A blond stood, his hands in his pockets. His expression gave off the impression that he was not one to be trifled with –

"Heiwajima Shizuo!"

Which the guys who had called him clearly did not comprehend.

The guy whose name was Heiwajima Shizuo didn't even deign them with a reply.

"Oi, Heiwajima Shizuo!"

"What is it?"

He replied calmly, almost distractedly, which the guys seemed to notice –

"Oi, what's with that? You lost your strength or something? Whatever, you thrashed us yesterday and we're here to beat you up!"

"Ah, come at me then." The blond said, looking at the time. "I'll give you guys two minutes."

"You bastard, you're underestimating us aren't you?! Get him, boys!"

A whole gang with weapons against a single person should have not gone in the favour of the latter –

But not when the single person was Heiwajima Shizuo, the infamous delinquent in Raijin High School.

As it was, it took him less than his limit of two minutes to decimate the whole gang with a signpost he had ripped off the ground, sending them flying and causing gasps from the other students to resound.

There were murmurs at the display of inhuman strength, and Shizuo slammed the signpost down with so much force it stuck back into the ground –

"Shizuo-kun."

Shizuo jerked and whirled around, shoving his hands into his pockets again and smiling as if he hadn't just defeated a whole gang with a signpost he was not supposed to lift.

"Hey, Izaya. You're early."

"Technically I'm late, aren't I? Shizuo-kun is always early, I'm always late in meeting you."

"Ah? No that's fine, I didn't wait long, and our classes end at different times anyway."

"Really? You don't have to wait for me though."

"But I want to." Shizuo said, and when Izaya blinked, he continued, "I mean, we're walking home together, so…"

"Is that so." The black haired boy said with a smile. He then looked around.

"Anyway, did something happen here? The people seem panicked."

Shizuo shrugged, even as he sent a glare at a boy who had seemed as if he was about to open his mouth. The boy backed away in fright.

Izaya noticed this. "Why is that human afraid of me?"

"What? No they're not afraid of you." Shizuo said. He was smiling again.

"Anyway, let's get going."

…

"Shizuo-kun, you really like sweet things huh?"

"…Yeah."

Shizuo averted a gaze a little as if in embarrassment.

"Is that something wrong?"

"No, just surprising." The black haired boy replied as he took a scoop of his own ice cream.

"Since usually it's girls who like sweet things, and even if guys do like them, they wouldn't admit it so easily."

"Well I see no reason to deny it." Shizuo said bluntly. "If I like it, then I like it."

His comment made Izaya laugh, and give him a smile that made his heart skip a beat.

"That's what I like about you, Shizuo-kun."

"A-Ah really?"

"Yeah. You're so honest. And anyway, I think it's cute."

"Eh?"

"Shizuo-kun liking sweet things I mean." Izaya smiled as he rested his cheek on his hand.

"It's so unlike a guy with Shizuo-kun's appearance. That's why I think it's cute."

Shizuo's face felt warm. He took a bite of his ice cream to reduce that warmth.

"Hey Shizuo-kun, you were fighting just now, weren't you?"

"…How did you know?"

If Izaya was surprised at Shizuo's calm response, he didn't show it.

"You have quite an infamous reputation as Raijin High's most infamous delinquent. I've heard loose tongues about you here and there, so of course I know."

"When did you hear that?"

"Sometime. Well I didn't approach you because of that, if that's what you're thinking."

Shizuo looked into Izaya's eyes. Then his shoulders relaxed. He went back to his ice cream as Izaya continued.

"Besides, we had a deal, didn't we? I'm still keeping it."

"..."

"But I don't mind, so you don't have to hide it from me."

But I have to.

"I guess," Shizuo said, his eyes on Izaya. "But you're a top student and model student, so…" he trailed off.

And you don't know how much of a monster I am.

"Let me guess," said Izaya, "You're thinking you don't deserve me as a friend or something like that?"

Shizuo remained silent and Izaya smiled.

"You're such a good guy. And I'm not as perfect as you think."

"Well you're perfect to me." Shizuo said offhandedly.

At the silence, he realized what he had said and blinked.

To his surprise, Izaya was laughing. He was chuckling rather heartily, his eyes shining with mirth.

Having been excluded and isolated from society, Shizuo usually didn't care what people's reactions were towards him, but at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to hide under the table for a long, long time.

"S-Stop laughing! What's so funny, damn it?!"

"Ha-hahaha…! Sorry, sorry! It's just, it was the last thing I expected to hear!"

