A/N: This is pretty much an AU of what would happen if Shizuo didn't gain his crazy and amazing strength until much later in life. If Shizuo's strength didn't come until to the current timeline in this story, it would a profound effect on his life.

This IS going to be an Izuo as in Izaya x Shizuo in that order; so if you don't like, don't read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Durarara! Shizuo or Izaya. Slight warning on Shizuo's increasingly foul language over the series. If you hadn't noticed, he swears a LOT when he's having his "time of the month… or year". If anyone wants me to change the rating on this story because of that, then just PM me.

As the little light filtered through the remnants of the night time sky, Izaya acknowledges that of Shizuo and himself, one of them is lying to the other. The denial had started to seep into actions and had officially begun to play with crucial emotions to the point where it had become difficult for either of them to properly speak anymore.

Words were never an issue; words were something Izaya could manipulate into a beautiful fabrication of lies that he would whisper into attentive ears that were simply waiting for all they wanted to hear. There was rarely a time that Izaya had ever hesitated though he had come to find those moments occurring more than often in the presence of Heiwajima Shizuo.

Heiwajima Shizuo, the name lingered in the deepest recesses of his mind. Soft brunette locks. Mouth that held foul words and heat. Golden eyes that seared into his own eyes. Piercing. Izaya could feel the other man on his skin and in his veins. He loved Heiwajima Shizuo, the man who owned a distorted mind and would starve for what he'll never have.

He knew, but still doesn't understand the reasoning behind it.

Izaya knew what Shizuo yearned for, the dreams for an ordinary life as an average citizen while working at some menial job like everyone else in Ikebukuro. What he didn't understand about the oh so violent brunette is why would want to lower himself to lifestyle of meritocracy. Wasn't it natural for humans to dream of a future filled with their sickening hopes and dreams? Yes, it was a human's nature to desire a life of excitement apart from their dreary life.

As if it weren't for the superhuman abilities were enough, the other man had lived a good portion of his life a celebrity. The transition from having the musical career to one of doing Izaya's bidding wouldn't things to get any less hectic; Izaya would personally insure that fact so that menial thoughts wouldn't drift through Shizuo's mind.

Though the imagery of what would be the fortissimo of Ikebukuro slaving away in a cubicle in a freshly pressed suit had immediately dampened Izaya's spirits.

That thought alone sickened Izaya to his stomach as the frown on his face deepened, he would damn the other man to the depths of hell before he allows such a thing because Shizuo was never normal and never meant to be like any other. Izaya has already damned the man to eternity at his side, waist deep in sin or so says all those the people Izaya has betrayed in the past.

Their wretched screams sent a shiver down his spine as he manipulated them into walking forward to death themselves, although there was a few people that had to take some convincing at the end of his knife.

Izaya remembered the dark alleyway, silver meeting soft skin and the metallic smell of blood in the air.

They had only served to remind Izaya that he had hurt Shizuo once, had made him bleed blood because it was Izaya's to spill in the first place.

The knowledge that he had been the only to properly scar the other man this way had blossomed something akin to pride in his chest, a twisted smile tugged at his mouth. Despite all the heated flush of Shizuo's strengthened skin, he was abnormally human in the ways he displayed overly exaggerated emotion.

It could be thought of as strange considering whom he was related to, it was also a wonder why the word emotionless wasn't a synonym to the name Hanejima Yuuhei. The other man had threatened him once and it might have been comical if Izaya hadn't acknowledged the fact that this creature was a formidable one when it came to his influence of Shizuo.

He vaguely remembered the words that were exchanged, though why should Izaya be the one at wrong here?

If Izaya hadn't been there to witness Shizuo's first act of violence, well who knew what would become of the poor brunette. He had burned with the knowledge of what could have been if Shizuo had continued to run rampant and blind throughout the entirety of his life.

Bones would be broken and healed, red would run the streets and no one would ever understand the potential that Heiwajima Shizuo held, not even the man himself. The mind played dirty tricks on people to which Izaya used to his advantage, though Shizuo's resolutions seem to echo hollow when he made them.

The defined lines of Shizuo's shoulders quiver with action, something he would never allow himself should he be aware of his surroundings. A nightmare, only to prove how human the other man is.

They're dancing along the line of disappointment because Shizuo isn't getting what he wants and Izaya has furthered his goals anymore than usual. Resolves must be strengthened and Izaya chose to dance along the lines of the other's vision instead as he focused the brunette's rage upon all the while cultivating muscles. The brunette had barely noticed the pain by the time Shizuo was cursing the fact that he was lost in every kiss Izaya had pressed against his jaw line.

While he gaining hold on the other's life through the persuasion of skin and heat, there was no saying what would happen if Shizuo were to be left unattended to and there was only some much time Izaya could dedicate his time to the other man when there was also other concerning matters on his hands.

Although his internal ranting was interrupted by Shizuo when he started mumble under his breath and shifted his body so that his back was turned to Izaya's watching eyes. He noted the cold perspiration that wracked the other man's restless body; one would come to the conclusion that the brunette's nightmares had gotten worse.

This was a vulnerability wasn't meant for him, not made by him. The bed frame shook under the uncontrolled tremors until there was a sound like a quick intake of breathes which was followed by what sounded almost like dry heaving was being ushered out of Shizuo's chest.

Izaya's beloved human was awake.

The sheet rustled underneath the other's withering and he felt the bed dip under Shizuo's weight as the other man stumbled into the bathroom. The restroom door slammed against the wooden frame which was followed by the sound of the shower being turned on.

At the freedom of no longer having a bed mate, Izaya stretched his tired limbs and rolled the dull ache of yesterday away with fresh thoughts. Dawn was beginning to break as he laid between disheveled sheets, strategizing his next actions and taking all recourses into consideration. There were plans to be fulfilled and goals that had to be met, no one and Izaya meant no one would get in the way of what he wanted.

Valhalla. The word twisted his lips until he felt a grin taking place on his face. The trepidation of dying was somewhat irrational. Though Izaya is unsure of what laid in the spaces between here and the six feet of dirt that all corpses were buried underneath. It is that thought that he didn't have control of what happened after he died that infuriated him the most.

He repeated the words mentally several times to instill the meaning to his mind.

All his plans should follow through, the only problem itself was something he had in his hold, but had yet to tame. Yes, the problem was that for all Shizuo's ignorance, he has saw right through Izaya from the very start and continued to gaze at him as if this was almost a fleeing matter that he would one day over come when the brunette had gained control of his unruly rage.

Perhaps this was why Izaya continued to provoke the other man, it was always amusing to the calmed expression translate into one of pure rage.

Izaya would have to solve the problems he was riddled with soon enough. The ultimate solution would be to bind the other man to him, if not with force than with persuasion and few various other methods. Izaya could give Shizuo other reasons to remain by his side, to stay here with him and to never return to a life of dull actions and without thoughts. Reasons that didn't actually have to involve Izaya though something he had enough power over to control should things get out of control.

