the same, you know?" Izaya whispered and Shizuo smiled.

"I could give you a lot of reasons-"

"Please don't."

Hurried. Cute.

That's what Izaya's response was and Shizuo's lips formed an uncontrollable smile at the way he seemed adorably embarrassed.

Before too.

Inside the kitchen.

It was funny, considering how well Izaya could handle his words and manipulate the conversations he held, but back then it seemed his words had held more effect than Izaya's ever had. And suddenly they were there again. The pictures, the way Izaya's face flushed when he told him how beautiful he was and Izaya averted his gaze.

Embarrassment was the reason he had turned, and yet the moment he faced the entrance of lord Karch's estate he suddenly felt a different emotion take over.

Worry.

Regret.

Lady Karch's words suddenly hallowed inside his mind over and over, even worse than before as his expression sank.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" he whispered, and Shizuo's hold on him tightened gently.

He had noticed the change in Izaya's expression but failed to see the reason why.

"Why are you saying that?" he whispered calmly and Izaya showed a smile.

But it was a smile full of hesitation. One filled with sadness.

One he didn't want.

"I'm a guy. You are the king. You are expected to have an heir," Izaya whispered and his expression fell. "A family." Shizuo had never been good at reading people, and yet somehow, right now, Izaya seemed as readable as an open book to him. It was clear as daylight that he wasn't just worried about his stance as the king of these lands, but his happiness.

His future. One filled with a wife and children, something Izaya apparently thought he wanted and needed and Shizuo smiled as he cupped Izaya's face.

"I have you." He spoke with no hesitation, no need for explanation or excuses and Izaya frowned.

"But I'm just-"

"Everything I need."

Because that was how he truly felt, and the troubled expression finally eased off Izaya's mind.

There were still a lot of questions swarming Izaya's head, along with the sheer disbelief of what had happened tonight but he couldn't bring himself to voice any of them as Shizuo leaned in once more for a gentle kiss.

It was then that soft noises of fading chatter reached their ears and Izaya's head turned to face the direction of lord Karch's estate's front.

Some of the carriages that had been on standby were starting to move as the first guests were already taking their leave.

Right.

They were still at a banquet. Shizuo had served a quick escape before by acting as though his queen's health had declined.

Only now Izaya realized that the music was still faintly perceived and somehow the idea of the hall having remained awfully oblivious to their actions caused him to chuckle.

"I think we should head back," he announced, and Shizuo snorted.

"To the banquet?"

Apparently he had given the wrong answer and so he raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

And Shizuo smiled.

Pushing himself off the ground Izaya slipped from his body and he pulled him to his feet.

"Let's go home instead," he whispered, and the hand having pulled him up remained as their fingers intertwined and he smiled. "Together."

to be continued~

Aye- FINALLY xDDDD They sure have been dancing around each other for the god damn fucking longest time now ahahahah

It is time for trruuuuee loooveee people~ Ahhh, the romance, the cuteness of the scenes ahead~ … and the spice C: You can look forward to a couple very very very pleasing updates xD … before … well- you know me C: C: C: C:

Enjoy these moments as long as you can C: