holy shit.. someone who writes shizuo x reader... i never thought i'd see the day...
aaanyways... may i request something that involves the reader being VERY into shizuo but also kinda scared to approach him given his reputation, but he ends up catching on and realizes he probably has to make the first move...? thank you!!
RIGHT?! Like idk why more people don’t write for him he’s my stankalank 😔
Also SORRY this took so long I couldn’t figure out how to end it to save my life 💀
Trust me
You had known Shizuo since grade school. The two of you being in the same classes all throughout middle and high school. It was natural for you two to gravitate toward each other.
During high school you two would walk to and from school together, when it rained he always bought an extra umbrella because he just knew you’d forget yours like always, at lunch you’d both sit on the roof or outside in the courtyard and eat together. When Izaya came along you were the one who’d patch up his wounds and when he was upset you were one of the very few people who could calm him down.
To say you had developed a small crush on the man during the time you had gotten to know him had been a huge understatement, but anytime you even thought about confessing, your shyness got the better of you.
“Just tell him already!” Shinra’s slurred hushed voice was immediately silenced by you.
You were both at Russia sushi, celebrating Celty and Shinra’s anniversary week. Shinra had ordered some sake for the table which soon turned into two and then three, Celty cut him off after the fourth. That’s when he started ordering shots.
“I can’t!” You slurred, throwing your head down on the table with bang.
“What do you mean you can’t?” Shinra giggled, as he leaned his whole body across the table to ruffle your head. “it’s not that hard just go up to him and profess your love!”
“Keep it down, I don't want the whole city to know!” You squeaked cheeks impossibly warm and completely flushed from both the alcohol and embarrassment.
“Trust me, the whole city already knows.” He deadpanned.
‘I don’t get it, you like him right? Why not just ask him out?’ Celty typed out on her phone, tilting her helmet to the side.
“I caaaaan’t it’s too embarrassing Celty!” You whined pressing your cheek back down to the cool table
“Come oooonn! What’s the worst that could happen?” Shinra waved you off.
“You don’t get it! He’s so cool and strong and handsome and strong and just…him!”
‘It’s just Shizuo. He won’t hurt you.’ Celty typed
“I know that. It’s just that as he’s so-so-“ you couldn’t even finish your sentence.
‘I get it, he can be pretty intimidating at times’
It wasn’t that you wasn’t that you were scared of him but what if you pissed him off by confessing to him? Being on your friend’s bad side was the last thing you wanted.
But then again what if you never confessed? You didn’t want to spend the rest of your life swallowing down your feelings. What if Shizuo found someone else while you were being too chicken shit? The idea of him with someone else made your stomach roll, you couldn’t stand the thought of it!
“…maybe… you guys are right.” You admitted from the table.
“That’s the spirit!” Shinra cheered, pouring you another shot.
The three of you drank and talked some more and before you knew it Russia Sushi was closing and Simon was ushering you, Shinra and Celty out of the door so he could clean up.
‘You sure you can get home on your own? You’re pretty wasted.’ Celty typed as she balanced Shinra in one arm and her phone in the other. The pair had opted to walk as Celty didn’t want Shinra falling off her bike.
You waved her off as you started drifting in the direction of your home.
“I’ll be fine, I'm just around the corner.”
So was Shizuo. You thought to yourself,
“See ya around!” Shinra called out to you as he drunkenly waved, stumbling over Celty as he did so.
You waved back as you rounded the corner leaving their line of eyesight, just as you made your way to walk to your apartment you paused for a moment, thinking, before making another turn in the opposite direction. Home could wait, you had something important you had to do first.
When you reached the apartment door you started at it for a solid five minutes before leaning up to knock with a shaky hand.
“The hell are you doing here?” A sleepy voice asked as the door opened. Shizuo stood before you in boxers and a t-shirt sleepily scratching his stomach as he yawned.
“I came to see you!” You slurred, it was well past midnight and you were being far too loud for his liking.
“Go home you’re drunk.” He shushed you stepping out of his apartment in his slippers as he went to lead you back towards where you came from.
“But I missed you.” You said this time a little quieter just now aware of how loud you were being.
“I just saw you a few hours ago.” He sighed as he leaned on his door frame, he could tell you weren’t going to be going anywhere anytime soon, thank god he didn’t have work in the morning.
“Hang on I gotta- I came over to tell you something.” You stuttered, starting to lose your confidence.
“What is it?” He said crossing his arms, all this would have been amusing had it not almost been 3 in the morning.
“I-I” you opened and closed your mouth trying but failing to find the right words to use as you started at h intensely.
Shizuo sighed heavily. “Look it’s late why don’t you-“ he started but you interrupted him.
“You’re so pretty Shizuo.”
He blinked down at you once then twice a pink tinge rising to his cheeks. In all the time he’s known you he’s never heard you be so bold.