The sound of the shower had longed stopped and the bathroom door creaked open to reveal a mostly bare brunette with an impressive body, a fluffy towel secured loosely at the hip. Izaya couldn't have been found with for his blatant stare and hadn't even tried to make to subtle to lessen the uncomfortable look on the former idol's face.

"I hadn't heard you get up." He lied because there is no need for Shizuo to know how much he resonated through Izaya's thoughts.

The brunette scowled at the depraved smirk on his own face before Izaya turned his attention the pile of clothes that he was wearing from the night before. They would have hardly seemed appropriate at any function considering how flashy the clothes were, though Izaya was all too sure that Shizuo had to be stuffed into such tight fabric because it didn't really seem like something he would wear on his own in the first place.

Not that he had really been complaining although it seemed out of place in his apartment and he had always been fickle to imagery. He had still felt slightly intoxicated off the ire that restricted Shizuo's actions, though something reminded him that the fleeting feelings lead to uncontrolled actions.

Izaya reached out towards the other man without much thought. Shizuo had then visibly stiffened when they touched, his body language spoke volumes of discomfort when Shizuo's strong shoulders squared themselves. Izaya grounded his teeth together, this man was something he had tried, tries, to influence though for all Izaya's worth, and it didn't seem to be working.

It's not that he feared that one day he would have to let the other go, Orihara Izaya doesn't feel fear very often nor does he allow such mistakes to happen. It is through this miscalculation that he has to plot again and make new mental calculations, draw up new responses and which words he should use to several different reactions.

Humans were so intricately complex yet the underlying layers were all too simple to be true, they were so easy love when their cries of sorrow reached his ears and sank into his heart. Shizuo was human underneath all the shades of strength and rage, which was why Izaya loved Shizuo too.

Though it comes to point where he wondered if he, Orihara Izaya, was actually mistaken and had named this numbing emotion as love. Humans were afraid of those they deemed not human; would it be any easier to take control Shizuo if Izaya thought of him as a monster?

Izaya withdrew his touch and instead turned his attention to the dressing drawer, sorting through the clothes that would fit a man of Shizuo's stature because all he had left were the concert clothes and the towel lingering around his sharply jointed waist.

Finally he pulled out a pair of sweat pants and an old t-shirt that he hadn't used in a while. Gingerly handing the clothes to Shizuo, Izaya took note of the deepened frown that had appeared on the other man's face though hadn't pressed further. Instead, he chose to smolder at the sight of the naked skin and all the developed muscles Shizuo's accumulated over the years, it would be a lie to call the man anything over than breath taking.

It would be the absolute truth that Izaya wouldn't mind telling even if it would probably include bloodshed like all the other nasty things he's revealed to people.

Izaya settled onto the couch in the living room though he continued to linger over the view the brunette was providing from the still open door way as he stretched himself taunt to loosen the kinks in muscles. There shouldn't be this strange atmosphere around them, perhaps it was a mistake to not screw Shizuo after all. Silly women had always thought the way to bind a man was through the ways of their hunger, sexually or otherwise.

Though there was hesitation in the way he moved when there shouldn't be, Izaya needed to grasp Shizuo again before all was lost. Izaya couldn't help, but feel the delicate threads binding to together pulling hard enough to break the seams.

His mind paced at an aberrant speed and for the first time, he felt the unconscious pull of desperation stringing along his actions.

Cold sweat had perspired against Shizuo's skin; he belatedly closed his blank and bleary eyes. There was a dull ache in pounding against the walls of his mind, more so his head though the soothing patter of water against face started to help with his heart racing erratically.

Dark, vivid images overtook his view as he remembered the blood painting people's faces that ruled his latest dream, the carnage he administered upon them was bleary yet Shizuo could remember more clearly now than he could before.

Flesh meeting fists. Fury. Anger. Hatred. Blood. Screams. Curses. Kill. Kill. Kill.

No one should be capable of something so hideously violence like that, though Shizuo was able to and had done it before in the past.

Those nightmares stemmed from the horribly familiar memories of tearing stop signs out of the ground and swinging to draw blood from all those who angered him. He could remember the hoarse cries that roared out of his mouth and all the foul words that were passed in the far and few times he actually talked to the flea. Their meetings were merely made of physical exchanges though Shizuo had no idea why he allowed this whole thing to go so far in the first place.

Feeling more alert of his surroundings, the vivid memories of last night played over in his head. It was then Shizuo remembered how he skipped out on one of the hugest performances of his entire career for the pursuit of cheating bastard. The ring on Shizuo left hand seared his skin in reminder of the possible damage he's made towards Kasuka's acting career.

Guilt started to seep into his system and he started to feel the weight bearing down on his mind.

Shizuo turned the shower handle and wrapped a towel around his waist. With belated thoughts, he hoped that the fucker in the next room over was still asleep so maybe he could sneak the hell out here undetected.

"I hadn't heard you get up." With no such luck although there was a bitter smile playing the edge of Izaya's lips and for a compulsive second, Shizuo wanted to question the other man, but stopped himself short from doing so. Something inside him is set on edge, teetering over that edge of who the hell knew what.

Shizuo doesn't ask because he shouldn't and that's a good enough explanation in his mind for the moment, so he merely sneered at red eyed man out of reflex.

The bastard himself stared without shame, the look started to sear his body as Izaya's expression screamed starving.

His skin prickled upon recalling the state of dress or lack of, Shizuo shifted uncomfortably at that fact. Well that and the fact that Izaya was still laid out on the bed, lithe limbs tucked under his head which was barely tilted towards his direction to meet his own eyes, the stare was grating on his nerves and it made him feel really uncomfortable.

They draw a treaty the moment the son of a bitch switched his gaze towards the pile of clothes he had hazardously left on the bedroom floor. Shizuo grimaced at the colorful clothing; they weren't really his personal style though he hadn't properly dressed himself for several years now.

When Shizuo turned his attention back to other man, he was startled by the lack of space between them. Izaya had edged closer in the time that he had spaced out, the high arched eyebrows knitted together in concentration while his hand gripped onto Shizuo.

He stiffened as the other man's fingers tips swept over his forearm, was horrified to find the sickly sweet relief that came with the slightest touch. Shizuo was alarmed by the unfamiliar sensations of wanting to lean further into the other's hands. This shouldn't be happening, Shizuo shouldn't want this, shouldn't want more because he has already made his mind up on who to hate.

No, not made up this mind, has just always hated Izaya and that was the correct order of things or at least the order that he continued to fuck up whenever he came into contact with the flea bastard.

The man withdrew his hand before Shizuo could come to a decision of what to do, the heat faded and he felt at lost. More than he should and this is just coming around in a full circle.

His body struggled with something, limbs ached with want though what that want was...

Hell if Shizuo even knew anything, anymore.

Izaya is already scouring his dresser before pulling out a better substitute for his outfit from yesterday. The flea pressed the clothing into his hands and wandered off.