Izaya said and grinned at him and Shizuo thought hiding under the table wouldn't be enough, he wanted to rush home and hide under his bed and refuse to come out unless maybe when Kasuka called him.

Just when he was seriously about to execute that thought, Izaya stopped laughing. But he was still grinning widely, his eyes lit up with amusement.

"Ha…ha…seriously, what am I, your girlfriend? Bluntness has its limits you know!"

"…I'm going home now."

Shizuo said and moved to do just that, but Izaya reached out to touch his arm.

"Hey, wait for me won't you? I'm going home with you, remember?"

Shizuo stared at him and Izaya reminded, "I offered to help you with your studies."

"Can't…that be another day?"

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. So don't leave yet, alright?"

Shizuo sat back down and tried to get his face back to its normal color. He practically shoved his ice cream in his mouth, not looking at Izaya.

"It's really surprising that you're a delinquent," Izaya commented, "You don't seem like one at all. Except for maybe that hair."

"Ah yeah that. Well my sempai back in middle school told me to dye it, to keep those guys away."

"Ah I see. He must have been a good sempai."

"Yeah," Shizuo said. "He was."

"What was your original hair color?"

"Brown."

Izaya looked at him as if trying to imagine it and Shizuo tilted his head.

"What is it?"

"Nothing." Izaya replied. "Hey why do those guys pick fights with you? Are you a good fighter?"

Because I'm a monster.

"Not really. I just bat them all away."

"Bat them all away? You must be a good fighter then."

"Nah." Said Shizuo. "I was just born…strong."

"Is that so. I want to see you fight sometime then."

"No." Shizuo said directly. "You'll get hurt. They're dirty bastards and if they see you as leverage, you'll be in trouble."

"Haha. Are you protecting me?"

"Yeah I'm protecting you." Shizuo said without hesitation.

"Because I don't want you to get hurt."

Because of me.

"How sweet."

Izaya said with a dainty smile but the look in his eyes was strange.

Shizuo, who had gone on to finish the last of his ice cream, didn't see this.

- Come to think of it

- They'd do that, wouldn't they?

- Those bastards

- …I shouldn't be seen with him.

- If I'm not there to protect him…

- …I can't involve Izaya in this.

He was interrupted from his thoughts when Izaya stood up, and looking down at him with his usual smile, said:

"Well, shall we get going?"

…

…

"You know, you're not a bad student, Shizuo-kun."

"Huh?"

"You can grasp the concepts pretty fast."

"That's because you're explaining it to me. You're a good teacher."

"Well I'm flattered. But you're not exactly stupid either."

"Really? You're much smarter though." Shizuo said distractedly as he worked out the problem Izaya had asked him to, his eyes focused on the paper.

"If I'm smart and we can communicate doesn't that mean you're smart as well?"

"Hah? I don't really get it but if you say so." Shizuo said he wrote down the solution.

"But you're still much smarter than me. You're a top student after all."

Izaya just shook his head as if in exasperation, but he looked almost fond.

"Hey Shizuo-kun, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Shizuo paused for a moment. Then he continued writing, speaking honestly:

"I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. What about you?"

He didn't see the expression on Izaya's face, in the silence before he spoke –

"Well, I –"

"Nii-san."

"Ah, Kasuka."

A brown haired boy with emotionless eyes had opened the door of the bedroom. His stoic stare moved to their guest.

"This is?"

"He's Izaya, the one I told you about."

"I see. The model student." Kasuka said as he nodded, his stare as emotionless as ever as he spoke the customary greeting.

"It's nice to meet you, Orihara-kun."

"It's my pleasure, Heiwajima-kun."

Izaya said with a polite smile, meeting Kasuka's eyes directly. "I hope I'm not being a bother."

"Not at all. But it's getting late. Would you like to stay over?"

"Kasuka!"

"Nii-san, you shouldn't let Orihara-kun go home in the dark. The streets are dangerous nowadays."

Kasuka said in his usual emotionless voice even while expressing the concerned statement.

"I see. It's true that the streets are dangerous and you might bump into a gang member – but that's not your intention, is it?"

Izaya said as Shizuo looked between him and Kasuka, who didn't even blink.

"You're right. Actually, I want you to stay because Nii-san likes you, you make him happy and –"

"Kasuka!" Shizuo stood up and made his way over to his brother, steering him out of the bedroom, "Izaya, forget what he said!"

Kasuka calmly reached out and closed the bedroom door even as Shizuo brought him away until he was sure they were out of hearing distance.

"What's wrong, Nii-san?"

"You, can't just say things like that to Izaya!"

"Why not?"