“I-is that what you wanted to tell me?” He asked, rubbing the back of his neck, starting to feel a little nervous, it was a foreign feeling to him.
“No but I thought that you should know.” You stumble forward a bit and Shizuo catches you.
“How much have you had to drink?” He asks as he steadies you on your feet, hand lingering on your forearms as if to help balance you.
“Only a little, Shinra had way more!” You tried to play it off, cheeks heating up at Shizuo’s close proximity.
“That shitty four eyed bastard.” He said through gritted teeth, of course Shinra was involved.
“You should smile more y’know? You have a really nice smile.” You smile up at him, cheeks completely flushed as you stared at his face again leaning a little bit closer this time.
“Why don’t you stay here tonight? You’re way too wasted to be out on your own.” Shizuo backed away as he finally let you go, he went to open his apartment door and let you inside.
“I can take care of myself!” You said following his lead “And stop distractin me, I'm trynna to tell you something!” You cried as he closed the door behind you two.
“I’m sure you can.” He chuckled at you as you stomped your foot childishly.
“And I’m happy to let you.” Shizuo raised a finger and flicked your forehead. “After you sober up.”
You deflate and start to pout. This isn’t what you came here for at all. You better hurry and tell him before you lose your nerve.
“But I lo-!”
“Tell me later. Let’s get you to bed.” He said, leading you by the shoulders to his bedroom.
“You can have my bed for the night, I’ll take the couch.”
“I don’t wanna put you out Shizuo, I can-“
Before you could finish your sentence Shizuo shoved some clothes into your arms and ushered you into the bathroom to go change.
After what seemed like forever you finally reemerged from the bathroom in an old pair of boxers and a t-shirt Shizuo had let you borrow.
A blush rose to his cheeks at the sight of you in his clothes. Bust he shook his head and brushed the thought aside as he noticed you fidgeting with your hands nervously.
“Care to tell me why you came to crash here in the first place? Your place isn’t that far from Russia Sushi.” He asked as he led you to the bedroom again.
“I don’t know! Me and Shinra got really drunk and I was super anxious and just thinking too much.” You began to ramble as you sat on the edge of the bed “ I didn’t want to go home and didn’t really know where to go and just well… I trust you Shizuo.”
You trusted him.
No one had ever told him that before.
“I think I knew you’d take care of me is all.” You said looking down at your feet.
Shizuo didn’t know what to say. Here you were pouring your heart out to him and he was just- what?
What was he doing? What did he want to do?
Silently he forces you to lay down in bed and tucks you in.
It didn’t matter what he wanted to do about it right now. All that mattered was that you were vulnerable and you needed him.
As he turns out the light and goes to leave the room you call out to him one last time.
“You’d be such a good boyfriend, you know?” You yawn with closed eyes.
Shizuo choked on the air in his lungs.
“G-get some rest.” He stutters as he carries himself to the living room and plops down on the couch.
For the rest of the night sleep eluded him.
Was that what you came over to tell him? That he was pretty and you trusted him?
What about that whole boyfriend thing?
Shizuo pushed a closed fist to his forehead and closed his eyes, trying to sleep. He had a lot to talk to you about in the morning.
The next morning you felt like absolute dog shit.
“My head….” You whined as you slowly sit up.
The action makes your stomach turn and you find yourself rushing to the bathroom.
“Morning” a voice grumbled from behind you. You wipe your mouth with the back of your hand and stand up from the toilet to be greeted by Shizuo, dressed in his usual bartender attire, shuffling from foot to foot awkwardly in the bathroom doorway.
“I’d ask how you’re feeling but I can tell you probably feel like shit.”
“Worse than shit.” You corrected scooting past him to sit on the bed. Just as you were about to lay back down you realized…. Wait a minute. What was Shizuo doing in your house?
“Sh-Shizuo?” You ask quirking your head to the side
“Yeah?”
“Not that I mind but what are you doing in my apartment?”
“You mean what are you doing in mine? I was wondering the same thing.” He said crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned on the door frame.
Memories of the night before come flooding back to you in an instant.
Oh shit. So it wasn’t all a dream after all.
You damn near fall out of bed as you jump up to your feet.
“Ahhh I’m so sorry Shizuo I don’t know what I was thinking!” You cried.
“It’s fine, better you come here than anywhere else.” He sighed, going to sit on the edge of the bed. He patted a spot next to him for you to sit which you obliged nervously.
“Why’d you drink so much anyways?” He asked curiously
“I don’t know! It was Shinra and Celty’s anniversary and he kinda just talked me into it!”
An awkward silence enveloped you two as he gritted his teeth irately before he broke the silence
“… next time I’m going with you.”
“Huh?”
“Can’t trust that asshat as far as I can throw him.” He grumbled as he closed his eyes and nodded his head set on his resolve.