Hesitantly, he stared at the t-shirt and sweat pants he held in his hand. It's not like Izaya could use the clothing to mess with his head so he chose to grab his underwear from the pile of clothes he left around the floor.

Upon putting the loose clothing on, Shizuo found himself wondering if it was normal that he found this whole thing fucking strange. He shouldn't even be accepting anything from the douche, but it was admittedly better than what he came through the door in. Yesterday was a night of recollections best forgotten and true to those words; Shizuo hardly remembered much about what happened after they had left the stadium.

He took in the view of Izaya draped over the living room couch, his clothes slightly rumpled since it didn't seem they had changed when they had got to the place Shizuo recognized as the fucker's apartment.

The scarlet eyes dart towards his way, daring him to make a move that is probably going to goad into something he'll regret. Though it the other man that stood first, moving over the window and drawing the blinds until the room darkened.

Shizuo shifted in discomfort again.

By the jerk of the other's jaw, Izaya motioned him over the sofa he once again occupied, eyes glittering in that certain infuriating way they always did. Shizuo settled himself onto the leather interior, on the opposite end. Not touching the brunette, but nearly because of the lack of space.

It was times like these that Shizuo would have said something to break the fucking silence, but he felt too caught up in the intensity that he was well aware of being sent his way by the only other person in the apartment. Though he didn't really have the gift of letting fancy speeches flow so freely from his mouth, his actions usually did the talking for him.

"I should go back soon," he began, "They're going to need me."

There is a brief laugh, "Need you, Shizu-chan? Why would they ever need you?"

The words were filled with spite.

His eyes flickered towards the other man who in raised an eyebrow in response; Shizuo could feel the heat of Izaya's hands which almost touched his as his own raced up to his cheeks in indignation. The atmosphere was slowly suffocating him though that doesn't halt the grimace he felt taking place on his face.

"Why the hell wouldn't they need me? I freaking walked out on them for some fucking mistake, if you hadn't been there I would have been able to finish the fucking concert." He gritted those words through clenched teeth.

"Ahhh well for starters, you followed me whole heartedly, not to mention all those times you skipped out on the studio to be with me. That really isn't the responsible thing to do though you might just blame your unruly emotions, there aren't that much of an excuse." Shizuo felt the angry flush in his face darken at the words though doesn't stop nimble fingers from picking at his clothing, smoothing out the crumpled state of his collar.

"Don't blame me on your psychotic tendencies; you just like the fun we have." Taunting. Taunting. Taunting.

Cruelty and arrogance were painted on Izaya's face and Shizuo's hands struggle to not wipe the palette clean. Though he doesn't succeed when he fisted a handful of the other man's shirt and yanked him face to face. A deep guttural sound emerged from his own throat and though he swore to not let his anger get the best of him, Shizuo broke his own promise with ease.

It's when the heat continued pressed against Shizuo's front that his own actions had become momentarily frozen.

The space between them was startling and he would have released Izaya like he scalded his body if it wasn't for the slim hands that lightly drag over the fabric of his stomach and it took all the concentration in the world to not flinch when the other man's wandering fingertips scrape against the skin underneath his shirt.

A hot breath against the shell of his ear startled Shizuo, "Let me violate you."

This pacing is off again, though it seemed at times that they never were set to schedule because they lived off the word erratic.

Shizuo should stop the other man, but doesn't because his body won't comply with his thoughts. The actions were achingly familiar and allowed his mind to slip into the light blankness that he had become accustomed to over a scary amount of time. The weight pressed his chest doesn't choke him anymore although the pressure is still there, lingering like a fucking bitch.

Izaya surged forward and his lips grazed against Shizuo's, the bastard's tongue slipping between his teeth. The taste of sin and musky lust is in his mouth although that doesn't stop heat from pooling in his abdomen or the way his hands slide until then become tangled in the ink black hair.

The other man murmured something against his lips though when Shizuo's ear strained to hear the words, he couldn't make them out. The hands that skim lightly against his skin seemed assured as Shizuo was pressed back into the couch.

Shizuo should remind himself that he should be able to resist the advances of a fucking peon; he can't hear the voice of reason anymore that is screaming; screaming that it was Izaya who was complicating him.

It was like the line of conscious was cut the moment they had met because Shizuo couldn't remember a time when he had acted like a reasonable person, not that he could think much in the first place at the moment.

Although Shizuo never does because no matter how his logic wanted him at to reel back, his hands continued to move on their own as they search the contours of Izaya's naked back, fingernails threatening to sink harder into the skin.

"Ahhh f-fuck."

Breathless. He's forgotten how to intake air, the lack of oxygen made him feel light headed. No, not breathless, this was drowning as the overwhelming pressure surrounded Shizuo with something he all too familiar with.

It wasn't like Izaya would let him forget the press of his lips as he killed him softly and slowly. Even when they came up for air, Shizuo found himself in a daze as he buried his head into crook of the other man's neck and sank his teeth into the now broken skin. He heard the hiss that escaped Izaya's attention and suddenly, the heat wrapping them felt all too hot to handle.

Shizuo remembered his pinned position and tried to shift their bodies, though they roll off of the leather couch and land roughly onto the carpet instead. The material of the floor was uncomfortable, but fuck the impending rug burns because at least he had some sort of control over the situation.

His thighs are already straddling the other's waist as his unsteady hands held onto Izaya's jaw line, Shizuo clumsily smashed their lips together again with bruising affect.

Their teeth clacked against each other and Shizuo momentarily loosened his grip on Izaya's face, the brunette's mouth brushed past his face, hot breath ghosting over his skin before he buried his teeth into the crook of Shizuo's own neck and laughed, "An eye for an eye or I guess this would be bite for bruises and blood."

Shizuo wanted Izaya to shut the hell up, but the silence from earlier was about equally annoying so he doesn't know what the more evil here was hand.

He does recognize the fact that the skin underneath Izaya's imbedded nails should have bled a long time ago, but Shizuo honestly didn't remember what it was like bleed properly anymore. Their mouths ground against each other again and god, he knew this was wrong.

Though he fights with all his fury against the impulses that hold him here, when was it all the wrongs starting to feel right. When they had actually become right, Shizuo shouldn't have to justify his violence or his anger.

A deft hand pulled down Shizuo's borrowed pants and rub against the naked skin underneath, Shizuo nearly shivered at the touch and struggled to stay rigid. No weakness, there was no room for weaknesses. This was the art of their war and that's how Shizuo fought when captured so fucking intimately.

"I fucking hate you." That's what he growled against the hollow of Izaya's throat, his fingers tugging at the fabric of the other man's shirt. The raw annoyance swells on his tongue and leaves an almost bitter after taste. The shame burned his cheeks because he should have more morals than abandoning everything he knew before hand just for the chase of something he doesn't he'll ever have. Doesn't want to have, but forced to be drawn to anyway.