"Because…"

Shizuo looked away, and then as if getting impatient with his own thoughts, spoke.

"…Argh! Anyway you can't say things like that! Don't make him assume the wrong thing!"

"What's wrong with liking another person?" Kasuka said. "Nii-san, I didn't think you were one to fuss about the specifics of gender."

"…Well yeah, but it's Izaya! I-I don't want to screw up with him, so I don't want him to know…yet. I'm already a huge idiot around him, so…"

"…What's the real reason?"

Shizuo looked at his brother, then sighed. He averted his gaze, clenching his fist.

"I'm scared." He said. "He doesn't know about my strength, and I'm not sure how he'll react."

"Nii-san –"

"I know, I shouldn't keep such a big thing from him, but I can't help it. I'm a coward. I don't want to lose him. I don't want to lie to him, but I don't exactly want to tell him either. If he asks…I'll tell, but until then…I'd rather things stay the way they are."

"I understand."

"Really."

"Yeah. I still think you should tell him but I understand why you don't want to."

"Thanks, Kasuka."

"It's no problem, Nii-san. But if you fear corrupting Orihara-kun…you shouldn't. He may not be as perfect as you think he is."

"Well he's perfect to me. And anyway even if he isn't, it doesn't matter. It's peaceful."

"What do you mean?"

Shizuo looked as if he hadn't expected an inquiry to his almost careless statement. He looked at his brother, then replied.

"I don't know how to explain it. But you know I've always wanted peace the most. And I get that when I'm with him. I don't know why, but when I'm with Izaya, I feel peaceful. Even when I've just finished beating up a gang and I'm pissed, when I meet him afterwards and I see him and hear his voice and see his smile, all that anger fades away. I feel at peace."

"…Like, the kind of peace that makes me want to stay with him for the rest of my life."

"That's why, it's selfish of me, but I don't want to lose it. I don't want to lose him. So unless he finds out on his own…I'd like to keep the peace."

Kasuka looked at him for a while as if trying to ascertain something, before he nodded.

"Then, I'll respect your wish, Nii-san. Orihara-kun may be hiding some things but he doesn't seem like an entirely bad person, so I'll support you two."

"…Ah yeah, smart guys always hide a thing or two."

…

"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's fine. So, am I staying over?"

"…Do you want to?"

"I wouldn't mind either way."

"I see…" Shizuo said awkwardly. He cleared his throat.

"Anyway, you were saying before?"

Izaya blinked at him, before seeming to realize, and his usual smile slipped onto his face again.

"I was just talking about my future dream job."

"Ah yeah that. So what do you want to be?"

The look in Izaya's eyes changed.

"Something involving humans."

"What?"

Izaya blinked again, as his smile widened.

"You know, a job where I can interact with people. I like humans, so I'd like a job involving them."

"You're talking about a psychologist or something?"

Izaya gave something that almost resembled a smirk.

"Perhaps. As long as I can see humans."

Humans, huh…

"What about you?"

"Huh?"

"Come on, it's your turn now." Izaya leaned forward, an almost eager gleam in his russet eyes –

"I know there's something you've thought of being."

"There is?"

"It's a feeling."

Shizuo furrowed his eyebrows. He diverted his gaze, as he thought about it.

"But I still can't see anything I want to do as a job in the future."

"Well not a job then, what's your hobby?"

"I don't really have a hobby. Except watching martial arts. But it's not as if I want to be a professional or anything."

"Hm. Any dreams then?"

"Dream?"

"Something you've always wanted to be in the past. Like when you were a kid. Like you know, some kids want to be policemen, firefighters, chefs…"

"…."

Shizuo was silent as he thought about Izaya's words.

- A dream?

- Like an aspiration of sorts?

- Dream means it's impossible right?

- Something impossible, but something I want to do…

- Right, I did have something like that.

It wasn't that long ago, and so the memory came to him quite easily when he thought about it. Nodding, Shizuo replied to the curious boy:

"Yeah…right, I remember."

"What is it?"

As if reminiscing in that particular memory, Shizuo continued on.

"I think, in my elementary school graduation anthology…I wanted to be a detective."

"A what?"

"A detective, you know those guys who go around solving crimes –"

Shizuo trailed off, before he realized Izaya should have known what a detective was and that could not be the reason for his surprise.

"…It doesn't seem like me, does it?"

"Ah no," Izaya seemed to have gotten over his surprise. And staring at Shizuo with a different look in his eyes.

As if he was seeing something new for the first time.

"A detective, huh? Interesting."