Your cheeks flushed at Shizuo just casually inviting himself along with you the next time but you nodded your head anyways
“O-ok…thanks Shizuo.” You said shakily
“About what you wanted to tell me last night…” he started
Your cheeks flushed again.
“I-I have no idea what you're talking about.” You said looking away, liquid courage had long since left your system.
Shizuo saw your expression and your aversion to his hard gaze and instantly knew, no matter how hard he pressed you, you’d probably never tell him the truth.
It was up to him to tell you instead it seemed.
“Listen…” he swallowed hard. “I-I think you're pretty too.”
Your heart stopped beating in your chest. No way was this happening right now.
“Wha-“ you started but was cut off.
“Ahh I’m not really good at this shit.“ he interrupted, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Shizuo?”
It was now or never he thought.
“Uhh,” he hesitates for a second, clearing his throat into his fist. “did you maybe…wanna go out some time?”
“I- what”
“You don’t have too if you don’t wanna, I just thought-“
“No!” It was your turn to interrupt him. “I-I mean I’d love too Shizuo!”
“You sure?” He asks raising an eyebrow at you, he didn’t want to force you into anything if it made you uncomfortable.
“There’s nothing else I’d want more, trust me.” You finally smile closed eyed up at him.
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izaya, dazai, and mori reacting to their s/o experiencing a major burnout to the point where they needed extensive medical attention due to their overall health plummeting due stress and fatigue. this is me rn ;-; im so overworked yet so underpaid lmfao thank you so much in advance! 💗
A/N: Hi, thank you so much for the long wait! I hope your situation has become better :( give my dear their rest and money🔪 I'm sorry Mori's part is a bit short compared to the others, but I hope you like it💖
Izaya:
Izaya loves all humans equally, but you're the exception as his favorite one and Shizuo being his least favorite.
With Izaya's special interest in human beings and his well-crafted observation skills, it didn't go unnoticed by him how you were becoming more tired and less happy step by step. The part of him that loved to observe humans was fascinated and wondered how far you could be pushed, but then again- you are his favorite.
Izaya only realizes you need extensive medical treatment after he returns from an underground job. If you haven't moved in with him already, Izaya will throw all his charm (or manipulation skills, really, who cares about the details?) into convincing you to stay at his place. Being an information broker and professional chaos lover has provided Izaya with enough money to spoil you rotten.
The question is whether he'll let you go back to work. And if you manage to convince him to let you go back to work, he's going to do a full background check on the company and its people.
Izaya has a hard time admitting this to you, himself, or anyone really, but seeing you become this fragile scared him. It's a feeling he immediately tries to shove away, but it only leads to him being more protective of you.
During your assigned recovery, you'll catch Izaya chuckling to himself. There are just so many fun possibilities to ruin your boss' life! Should he destroy it brick by brick? Or should he wreck it in one go? Whatever it is, it'll be cruel and twisted and fun. Your boss didn't think they could get away with treating his favorite little human like this, hm?
One thing is for certain: no matter how Izaya is going to destroy your boss' life, it'll be done through cyber damage. Izaya would rather not leave your side. He has been very cheery and confident around you, never giving you a sign of the fear he felt when he saw you turn into a burned-out version of yourself. But he has you tucked in bed and you just have to say it and he gives you anything you want. Izaya has Namie assist him in taking care of you, too.
Izaya does drop hints here and there about how he's going to be responsible for your boss' life taking a bad turn. If you try to confront him about this or prevent him from doing so, Izaya is going to ask you for a good explanation as to why not. It may even lead to a discussion, however, no reason will leave him satisfied. You've already gotten hurt, so the damage is already done and there's nothing the boss can do to make up for it except pay for it with his sins. Izaya can say he'll let it go, but you know he won't. If anything, he's more excited to start. Nobody messes with his favorite human except him.
Dazai:
Dazai puts great value in the one he gained but would never want to lose. It's one of the reasons he pays so much attention to you; he knows things about your behavior that even you are unaware of.
That's why Dazai is the first to observe how you're slowly burning out. He encourages you to copy his work ethic (lying on a couch and letting your partner do all the work), but he never convinces you no matter how much he tries to tug at your strings.
But when Dazai comes home from a mission he had to travel for and sees you so burned out to the point of needing extensive medical care, he was livid and scared. From the inside, that is. From the outside, he'd be calm and reassuring, even cheery once you feel better.
Dazai would insist that he stays home with you to become your personal nurse. He would cling onto you whenever you want to leave the bed, claiming you were on bed rest, which automatically meant he was on bed rest, too.
He'd take care of you in his own silly way. He makes you laugh, distracts you from the tiredness, buys you the biggest teddy bear you've seen in your life, and prevents you from doing anything.