The other man paused for a second before he chuckles and the fact that the other man is taking his resentment so lightly only furthered the offense in Shizuo's eyes. The sounds of cruelty brushed past his ear, leaving an echo in its wake. There should be words coming out of his mouth, they should be curses though harsh pants were the only thing he could manage at the moment.

He isn't even sure if this is lust or unsatisfied needs anymore because it sure as hell isn't liking or love. There is pain when they devour each other's mouths and set the tempo to desperation because that's what he's naming this.

Shizuo is just letting Izaya pretend that he forgot what happened yesterday, like it never happened and they were still speaking without words again. There is an uncertainty that lied ahead of them and while Shizuo wasn't afraid to face what came his way, he would be damned if there would be another day he allowed Izaya to win.

The slick bastard's fingers dug sharply into his thigh and just fuck.

Shizuo's own fist reacted on instinct and infused itself with where Izaya's head used to be. The laughter grew louder, but the silence still reigned over the both of them in a way.

He rut their hips together, his bruised hand wrapped around the other man's pale neck once more, pressing Shizuo closer and he's forgetting again. Hating. Loathing. Disgust. He's not sure anymore because the lines are bleeding through.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Shizuo hated himself for falling back into place so naturally like this, hated that this felt so natural, hated how he can't help himself and how he's so fucking hungry for more.

Maybe it's just the same old patterns that Shizuo followed the familiarity and continued their strangled pace. He had wondered if they were shutting a door that should have never been open in the first place although Shizuo continued to forget every time he's reminded of the fact that Izaya tasted like carnage.

Tom gazed at the tall structure in front of him; it was a classy neighborhood to say the least. Definitely not the kind you expect the next mark to be living in if you took into account of the general clients of his company, they usually lived in shabby apartments in the down town area, not to mention the fact that they usually resided in Ikebukuro instead of Shibuya.

Though he had no idea why this had turned into an out of town business venture, his boss had insisted that Tom of all people should journey down from the Toshima ward to here.

The client was supposed to be cooperative man who was courteous enough to pay the money he owed in time for the deadline although apparently sketchy enough to actually use their company enough times to be called a regular. This mystery man had politely asked they could schedule in a business meeting to discuss another payment.

It struck Tom as the actions of a legitimate business instead of someone looking into pay off some femme fatale more money.

The actions of this client wasn't apparently enough to warrant for another body guard so the boss had if Tom would make the trip alone.

After all, the few promising men were still being trained on how to recognize the various situations that apply to the different kinds of clients that would have gotten and he didn't have enough time to pick up the slack for someone that would make more than his share of mistakes.

While Tom might not have been the smartest guy around town, but he had a sharp enough wit that wheedled him out of a few tough situations. He would like to think sometimes he could have gone farther in life than being a debt collector though Tom also knew his limits at life; he wasn't one to push himself too hard either.

The building itself inside was decorated in a rather indifferent and cold manner, something similar to the decor magazine he had skimmed through every now and again.

Tom felt somewhat out of place in this high classy atmosphere, he was used to the run down apartments, stained yellow walls and strange characters.

As strange and out of the ordinary this was for him, he moved in front of the right door that was neatly labeled the owner's surname on the door plate.

After a bit hesitantly, he knocked against the front door though a minute had passed by without avail and his boss probably wouldn't make exceptions now when it came to clients paying the bill. His fist pounded against the wood and raised his voice in case this was actually an old man that couldn't hear all that well, "Shibata-san! Are you in?"

Only silence.

Tom continued beating against entrance in hopes of rousing the owner's attention until he could hear the following sound of heavy footsteps alerted him to the man coming to the door.

He had the common sense to take a step back, different experiences with several clients have proven this learnt procedure well and the sound of speed the man on the opposite side of the door suggested someone angry. Tom had a few men that had tried to shank him in a weak attempt to escape the self fulfilling debt, that he had been told of how great this patron was prior to his trip though that had sounded a little too fishy for him.

To his not so much surprise, an angry face appeared behind the door, though to his actual surprise, in a way he hadn't expected.

The crack which was followed by the image a door hung from the frame, half hazardously and broken in half wasn't really something that happened a lot or at all really.

The man at the entrance held a silver knob mid air in his grip with knuckles bleached white, Tom assumed it was irritation at being disturbed at this time of the day though it is well into the afternoon. The tall brunette that had answered his call glared at the object his hand with annoyed look on his face that further proved his theory.

Weary eyes took a look at him with a prominent scowl to match though that hadn't affected the shocking recognition Tom had felt when taking the brunette's face in fully. "Shizuo?"

Tom had thought he had sighted the man some time ago though that night itself had been a haze which included taking his temporary body guard to the hospital and having to explain it to his boss. Although this was no mistake, no mistake in the fact that this was in fact his former underclassmen standing before him, albeit the fact that Tom hadn't expected to see the other man like this, if at all.

The other man who Tom deemed to be his middle school acquaintance stiffened a considerable amount before Tom had felt the searing stare of other man be directed fully towards his face. Well the other's man inquisitive look hadn't really lost all the innocence it once held, there was a certain focus that wasn't there before.

Though the eyes have yet to lit with recognition, the brunette's head does tilt slightly as if the angle will help him to become the man Tom hoped he thought he was.

He held his hands in the most peaceful way possible, "It's been a while." He smiled though his confidence wavered with every passing second that the brunette's eyes pierced his soul.

Thankfully the other man's head perked slightly as the expression softened significantly, "Ah, Tom-sempai?"

The relief flooded his system although he can't help, but mentally question why the other man was here of all places, "Since middle school huh?"

Shizuo doesn't reply, but simply stared blankly now.

It was then that Tom took an actual look at his former underclassmen's appearance. There were slight dark rings underneath his eyes along with disheveled hair and clothing. It hadn't really matched the outer appearance of what an owner of such a highly established apartment complex would look like; neither did his clientele so Tom reminded himself to not make assumptions so quickly.

The silence drew out so he continued the conversation himself, "I don't suppose if you know if Shibata-san is in at the moment would you?"

"Shibata?"

"He's supposed to be living here right now."

The other man looked like he was genuinely thinking through Tom's question before shaking his head slowly.

"I'm the only one here and I don't know anyone by the name."

Well that was both a disappointment and solace, from the time Ikebukuro to here, Tom had wasted a good portion of his time and Shizuo had wasted a good door. Though the door probably wasn't all the great if anyone could just shove the thing open, only to have it break into two. The leftover shards of the broken entrance lay at his feet.

"Aha, looks like I got the wrong address then. Sorry for the interruption and the door I guess."

It seemed like the man only remembered the fact that the door he had just busted through had literally busted into a bunch of pieces because he looked at the door handle he still held in his grip before dropping onto the floor.

Tom rubbed the back of his neck, "I'll pay for the entrance to be fixed or for a new one, it was kind of my fault anyway." The awkward atmosphere dissipated underneath the minutes started to fly by, their former camaraderie shining through the gap of time. It didn't hurt the fact that Shizuo was willing to listen to Tom in the first place, most would have booked it by now or called the police when you took in account of the false alarm and all.