"Yeah well, you said dream, so it's impossible, but I remember writing it down so I guess it was something I wanted to be."

"Do you still want to be a detective now?"

"I don't know. But it would be suitable."

"What do you mean?"

Shizuo paused at this, realizing he couldn't exactly say the real reason.

But he didn't want to lie either, so he spoke as honestly as he could –

"I feel I would be useful in such a job. Since I'm apparently strong, even if I don't have brains like you, I can help catch criminals…wait, shouldn't I be a policeman then?"

Shizuo looked confused at his own words, and Izaya chuckled.

"Yes, detectives have to solve the case before they can actually catch the criminal, Shizuo-kun."

"Ah yeah right, so I should be a policeman instead huh?"

"Maybe not," Izaya said, looking at Shizuo.

"I never really thought about it, but I think a detective would be a more interesting job. Don't you think so, Shizuo-kun?"

"I guess, I mean if there are clues you should be able to find the answer right?"

Izaya was about to reply, but Shizuo seemed to be continuing on –

"And policemen are good and all, but they're kind of restricted by the law. That's why I'd rather be a detective. I'd get to work with the police too but I wouldn't be as restricted."

Izaya blinked, as Shizuo said, "Of course, this is all just a dream. So it doesn't really matter."

"It's a good dream though. And, I feel as if I've learnt more about you today."

"Is that a good thing?"

"Haha. Yeah, it's a good thing. Isn't learning more about me a good thing?"

"Yeah it is, but you're you. And I'm…"

"You're you too. You're human too and I like humans, remember?"

"…What if I'm not human?"

"What are you talking about? Have you been watching too many supernatural movies? You're definitely human, Shizuo-kun."

Shizuo felt something light up in his heart, and he said, "Well, I like you too."

"How blunt." Izaya said but he was smiling. He stretched his arms.

"Anyway are you done with that problem yet?"

"Ah yeah, here."

Shizuo handed the paper over to Izaya, who scanned it with his eyes in less than a minute before he smiled.

"Great. Then, that's the last question of the day. You better pass that make up test, okay?"

"Of course. How can I waste your effort?"

"It's your own effort, Shizuo-kun." Izaya yawned slightly then made his way over to Shizuo, who looked at him curiously.

"Izaya?"

Izaya responded by laying his head against his shoulder, causing Shizuo to start.

"I-Izaya?!"

"Quiet, Shizuo. Since I'm staying I'm gonna have dinner with your family right? I'm a bit tired today so…let me rest for a while."

"You…can rest on my bed you know?"

"I prefer your shoulder. Can't I?"

Izaya looked up at Shizuo with innocent eyes, causing Shizuo's face to warm.

"Yeah you can but you don't have to stay if you don't want to."

"But I want to."

"A-Alright then."

"I'm going to sleep then. Wake me up when dinner's ready."

Izaya said and closed his eyes. He made himself comfortable against Shizuo's shoulder, practically snuggling against the blond.

"…."

Although Shizuo didn't really pay attention to his surroundings, he did if Izaya was in them, and he couldn't help but think how fortunate he was to have Orihara Izaya, Raijin High's top student and model student, willingly laying against his shoulder and sleeping in his presence, lowering all his defences.

Because Shizuo paid attention to Izaya, he had noticed the other teenage boy, with his neatly buttoned blue blazer and always tucked in shirt buttoned to the collar above his dark blue tie, and immaculate glossy black hair, tended to keep people at a distance. He didn't know the reason, but it was something he had noticed, that even when girls were fawning over him and guys voiced their admiration for him, Izaya stayed his usual cool, composed self, speaking politely to both genders with his genial smile, never using casual speech even with people his age.

And Shizuo was no exception – except for just now. Izaya had suddenly switched his tone and form of speech as if it was an everyday thing for him when he had never done so before.

And just as the style of speech of their language indicated the closeness the speaker wanted to convey, Shizuo felt as if Izaya wanted to get closer to him.

It was probably a strange sight, Raijin High's model student and top scorer and Raijin High's most infamous delinquent who always failed his exams hanging out together, the former using his usual distanced polite speech and genial smile and the latter talking as casually as one could without rudeness, but with no anger in his expression.

But Shizuo didn't mind. He didn't care what people thought about them – as long as those gangs didn't see Izaya with him. Izaya wasn't a fighter as far as he knew, and he didn't want the other boy to get hurt. They had threatened Kasuka before, and he had no doubt they would threaten and make use of Izaya if they knew of his affiliation with him.

"…I like you."

The murmured words left his lips before he knew, and he raised a hand to place it on Izaya's black hair, feeling the glossy strands.