Nonetheless, there's going to be a time you need to get back to work. Once you do, you notice something strange about your boss. It's like they are a whole new person. They offer you tea or coffee the minute you step in, push out a nervous chuckle that's supposed to sound friendly, and say you can take a break whenever you feel like you need one. It wouldn't take long for you to realize there was something off... and you could tell who was behind it.
When confronting Dazai though, expect him to be packed in denial. "Me?" He answers with doe eyes that scream innocence and surprise, which means he was definitely not innocent nor surprised. "Do I look like someone who would threaten your boss? I was taking care of you all that time!" Yes Dazai, you look like that type of person. But the latter was true since you cannot point out a moment he must have had a talk with your boss. Dazai had taken his role as your personal nurse very seriously to the point he rarely had been out of your sight.
Dazai knows you'd have to let it go eventually because you have no evidence against him. Even if you did find the courage to ask your boss if your boyfriend had talked to him, the boss wouldn't slip up. The only evidence you have is the fear in your boss' eyes when mentioning your boyfriend and the sly but satisfied smile you caught on Dazai's face when he knew he got away with it.
Mori:
Being the boss of the port mafia is a time-consuming job, especially when you're almost at war with another underground organization. It's why Mori, who is always eager to spoil you rotten, wasn't there to see how work was affecting you for the worst.
Mori made sure the upcoming threat was nothing more but forgotten dust, and one look at you after he came back made him want to do the same to your boss. You could see it in his expression, how it changed from excitement to surprise to deadly and back to soft but cheery in the span of a few seconds.
Absolutely takes this opportunity as an excuse to spoil you rotten more than he already does. After all, who can take better care of you than himself, the doctor who loves you the most?
The doctor in him comes out; checking your vitals, making sure you eat and drink, assigning you time to rest but also to go out and make a little walk with him. And oh, look what a cute thing he bought for you the other day! Yeah, it wouldn't be Mori if he didn't take this opportunity to buy new clothes for you and to doll you up as much as you let him.
Mori will offer to bring harm to your boss as if it's a sweet declaration of love. Whatever your answer, he makes sure your boss learns their lesson.
synopsis: just as you're returning back to normal following the slasher incident, you receive a strange message that knocks you off-kilter
word count: 7,531
warnings: violence, minor blood, minor sexual harassment
"someone, come quickly
this place was built for moving out
leave behind buildings, the city planners got mapped out,,
the execution of all things - rilo kiley
ERIKA
Walker replaced Saburo's door. Wanna see?
ME
Absolutely.
ERIKA
Attachment: 1 Image
You drop your phone from laughing so hard at the picture. It's a selfie, with Walker and Erika posing for the camera in front of the van's door. The door itself is an entirely different color and, more importantly, has a cute anime girl in a maid's costume on it. The funniest part was that both Kyohei and Saburo could be seen in the back, visibly in grief. Oh, poor, poor Saburo!
ME
There's no way you guys aren't gonna be recognized with that!
ERIKA
That's what Dotachin said!
ERIKA
Are you doing okay?
There it was. Erika was always a carefree person, always with a lighthearted air about her. It was rare to see her talk about more serious matters, or at least approach them in a serious way. When she did, it was always in disguise; sandwiched between jokes and fun conversation.
ME
Yeah, just tired. I ran an errand this morning. besides that I think I'm gonna have a day in, today.
Said 'errand' was a trip to the hospital to visit Anri, who had her own run-in with the slasher. You kept your cool, however--someone had to because it was only Mikado there after Masaomi ran off. It was only a lot of small cuts, you noticed, easily treated with bandages and disinfectant. She was surprisingly chipper, smiling for the first time in what felt like a while. You grinned, amused as she explains her story of the Headless Rider coming to save her. The grin broadened at the blush on her cheeks. A little crush on Celty, huh? Mikado's got some competition! Mikado was sweet about it, assuring her that he believed her admittedly crazy story. "If you said it, it must be true!"
"Oh, it was. I was attacked by the Slasher, myself. In my own apartment, no less." They both stared at you with wide eyes. Smiling back, you shrugged your shoulders nonchalantly. "It was actually the Headless Rider who saved me, as well. Not just that, though, but Shizuo Heiwajima, too!"
Mikado's eyes were practically popping out of his head at your story. As he ranted nervously about the two of you having some interesting lives, you made eye contact with Anri, who snuck you a smile. You were just glad she was alright.
ERIKA
Cool. Let us know if you need anything. :)
Ah, so it was an 'us'. Your heart flutters as you wonder if the boys were worried as well. They were all so kind to you--it was crazy how lucky you were. Living here was wild, you had to admit that, but the friends made it worth it. It occurred to you that this would only last for a year. What would you do once you left? You could always text and email, sure, but what about the people that weren't texters? What about the people that you weren't necessarily the closest to, but were still consistent in your every day life? What about the shops you liked the most and your favorite hangout spots?