Shizuo just shrugged, "I don't really care, but I guess it would suck if it was just left this way."

"I guess I'll head back to office, they'll send you some money to replace the old one. You could come with; my boss would probably want a confirmation on all this." The last sentence was spurned by the obvious displeasure on the other man's face once Tom mentioned leaving at the moment.

It had reminded Tom of this one time during their middle school days when they had an outing after avoiding the juvenile gangs that were scattered around the school district, the brunette had used his soulful eyes to silently make him pay for one of their meals. Giving into some internal big brother instinct, Tom relented out of both courtesy and to get Shizuo's kick puppy expression out of his mind.

Things didn't seem so different now, even when the features on the other man's face had sharpened a considerable amount.

"...alright. I have nothing better to do anyway." The other's gaze flickered over his shoulder, deeper into the apartment before he stepped over the remains of the door. He was only met with silence; Tom doesn't know why he expected someone to ask Shizuo who was at the door.

After stepping over the remains of their door, they slunk down the street back to Ikebukuro.

Tom found the idle chatter between them natural, almost like they were still friends all these years. The conversations ran smooth, although it was more of Tom's inane babble with Shizuo's replying grunts and occasional comments.

At some point, they made a brief stop at one of the many convenience stores littering around the city Tom had noticed the other man looking a little lost lorn at one of the glossy covers of a celebrity magazine, the smiling face of Hanejima Yuuhei stared back at the two of them. So far, the two dimensional copy of the star was winning.

He eyed the tabloids, skimming through the with his fingers.

There was havoc in the city because a star's disappearance from two nights ago, some say a kidnapping and others say a publicity stunt.

The article inside a detailed account and blurred pictures of the celebrity having an obvious affair with someone, who that someone was unclear as the man's back covered the face of the figure that had him pinned against a third floor window. While it would have been brushed off as baseless rumors, this sordid affair was proven true by the announcement of Iwaki Takumi's secret marriage to those working at the studio on the morning of his concert.

Since the blackout and consequential disappearance, his wife has not been identified though many have claimed and had those said claims ripped apart. No one from the agency that the idol had worked had filed a report to the police so the severity of what had happened was being downplayed.

Although it was strange to say that he may have been one of the only men in this town or anywhere else in Japan who knew where that said celebrity disappeared to on the account of the man standing directly next to him.

Tom's eyes flickered over to Shizuo, the features behind the sunglasses that the other man slipped onto his face earlier proved the knowledge to be true.

The taller man was examining the deep bite marks alongside of his nape with a withering glare through the mirrored glass. Tom shifted his staring; it was none of his business of what kind of play his former classman was getting.

Although the silver on Shizuo's left ring finger had immediately drawn his attention after the last thought, perhaps it was a trinket from a lover or even a marriage ring that held truth to all the speculation going on recently.

It seemed like a relatively safer question to ask and a lot more conversation friendly, "You got hitched, man?" Shizuo followed his gaze to the silver ring at the base of his finger, the man's hand tightened into a balled fist.

"Ahhh, this. Truthfully I really detest drinking and alcohol doesn't really taste all that great to me, but one morning I woke up with this on me. Not that I'm really married, it's just because of that scum, freaking flea slut bastard-" the words drifted off into a regression of growling sounds that Tom couldn't really understand, though he simply nodded his head anyway.

Childhood memories overlapped with the man in front of him. The external rants never ceased though that was something Tom liked about the younger.

Although it was strange to hear the certain level of malice in the other man's voice that had started to heighten during the speech with every word uttered, sharp intakes were coupled with the sudden roughness in Shizuo's tone. Tom imagined the man's marriage to be not of the greatest caliber, though it sounded interesting in some sort of aspect he's a person of privacy and doesn't ask. Instead, he tried to change the flow of the conversation.

They eventually excused themselves from the convenience store and seated themselves at a low budget cafe instead. While waiting for their drinks to be served - coffee for Tom and milk for Shizuo - they exchanged a few stories since their junior high days had ended, it didn't seem like the brunette had any qualms with admitting that he was indeed, Iwaki Takumi. In return, Tom had spoken of how he had eventually become a contractor for the money loaning agency that he worked under.

It was then that Tom noticed out of the corner of his eye the blatant attention of an older man gazing towards their direction, the intent stare was accompanied by sunken eyes that spoke volumes of inpatient violence and promises.

The stranger's glare was leveled on Tom, which was strangely surprising considering that of all the people he was with at the moment was a celebrity, the chances that it was him being the one stared down was kind of ludicrous.

While his and Shizuo's conversation continued, the gaze became all the more intense. Tom shifted his view back from the increasingly dangerous stranger back to his former underclassmen who had seemed to catch on as to what might've be going though didn't seem to be really connecting the lines if the tilt of his head and confused expression indicated anything.

The actual situation at hand was most likely an old client that hadn't taken so keenly to Tom upholding his part of the loan by coming to take what belonged to his company. Though he had known what kind of life this would have lead to, Tom took the chances nonetheless.

While he could probably avoid anything the dangerous man could have thrown out of him, Tom would have preferred it if the stranger had chosen a time when he wasn't in the company of someone he was rather fond of.

Without any other foreseeable action in sight, Tom bent his head slightly and spoke in a low tone, "Ahhh Shizuo, I think we better get the hell out of here. There's a guy over there eyeing me up and I have a feeling like he was one of my company's past customers. We shouldn't aggravate him by the sight of me anymore."

Tom pressed a few bills onto the coffee table and had quickly exited the quaint little shop with Shizuo trailing behind not a second later.

Though by the echoed footsteps that belonged to the brunette that had once held the title of an idol, Tom hopes that they could have avoided any violence seemed too dashed.

He picked up the pace though was conscious of the faster pattern of foot steps behind him, Tom tensed and whipped around only to catch the sight of a long pipe in the motion of striking him where the back of his head should be.

Tom closed his eyes instinctively, but the pain never comes though there was the sound of metal hitting flesh and then was a sound of almost strangled gasping. He raised his head and only saw shoulders that were once never this broad, protecting him strangely enough though just as much as blocking his view from what was actually happening.

He peered around Shizuo's taller figure. To his furthered amazement, Tom saw the unflinching stature upon the connected hit the mental pipe had made. He had missed the actual contact itself though there wasn't a hint of pain registering in the brunette's faces, instead a rather bored expression that bore down on the aggressor before them.

The attacker's face was ashen grey that matched with the fear seeping into his sunken eyes. His grip on the long pipe trembled before the weapon fell to the cement with a clang. His eyes flickered back and forth from the almost nonexistent wound he inflicted on Shizuo and his thick hands.

It had also come under Tom's attention that his underclassman hadn't looked even vaguely bruised; the only difference was the slight scruff marks on the man's shirt where he was assaulted.