There was a wry smile on the blond's face.

"I really like you, you know? Even if you're not a girl."

"Hey…is it alright for me to like you like this?"

There was no answer, for Izaya was sleeping, exhaling soft breaths, the look on his beautiful face with handsome features a peaceful one.

The raven haired boy was the perfect image of beauty, and it was not only because Shizuo had heard girls saying they were envious of his pretty face.

To Shizuo, Izaya was beautiful because he could see him. He could actually see him, see Izaya in his sleep when his defences were down, when the distance between them, the distance Izaya wanted to keep, was closed.

And that image, of a peaceful, serene looking Izaya, was beautiful to him.

Shizuo smiled a smile that would have made the girls who were afraid of him stop and stare. A smile from his heart, as he brushed away black locks of hair to press a kiss on Izaya's forehead.

…

- Damn it.

- I've never felt this way before.

- So damn awkward, afraid he'll discover my feelings…

- Ah I know, I should just confess, but I'm scared.

- He trusts me enough to lower his guard, I can't take advantage of that

- Ahh…what the hell is with me really.

- I've never been this nervous around another person before

- Is this the teenage hormones Shinra keeps babbling about?

- Or the love he speaks for Celty?

- But to think….

- I can like someone just like this….

- …Like a normal person.

…

Shizuo removed his lips from Izaya's forehead. He leaned back, and pushed Izaya's head gently against his shoulder, ruffling the soft black hair with a wry smile on his face as he voiced his thoughts in his heart –

- I wonder…how long will you let me stay?

…

…

…

For some background information, mention of casual speech and polite speech is because Japanese has two styles of speaking - 'Polite style' and 'Plain style'. Polite style is used to superior or a teacher, or anyone you don't know well, used to show respect, but also to indicate distance (either because you can't be too close with the person who's a superior or because you don't know the person well even if they're the same age). Plain style is the anime style lol! It's how people in anime who know each other well speak to each other, or how classmates speak to each other (since they're all of the same age). It's casual speech.

For example, in English:

"How are you feeling today, if I may ask?" (Polite style)

"Yo, what's up? How you doin'?" (Plain style)

Well something like that, like, "Would you mind if I borrow that pen?" VS "Hey let me borrow that pen yeah." But yeah the difference is kind of that big hahaha. So imagine Izaya and Shizuo hanging out together like, "How are you doing today, Shizuo-kun?", "Huh not bad I guess, how 'bout you?" I think it would be quite a sight lol~like the model student with a gangster though well it is.

One indication of polite style is the use of desu (です）which shows formality, like if you listen to Shizuo talk to Tom before Akane came along in Episode 5, you'll hear him use that a lot, since Tom is his superior and he wants/needs to show respect. But to someone like Shinra or Celty he speaks casually, and to Izaya he's just plain rude LOL.

Anyway since it's middle school Izaya (pre-Shinra stabbing incident because it didn't happen here), he was described as being distant and observant so I thought he'd use the polite style. And since here he's a model student he's supposed to be polite right? I'm explaining 'cause Izaya will switch his style later on, on and off (I know, so troublesome right), so I just wanted to let readers know the significance!

And I knowwww a new story, but it's just an idea I wanted to get out! I've been wondering about this for a while, how would Shizuo be around middle school Izaya? Since middle school Izaya is the type who goes off to the library by himself and is a top student, and that's quite peaceful of him. I wondered about that considering Volume 9, it's been in my head lurking for quite a while. And after talking to a reviewer and friend, I decided to write it, she had thought of it too but she gave me permission to write it and I thank her so much for that because the idea wouldn't leave my head (which was why I talked to her about it~). And after reading an analysis on tumblr I accidentally stumbled upon that Shizuo may get along well with Izaya in middle school though that wasn't the only thing mentioned, well, all that just culminated in this story really.

Of course, my focus is still LAT like I said I just wanted to get this idea out before I lost courage haha (I mean the title of the document is literally 'A blond stood' LOL same with LAT, 'It had been exciting at first' yes I am that lazy...). Kind of like Without a Goodbye last time. And can I just say I love the picture, it's kind of ironic! I had just finally given in to writing the idea (even though I have so many stories already!) and I wanted a break for a while (look at the chapter length and Izaya is killing me with his 'new' personality I had to go back to Volume 9 so much harder to write than Lies and Truth) and so I went to tumblr and I saw that wonderful picture!

And no, I didn't write that head against the shoulder scene from that, I wrote it before that! xD Hahahaha what a coincidence eh?