Texting is a fine and dandy form of communication but it's not comparable to seeing them in person. Nothing could compare to the stars in Erika's eyes, Walker's enthusiastic gestures, Saburo's happy tears, Kyohei's exhausted sighs, Shizuo's warm, brown stare, Anri's mousy voice, or Celty's tapping fingers. You wouldn't see any more of that once you left. Sighing, you realize how much you've dampened your spirits. Your phone vibrates with another text and you check it, assuming it's another one of your friends.
Your blood turns to ice in a matter of seconds. You swallow in an attempt to wet your drying mouth, but nothing could relieve the sudden need for water.
FATHER
You need to come home. Soon.
Your father was a curt man. What he needed to express, he expressed with actions. Not words, not phone calls, and certainly not texts. Your hands are trembling now. You thought that everything was going fine! What possibly could have happened? Shakily, you type out a message in reply.
ME
Why, has something happened?
The sudden appearance of a call startles you and you drop your phone in surprise. Lo and behold, your father's contact appears on the screen. You take a moment to compose yourself before answering the call. There's eery silence.
"H-hello?"
"(Y/N)."
It had been so long since you had heard his voice. On any other occasion, it would have been soothing to you, but there was something about this context, his tone, that sets you on edge. Ignoring your growing dread, you clear your throat and answer him, polishing your out-of-practice English the best that you could.
"Good morning, Father! I-I've missed y-."
"There is a plane coming for you tonight. I expect you to board that flight and be home by midnight."
"What!? Did something happen, are you okay??"
"Do not worry about me. I've simply decided that sending you to Ikebukuro was not the most optimal course of action. You are to return immediately." It was foreign, how he was speaking to you. He had always been a curt man, but your father was always warm and affectionate to you. Now he was so impersonal, commanding.
"Father, you're frightening me a little..."
"You do not intend to disobey me, do you?"
The sudden severity of his tone makes you wince. It seemed that whatever situation this was, it was dire. You meekly reply that no, you would never disobey him and you would see him tonight.
"Good. Do not worry about packing, just come as you are. And one more thing. You are not to speak of this to anyone. Disappear without a trace." At this, you are completely awake. You stand from your position on the bed, surprised by the feeling that had welled up in you so quickly. For the first time, you were feeling outraged towards your beloved father. Disappear? Without a trace?? How could he possibly expect that from you? You had already made so much progress with your studies!! More importantly, what about all of your friends? Just in the past month, you had gotten closer to them than you ever had to anyone! They even seemed to really like you! Some even seemed to…
It’s hard to discern the exact source of the burning sensation in your face, but it spurs you to speak up. However, the moment you open your mouth, there’s a click and the line goes dead.
The sound of the monotone infuriates you. Tears of frustration pool in the corners of your eyes as you throw yourself onto your bed. What on earth was this? A month had gone by without any contact with your father. He had warned you of this, stating that he wanted you to have an independent experience. In spite of that, you had got along fine! You were only knocked out cold by the strongest man in Ikebukuro (possibly the world), invited to join a colorless color gang, shown the dark shadow abyss of a headless woman, and attacked by multiple possessed demon people...but he didn't even know about all of that! What could have possibly changed his mind?
Worse than that, what could you possibly do about it? You had never disobeyed him--you never had a reason to. He had always been so charitable and kind and generous, you practically idolized him. Sighing, you roll over onto your back. You would have to leave your friends, not telling them anything. You could only imagine how worried they'd be if you just disappeared. Did this mean you couldn't contact them afterward? That you would never interact with them ever again?
It wasn't fair. Less fair than losing your memory, less fair than almost being murdered by a red-eyed zombie mob.
...but you just couldn't disobey your father.
...
"So, what happened to a day in?" You smile at Saburo's question. So Erika had been relaying your messages to the rest of the gang after all.
"I thought I'd be sleeping the day away, but after an hour I got so restless, I couldn't even stay laying down! Guess I'm just not the nocturnal type." You were all leaned up against the van, enjoying your lunches. You sat cross-legged between Walker and Erika, while Saburo and Kyohei remained standing. The last thing you wanted to do was sit around all day, dreading the moment you would have to board a plane and leave the life you had made behind. Your friends would know the last time they saw you as the night some possessed man tried to stab you.
A flurry of different sounds reaches your ears. A chime, a short jingle, a deep vibration...a high pitched girl's voice? As your friends all look down at their phones, you realize that it had been their ringtones. A vibration in your pocket alerts you of your own device. Your friends don't miss how you've joined them in checking your phone and, exchanging looks with each other, decide to ignore it in favor of the importance of the message they had all apparently received.
"This guy...he's like--the leader of the Dollars, right?" Walker questions from beside you.
admin@dollars: Seeking information on the Slasher.