Tom had become aware of the awe and silence that reined down of the previously noisy street. That had only made the single voice speaking echo throughout the streets all the more louder and precise.

"You know, that could of really hurt someone." The exasperation in the voice could have been considered comical in you took in account of what had just happened, though things never seemed like they should around the younger man. That much Tom learned from their younger days in middle school

"Do you do that to people a lot, that's a fucking bad habit, you know? A blow like that could have killed someone, so why would you try that? I guess since you have no qualms about killing other people you don't really mind if other people kill you themselves."

The frightened man had been shuffling away during the entirety of Shizuo's questioning, though by the menacing ripples underneath the tall brunette's seemingly languid expression, Tom knew the guy was thoroughly fucked.

The attacker darted throughout the mystified crowd that had gathered around them though the world seemed to tear beneath Shizuo's feet as he surged forward, other pedestrians fearfully through rightfully scrambled
apart so the path was free to capture the cowardly man that had just attempted to hurt Tom.

That hadn't deterred Shizuo from striding forward, catching up in no time despite the fact that the scum had scrambled to get away like he had been set on fire. The mystery man hauled into the air "What's your fucking beef, what do you have against Tom-san?"

The wheedling man spoke in a strange voice though Tom guessed anyone else would too when being dangled by a man of Shizuo's stature, "My girl, I needed money and she loves me I swear, but that guy fucked it all up. Really, it's not my faul-" Shizuo jerked the man, cutting the little air he was receiving to his lungs.

"You know, I disagree with your opinion, but I will defend to the death your right to go fuck yourself."

Then the man seemed to be flying, flying, flying until the men met gravity and the ground again. The sound that followed the reunion was a blunt crack then silence and Tom turned to Shizuo.

"Well, that was kind of unexpected." Actually very unexpected; Tom wished there was a better word for surprising, but then he's need a better word for that.

Shizuo's eyebrows knitted together in concentration before he spoke, "Don't worry Tom-san. I'll make sure to explain that you weren't evolved in any way possible."

That wasn't what he was really concerned about at the moment, but it was thoughtful gesture despite the fact that Tom had just witnessed an act by the God of Violence himself who bore no injuries despite being stabbed earlier. No, actually Tom was surprised that his suspicions and all the other urban legends were indeed confirmed by such single actions and one man's short fuse.

That one chance meeting not so long ago, a stranger who had preformed similar actions was indeed Tom's former classmate; his eyes weren't mistaken after all. That night, Tom had actually witnessed an event something that should have not been managed within the realms of reality.

He nudged the fallen man by the tip of shoes, the poor though completely idiotic fool merely groaned though by the twitches his body was producing spoke louder than the teen's voice could have. It was unlikely that the man would be able to consume solid food let alone walk again for months.

Turning his attention back to his companion, Tom vaguely remembered the younger underclassmen that had always been wrapped in thick bandages which offset the sour scowl of his young face. Shizuo had always been a strange kid, never to take crap from others with almost explosive reactions. He hadn't thought of the younger man for years before their first meeting that one night in the back alley ways with the failed conquest of a client.

Shizuo's face was now patient, like he was waiting for something though Tom doesn't know what so he motioned the brunette to follow as the mystified crowd that formed a circle around them was getting a little intense with the stares. From what he knew of the other man, he probably wouldn't receive the attention whole heartedly when he realized he was the center of their undying attention.

Shizuo waited for the incoming scream of terror, the wide eyed look like he was some freak.

Like those whispered conversations and stares from the night before his concert, though the silence he kept going on. His remembered the moment his heart seized in realization of why everybody was avoiding him, that they knew and the sickening motions in Shizuo's stomach were returning because now Tom-san knew.

He recalled the fudge packer's words from yesterday before the shame started to set in chest again, Shizuo had given into unwanted needs that never seemed fulfilled. Though for every second he waited in anticipation for Tom-san to react, Shizuo hated himself a little more than the last.

The other man held his gaze briefly before motioning him to walk past the fucker near their feet, curled up on the ground, and back onto the road.

There's a bitter tang his tongue when he remembered that the man beside him wasn't even a stranger, it was someone that he shared history with, someone important to Shizuo. To lose someone who had given him wise words, to someone who even paid him any attention during the days when he wasn't well known, that's what stirred the hopelessness in his system.

Tom-san hadn't known of this monster that sometimes overtook his body, probably thought that Shizuo was the same way he used to be since middle school though he couldn't go back to that small child anymore nor was he anything resembling that picturesque innocence.

Shizuo shattered a false illusions of how things used to be because this was the now and he was different and Tom-san wouldn't want to be around him anymore. So he waited for the final sentence, another judgment that would send him over the edge of rage and depression because Shizuo doesn't know if he can take the rejection.

It's the other man who broke the silence first.

"Ahh, well I can't really fault you for getting angry even though the attack was aimed at me. I'd probably be in a hospital if wasn't for you, man." Or dead, though they don't mention that part.

The bespectacled man sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

The reaction was so simple and Shizuo found himself at lost at how to respond. There was no violent reactions, no fear in the other's features, not even a teasing lilt when the words were said. There was only sincere meaning and that's what got Shizuo the most. No underlying meanings or sly, calculated words that are said to strike with precision. It was then Shizuo remembered the fact that Tom-san was not Orihara Izaya.

He felt out of place at the fact that he was actually connecting with someone who wasn't the flea bastard, the last person had been Celty, or maybe it was Kadota and his gang of friends. Shizuo couldn't quite remember anymore, he had been so caught up in things that time seemed to have escaped him.

The days never seemed to end, something stringing all the old endings to new beginnings though he never felt rested and couldn't remember a time when he thought with a good level clarity. Though time flew by faster than Shizuo would have liked and all he can think about at times is that red eyed bastard who lured him with all the falseness in the world.

Shizuo's still striding forward even if he can't see all that clearly, trying to grasp a proper deadline that he's going to meet one day if he keeps acting this way, going to end up dead he means. That is if he can't get this damnable anger or this unruly strength under control.

Though Tom patted him on the shoulder in a comforting manner, Shizuo couldn't help, but hope that one day there would be even the slightest traces of normalcy in his life. That maybe one day he'd stop feeling like he had outgrown his skin and he felt assured of himself.

With a friend like Tom-san, Shizuo felt reassured that all he saw was ultimately true. When it came to the red eyed bastard, he found himself irritated and sometimes unsure because he didn't really know shit about Izaya.

Over the course of time they had met, all the fucker had really told him was that he had worked with the information coming and going throughout the city. Nothing more than that and nothing around the bastard's place really implied anything about his life, likes or dislikes.

The taste of his skin and sweat. The sound of voice. His eyes. Those were the only things he's learnt about the other man. They don't even talk all that much whenever they see each other and there was only so much awkward silence that even Shizuo could take, especially considering who is was coming from.

If being with Izaya was like something along the lines of being drunk or hell, even really smashed, then those moments were being undeniably sober.

Though he was still there, with the bastard in his apartment, not going back to his brother where he should be.

Shizuo was drowning in thoughts of a man that he thinks he hates though it's Tom-san who stared straight at him, his voice pulling him back into reality again, "Just remind me to never piss you off, I don't like getting hurt." Relief has started to finally set in and it's probably clear about what he is feeling at the moment because he's always been an obvious kind of person, but doesn't really care at the moment.

He hasn't lost an old friend and that was all that mattered, someone who cleared all his insecurities and internal emo doubts.

They continue to make their way down the path, like they had never encountered the stranger deluded on what he thought was fucking love. Shizuo found himself both relieved and uneasy at this.

Tom paused at the sight of Shizuo's beaming face, his expression akin to a kid's. His outwardly appearance hadn't given off one hint of the angered, but ultimately strained emotion that the other had displayed not even a few seconds ago.

"Hmm, you know I would never guessed you would be cable of lifting a man by his own petard. Your image really doesn't match your abilities." The smile on the other man's face stiffened slightly and Tom knew he said the wrong thing, but before he could apologize Shizuo spoke up.

"...I really don't like violence though."

Really? Tom might have not guessed if it weren't for the strange sincerity in his voice that contradicted his earlier actions. It's in the other man that Tom had found funnily ironic that he was violent as he claimed to dislike.

He rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the stiffness in his limbs.

"Aha, well it could be because you try to be passive that all this violence rolls your way. You could just counter it with some forewarnings, you know. I've already heard a bunch of rumors around town about a Heiwajima Shizuo though people aren't going to know you directly by just seeing you."

"I guess that makes sense."

"From what I've observed, gang members and other people like that guy from earlier don't really get involved with other people of the same brand unless provoked. They tend to pick on those who can't fight back, not that you wouldn't be able to or looked like you couldn't."

Shizuo just nodded his head, not really following where Tom was going with this.

"Well you could make yourself look like a delinquent or something close, I don't know, wear something recognizable when you're out just being you instead of some flashy persona."

"I'm not really sure how gangsters dress though."

"Ahhh, its easy if you have bleached hair and loose clothing."

At those words, Tom visualized his friend as a blonde. It suited the man more than the conservative image he was using right now, it would do well ward off anyone that dared to mess with Shizuo. The rising fame of Heiwajima Shizuo was just barely making it over the internet, only unreliable sources were being forth coming about the whole legend.

With the other man's temper, it was unlikely that it'd be long before someone else found himself in the same spot as his attacker. Tom had always known Shizuo better than the other man knew himself at times.

At the moment, the taller man was fingering his brunette locks, staring gingerly at what little he could see, "Bleached?"

Izaya skimmed through the ludicrous amount of paperwork that had started to pile high onto his desk and briefly wondered the possibility of Namie keeping all the transactions to herself until the very last moment to watch him flounder underneath all the things that needed to be done.

Not that she had accomplished anything if that had been her goal; Orihara Izaya was seldom caught by surprise or stressed out by such trivial matters.

As if she knew what he was thinking or rather could predict his thinking patterns correctly, Namie looked up from the manila folder in her hand with a look of disgust.

"Really, Namie. You keep such an expression on your oh so delicate face and it just might freeze that way. Then your little brother would have an excuse to avoid your presence and spend the rest of his quality time with that faked face of a girl." If anything, the scowl had deepened as had the murderous intentions that threatened to consume Izaya.

"You aren't much better off, considering your more drastic actions." The sneer twisted her face, it's almost laughable how degrading this woman has sunk and Izaya's grin grew all the wider because he can practically hear all the words she doesn't say, but wants to. Nothing she ever seemed to do actually provoked him, not many people could.

Though he knew who she was alluding to and while Izaya may have form of justification for his actions, her words aren't giving his oh so conniving plots much justification. As for example, Izaya had been plotting another connection to permanently link Shizuo to him because as the other man's lover, Izaya was well in his right's to look through Shizuo's past.

To make another permanent fixture in the brunette's life was risky, but the friends the other had wouldn't ground him to this side of life. The promise of his keeping an eye on his brother from all harm would be more than enough for Shizuo to be drawn back into the entertainment business, resuming his status as Iwaki Takumi. The contract that was insuring Shizuo's stay within the company could be terminated easy enough by some favors that Izaya needed to be fulfilled.

So that's where Tom Tanaka came in. The man was a part of a debt collector's agency within the downtown area of Ikebukuro. From the reports, Tanaka was a calm man, someone with intelligence that had slipped through the cracks of the sketchy side of business, coming to where he was now through choice.

The two had apparently met during their middle school days, Tanaka being Shizuo's senior who had taught him the walks of life before his exit to one of the local high schools. They hadn't met again under the pretence that Shizuo was scouted along with his brother into the entertainment business the very next year.

During their time together, they had avoided scuffles with the local teen gangs and spent time with their own brand of delinquency. It would explain the brunette's cute longing for cigarettes.

In short, someone who could keep Shizuo grounded yet someone who wasn't a threat to Izaya's plans. A person who didn't initiate fights, but had dangerous people around him by all the clientele his agency had him searching for.

Shizuo would thank him later for setting him for the low key lifestyle if Tanaka could endure the other's rage.

Izaya remembered Shizuo's teeth, serrated in all his fury though he doesn't seem to realize the full affects of his anger. There is no grace in his movements when those eyes come into focus; there is only raw power in the thighs Izaya liked to run his fingers up and down on.

Raw. That was all their relationship ran on, despite the deluding allusions. Izaya still enjoyed how wild the other man's eyes grew and he only trembled when anger consumed his entire being.

On the simpler scale of things, Izaya supposed he could be called the manipulator to Shizuo's marionette. Even when the strings were all set to be pulled, the tugs had been proved to be useless as the controls were all tangled.

Though he's always been somewhat of a magnificent bastard or so the people of the internet liked to call him. Izaya had always known how the slightest pressure, assuring words and guilt was all it took to corner someone into making their own decision in a lose-lose situation. For it had always been Izaya's judgment on those who were interesting enough to garner his attention, of those average and filthy pedestrians who thought to highly of themselves only to end up as pawn in all the games he's played.

Yes, this was a twisted game he played and the winner would take all.

Namie slammed a ceramic cup onto his table; the tea sloshed onto his table and stained his worksheets. He doesn't drink because this is another way Namie

He would smile in a manner he knew that irritated Namie, her reaction is predictable though she has gotten more creative in the ways she's tried to poison him. Izaya allows her to do so like how he lets her have her delusions about her oh so precious brother who had his fondness towards disembodied heads himself.

Izaya scanned through the filtered mail box, finding interest that one of the spies he set in place reported that Shizuo had gotten his reunion with his old friend and was making his way to somewhere outside. There had been an incident along the way as they were making way to Tanaka's loaning agency though it had been dealt with and while angered had been displayed, the duo had moved on.