It was a simple, short request, but to everyone who saw it, it carried great weight. Whoever the leader, the creator of this entire gang, was, they were seeking out the Slasher. If they did find it, there was bound to be some type of battle. Was there really one person responsible, though? After all, it had been a mob of people last night, and even those people didn't seem to understand what they were doing after their eyes went back to normal. It was almost as if it was some sort of supernatural force, not one sole being--and somehow, that supernatural force was trying to put Shizuo--and you--under its control.
How would it do that, though? All it seemed to be trying to do was slash you both to pieces! That didn't make sense if they wanted you on their side, did it? Now that you thought about it...none of the Slasher's victims died, did they? Mr. Niekawa, the three girls from Raira...they simply came back but possessed. Did the Slasher possess people by attacking them? That wouldn't make sense...you know people, two people in particular who were cut by the Slasher and came out just fine. One of them was basically a superhuman with extraordinary capabilities, and the other... was just a normal little high school girl...
You feel a nudge on your shoulder. Erika, the culprit, has a look in her eye that you can't discern. Realizing that you had zoned out for a bit, you force a smile back onto your face. "Hey, you guys have a bunch of copies of that manga left, right? Super Tragic High School Life?" The intensity of her gaze dissipates in seconds as if it had never been there.
"Oh, yeah! Turns out that store didn't have the special edition. Some guy in Shinjuku got it," she explains. Walker is practically steaming at the ears, his face going red. "What a waste," he murmurs indignantly.
"Any way I could borrow a copy or two? I'm interested in reading it."
"Of course! They're not in the trunk anymore, though. We'd have to go back to my place to get them," Walker says.
"Oh, that's fine. In fact, you can drop them off at my apartment the next time you're in the area. It'll get to me eventually."
You don't notice how Kyohei's eyes narrowed at the odd wording of your statement. The pair are excited by your interest, providing you with some background on the series. They're not very good at avoiding spoilers, but you don't mind. When their explanation ends, you turn your attention to Saburo, asking what his favorite songs from Ruri Hijiribe were.
"Wha- you can't just ask me that and expect an immediate answer! Gimme until tonight to look through her discography and I'll give you an answer by midnight--maybe later."
Your laughter is louder than you usually allow it to be, almost as if you're forcing it. This was a happy, lighthearted moment with your friends, you told yourself. Sighing, you don't realize how your head has fallen onto Walker's shoulder. "I can wait," you muse, grinning.
...
It was odd, being the only one out of the two of you to actually drink the tea in your hands. However, the basically decapitated body in front of you was even odder. Celty sat across from you, hands neatly tucked into her lap. You don't know why you expected some sort of gory mess where her neck and head would be attached, but the simple black stream of mist wafting out was certainly a better sight. The top of her bodysuit is partially unzipped, revealing her ghostly pale skin. Looking at her was a surreal experience itself, yet here you were, having a conversation with her. "So, you live here with Shinra? Are you guys good friends?"
The wriggling of her shoulders as she twiddles her thumbs tells you otherwise. "Actually, he's my fiance. We're partners."
You squeal in excitement. That was so cute!! Celty, the dark, daredevil of a woman was going to marry a friendly, nerdy Shinra. Unconventional pairs had always been your favorite. Heartened by the news, you ask her all sorts of questions. How long had they known each other, how long had they been engaged, did they know when the ceremony was going to be, what were their plans for the wedding? It was against your better judgment to pry so much, but Celty didn't seem perturbed at all, answering all of your questions to the best of her ability.
You're not surprised by her apparent immortality, considering she is a woman walking around without a head. She had known Shinra since he was a young boy. That part was a little odd to you, but she clarified that she hadn't had any sort of interest in him until he was an adult. It seemed as though she hadn't thought much about an actual ceremony, leaving those plans to Shinra. The way she talks about him, it's obvious that he's impossibly whipped for her. You smile into your tea, imagining the calm and collected doctor who you had met long ago blushing and pampering his lovely headless wife. "But hey, whatever it is, how would you feel about being apart of it?"
You almost spit out your tea after reading her message. "R-Really!? You're sure about that?"
"Yeah! You're supposed to include your friends, right? Maybe you can even help me pick out dresses, since you know about that stuff."
You're over the moon, already picturing the event. However big or small it ended up being, it would be an honor to be a part of something so special. Celty would look absolutely stunning in a dark gown--no white, it wouldn't be staying true to her character--with gold accents. Maybe Shinra would be the one in white. Maybe bridesmaids would be in gold dresses? Something that matched her helmet. Celty respectfully listens as you express these thoughts. However, your rant stops abruptly.
"Is something wrong? You stopped kind of suddenly there."
"No, it's nothing! I just remembered that I....um..."
I'm not going to be there for your wedding.