The small amount of doubt in his own plans was soothed by the knowledge that Izaya had chosen the right man to remain by Shizuo's side when he couldn't. It pleased him that Tanaka had stayed. Their lingering memories had probably proven good in making their bond strong again.

Leafing through the rampant forums, Izaya felt seemed hardly surprised by the flooding reports of the incident on the internet. Those that had witnessed the event described what had happened on the streets though the stories seemed outlandish Izaya knew them to be mostly true.

There was no identification involved, not truly though people recognized the uprising urban legends when they saw one. The two men's past and present conflictions were held under wraps.

All had gone according to plan, faster than he would have expected as he was going to ease Tanaka into Shizuo's life until he wouldn't mind the strength and anger.

Though given the time allotted, Izaya wouldn't have enough time to coerce another teenager into suicide by the time the brunette would gotten back to the apartment complex. He would have to reschedule that for tomorrow. The papers on his desk were things he already knew, only a formality if anything.

Izaya traded a few snide remarks with his secretary before leaving the high class office.

It was a short trip back to his place, from the looks of things, everything was back in order. No signs of Shizuo's rampage from the last few days.

From the echoed steps from the outer hallway, his lover and the man's friend already coming close to the door. Izaya calculated how long it would take for the two of them to arrive to the door and swung open the door.

Izaya blinked twice at the sight of Shizuo's surprised expression, though what had really caught his attention was the man's strange hair color. The brunette had gone blonde or something close as the dye hasn't been properly set into the other man's hair. It would probably take another bleaching process to get it into a respectable color.

He could already feel the smile curling on his lips, "Aha, I would ask what you had done to yourself, but by your looks, I don't need much of an explanation."

The other man frowned deeply rather than bristled like he usually would have.

Izaya hated how Shizuo did that, always going against the expectations Izaya built for him. Although he loved the fact that their feelings were coming a mutual truce, while he doesn't so much as hate the other man as Shizuo despised parts of him, the fact that they still love each other. Even if the other man would only admit the former.

Although he felt Shizuo and wanted didn't mean that Izaya could get Shizuo to openly desire him along with all that suppressed lust. They had played in darkened corners far too long and there was this urge to sink his teeth into the pale, marked neck for he's shared the other man far too long for either of their own good.

He idly wondered if Shizuo preferred Tanaka's company to his own, the taller man seemed a lot less reluctant to leave with Tanaka than he would with Izaya. Envy rippled inside his chest, to find displeasure in his own plans was startling, but Izaya ignored.

The now blonde man's eyes flickered to the corner of his eye and Izaya knew he was acknowledging his childhood companion. Shizuo shouldn't be looking Tanaka now that Izaya was in front of him.

His firmly grasped the other's jaw between several fingers; the low lighting gave the illusion of half hooded eyes that continued to stare into Izaya's own. Izaya never forgot that he was holding power in his own hand, melding it to his will.

Those thoughts make him want to pull Shizuo in closer, to sink into the man's body heat and draw him back into that quilted passion. The shame made the other man's blush so pretty.

Izaya's entranced by the eyes that now seem to pause, this time seemingly unsure. The sight was delicious, even with the slight changed of image although the body heat seeping into Izaya's cloths hasn't changed.

Slowly he slid his other fingers that were once tangled in the other's dyed hair down and wrapped it loosely around Shizuo's waist. This time, he doesn't miss the hitch the other man's breathe as he buried his nose into the crook of Shizuo's neck, "Welcome back, Shizu-chan."

The day had been proven a whole huge distraction though they had managed to make it to office and explained what was happening to Tom's boss who merely waved them away, it looked like he could actually care less.

Tom doesn't know why he went to all this trouble for then if it wasn't such a big deal in the first place; they could have sent one of the rookies that needed more practice though he supposed he would have never met his childhood friend if he hadn't gone in the first place.

With the time they had on hand, Tom had offered to walk back the other man to his apartment. Not that the other man really needed strength in numbers, but rather to keep an eye on the taller man's temper. Along the way, Tom had convinced Shizuo to dye his hair blond to reinforce the idea that others should stay away from him if they didn't want to get hurt.

"You should really swing by my place tomorrow morning because your hair would need another layer of bleaching, its color will look better once that's done."

Though before they reached the actual apartment, the front door open its own accord or rather someone from inside opened before they could reach it. Shizuo had reared back when the door swung open, light filtering the small space of the door; a muffled voice greeted the taller man.

The change in the younger's posture made Tom stop before he could introduce himself to the person Shizuo was sharing his apartment with. Any of the light hearted air around the other man had disappeared, now the renegade idol's face was twisted into something tense, something intense.

He doesn't see the face of the person who made Shizuo this way, though searching fingers appeared from the doorway and threaded themselves into Shizuo's bleached hair. Shadows flicker from inside the room and he can only see the slim outline of his underclassmen's supposed lover because Tom didn't think even close friends allowed such intimacy to seep in through their movements like this.

There was languid atmosphere as blonde man besides Tom frowned though did nothing to get rid of the hand that combed through his hair.

Tom felt like voyeur though considering that he was interrupting a private moment, it wasn't much of a stretch. He stepped back towards the elevator, eyes still placed on the couple before him.

Shizuo's eyes flickered towards his direction. Tom nodded his good bye before making an impressively calm stride towards the metal double doors at the end of the hall way, trying to ignore his former underclassmen being drawn into the doorway.

He passed by the various doors, although the lingering intimacy remained with Tom. He couldn't remember if he had ever been that intensely in a relationship, couldn't remember anyone being that way.

Tom was definitely going to forego any topics that included relationships in the future when he talked to Shizuo.

Sorry, I haven't updated more recently than usual. I've been kinda off these last several months. Writer's block has been a bit of an issue though I just hope I can get into the mind set, I feel as if my grasp on their characters are starting slip and they're becoming sappy since I haven't wrote them in a long time.

So I actually got the poll up of whether If only till then should be M-rated or not. I'm kinda already building up to that moment right now so I need to know whether you guys think I should start heading in a different direction or not. So far or at least the last time I checked it was three votes for some sexy sex and no votes for otherwise. In accordance to these results, I thought I'd spice up making out scenes a tad bit.

What I really wanted to convey in this chapter was the periods in time where the relationship becomes awkward. These two are lost in where they stand because they breached a sensitive area and don't want move forward at all. They are using their attraction to each other to cover all the things that needed to be said, but are never spoken. They may be thinking it, but they can't let themselves show any kind of weakness and that weakness is their emotions.

I had Tom explain why everyone was freaking out which lead to Shizuo's drinking binge with that one chick, paparazzi had taken photos of Shizuo and Izaya together though you don't see Izaya's face so I guess people just assumed it was a girl. Lol, Izaya would seriously be offended and Shizuo over reacted over nothing.

I'm sorry I'm so useless at these things, but thank you Cordy who has been with me these last several months! I really appreciate having someone to talk to!

Reviews please?