It feels as though every ounce of glee that was in your body had dissipated in a matter of seconds. You wouldn't be there to help Celty with her dress or see her walk down the aisle. You'd be gone, with no one knowing what happened to you. Your fingers tighten their grip on the teacup. It occurs to you that you both have been sitting in silence. "...I'm worried I may forget all of this!! Maybe we should write it down somewhere." Celty leaves her position on the couch, motioning for you to follow her. She leads you to a smaller room with a desk and computer. You stand behind her and she pulls up a notepad window, typing something onto it.
"Good idea. I'm definitely going to need your guidance."
I'll do my best, Celty.
...
Shizuo's bartender uniforms held a great significance to him, that he had made clear from very early on. It was sweet, how he wanted to show his appreciation for his brother's generosity. After all, it would have been a shame for all of those uniform sets to go to waste after he had been fired from that job. But god...
you would pay millions to see him wear literally anything else!
"Anything here that catches your eye? Remember, price isn't an issue--it's technically part of my studies, so Father won't mind if I splurge a little bit."
You could really go all out here--put him in a fitted pant, add a fit-ribbed turtle-neck, throw on a nice peacoat--but you worried that if you took it too far out of his comfort zone, it would just collect dust in his closet. Shizuo eyes the displays of clothes surrounding him, haphazardly perusing different racks before moving to the next one. Honestly...he looks lost...but things like this take time. "How about you pick out something? You'd know way more about this than me," he finally says. You take delight in the fact that he trusts you so much. This fact is lost on Shizuo however, who is pretty unsettled by the intense stare you're giving him right now. In reality, you're sizing him up, taking note of his body type and which traits to maximize or minimize. You briefly wonder how someone so strong could still have so lithe of a body.
His unease is worsened by the dangerous smile you give him. "Okay, just remember you asked for this," you chide, already escaping into the depths of the store in search of a perfect ensemble.
As curious as you were to see Shizuo in something soft and flowery, you had to give him something he could wear to work. That meant upping the intimidation factor. Something fitted would definitely emphasize the sturdiness of his frame. If you were to add some layering, you could make him appear bulkier. For the sake of change and novelty, black and white would be a no-no. Some pops of color wouldn't hurt him. You're handing him a set of clothing and ushering him to a dressing room in a matter of five minutes.
"This is one outfit?? You gave me like three shirts," he calls to you.
"Don't be ridiculous. It's a button-up, a sweater, and a jacket--and yes, you do put it on in that order!"
His sigh is audible, but other than that, he puts on the clothes without any other complaints. It takes him longer to put it on than it did for you to find it, but you're patient with the man. After a lot of shuffling, grunting, and cursing, your friend finally emerges. You have to hold back your squeal in the quiet store. Even in the disheveled state that he had put it on, the outfit was already doing wonders for him. "You look so good!! Well, don't just stand there--come here, I want you to see a few things!" You're speaking to him as if drawing a small child from his hiding spot, bringing him over to a mirror. You remove his jacket, temporarily draping it over your arm.
He had tucked in the button up, which was good, you tell him, but the sweater was meant to be tucked too. After he complies, you tug at the material around his waist, loosening the sweater and giving it a little room to billow. "It's very lightweight material, so it won't get too hot or bulky," you explain, tugging at the fabric on his shoulders as well. It was a professional combination that he could easily sport at work, and the fit of it accentuated the broadness of his shoulders, you added. It's lost on you how flustered he is by the bold contact.
"I wanted to show you the effects of the ensemble without the jacket, since it's getting warmer and you won't need it pretty soon. Which is a shame because this..." You hold the jacket open as a gesture for him to put it on. "...is the icing on top of the cake!" The dark violet, velvety corduroy jacket was perhaps your best find ever. It was a more casual aspect of the otherwise professional look, perfect for when he was off the job. Really, you just couldn't resist putting some color on him.
"You really put a lot of thought into this, huh? Didn't take you long either." Shizuo's eyes meet yours through the mirror. Even with his eyes covered, you can't help but feel as though he's thinking about something. You decided not to bother him about his sunglasses tonight, even though they kind of clash with the look but it's fine no worries not a big deal. "Well, yeah, of course! Not like I haven't thought about it before." A second passes before you realize the implications of your statement. "Like, what clothes you would look good in!! Whenever I meet someone, I can't help but dress them up in my head." One of his eyebrows raise. "Not in a weird way!! Of course, not in a weird way....just....do you like it??"
His gaze returns to his own form, scanning up and down the clothing. You watch with bated breath, gauging his reaction. You barely see the beginnings of a smile at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, I do." You can hear a stadium of fans in your head, cheering and celebrating. Before he can say anything else, you're practically dragging him to the cashier to pay for it--with him still wearing it. You won't let him even sneak a peek at the receipt, not even after he's put on his normal clothes.
"Are you sure that you're okay with buying me those clothes?" he asks one more time as you leave the store.
"Absolutely sure. I want you to have those, Shizuo." To remember me by. "Consider it my special gift to you!"
He doesn't argue further, only smiling and shaking his head at your persistence. You would definitely miss that smile.
...
"Hey, thanks for waiting , you guys! I know it's been a long school week. You must be tired." You sat next to Mikado and Masaomi at the bar area of Russia's Sushi, waving Denis over. "Get whatever you want. My treat."
Mikado, as expected, is reluctant to mooch off of your funds, still selecting a measly, cheaper dish. Masaomi teases him, encouraging him to truly appreciate your generosity. Despite this, you notice that he chooses one of the cheaper options as well. Guess they're just conditioned that way.
"So, what did you want to meet us for?" Mikado asks as Denis goes off to prepare your order. You hum at him, your brow raising in question. "I mean, you asked us to meet with you, kind of out of the blue. Is something wrong?"
"I can't ask my friends to hang out?" Mikado's cheeks flush, his eyes going wide as he waves his hands in some sort of apologetic gesture.
"WHAT no, I'm not saying that at all! I just figured with your incident last night, you were asking for help with something! Plus, I never thought you'd considered us as friends--not that there's anything wrong with that I'm glad to be your friend and I'm sure that Masaomi is too, I mean the age difference is a little strange but--"
"Mikado, chill out, you're gonna blow a gasket." It's funny how the boys served as such obvious foils to one another. Usually, it was Mikado having to reel Masaomi back in, but it looks like the blonde is capable of returning the favor. You shake your head, twirling your finger around the rim of your water glass. "I just wanted to hang with you guys. I'm sad Anri couldn't be here, but I'm gonna visit her later."
"What incident is Mikado talking about?" Masaomi asks. He sounds nonchalant about the matter, but there's a solemnity in his gaze that surprises you. "Oh yeah, you weren't there when I told Anri and Mikado. I had my own encounter with the Slasher last night. A bunch of them, in fact. I was luckier than Anri, though."
"There was a surge of attacks last night, wasn't there? Not to mention, a bunch of people woke up in certain locations with no memory of how they got there..." Mikado reflected Masaomi's serious demeanor, rubbing his chin in thought. The air is grimmer than you'd like it to be. "But hey, I'm alright now! Looking back on it, it was all pretty cool," you try to lighten the mood, picking up your glass and jovially clinking it against Mikado's, "to living!" Mikado smiles at you halfheartedly, making an obvious effort to cheer up. Masaomi, however, eats it up, raising his glass and sloppily clinking it against yours.
After Denis returns with your food, you all dig in happily. You were quite the hypocrite. Even after changing subjects from the Slasher, you couldn't stop thinking about it yourself. Nor could you stop pondering the mass forum message you had received earlier that day. What would happen if the leader of the Dollars went head to head with the Slasher...?
"Hey, Masaomi, you kind of disappeared this morning. Where'd you run off to...?" you ask, forcing the thoughts away. Masaomi doesn't meet your gaze, toying with the remaining morsels of food on his tray. "Oh, just had to pay a visit to someone, is all."
Was it just you, or were both of these young men being super cryptic for no reason? Maybe it was a thing for teenage boys to brood on a regular basis, puberty and all that. Still, it was out of character for Masaomi to act so...somberly. Even when he was joking around, there was still something so subdued about him. Poor kid, what happened to Anri must have done a number on him.
For the rest of the night, you take it upon yourself to maintain a light atmosphere. You ask them about their studies and classes at school. In a city like this, it's hard to imagine that there were students here who had to carry out a daily schedule and focus on schoolwork. Having them talk about school lifts their spirits, you notice, giving them something mundane and lighthearted to focus on.
It gets even closer to closing, as well as the time of your flight, so you have to say good night to the pair. If you moved fast enough, you could still pay Anri a visit, since she had returned back home from the hospital. You heave a sigh as you watch the boys walk away, trying to will away the apprehension welling up in your chest. "Sighing is sign of sadness. Something wrong?" Simon's voice startles you. Looks like he had returned to his flier distribution post.
"Oh! Hey, Simon! No, nothing's wrong. I was just thinking." Your smiling muscles had grown too tired over the course of the day, giving away the falsehood of your greeting. Simon, however, is exerting enough smiling strength for both of you.
"That so? I find myself thinking all the time! So I can tell--just by look on person's face--when their thoughts make them sad."
I can see right through your lies is what he's basically saying. Looking up at Simon, you can't help but think that the man is a walking oxymoron. He was always smiling and friendly, yet his large frame made him intimidating--on the other hand, his presence right now brought you an odd sense of comfort. It was the same way you had felt the first time you met him: like he was the one person who, no matter what, you could definitely go to in your time of need. Could this be one of those times?
"I was thinking about how when I--if I ever had to leave this place...how much I'd miss everything and everybody," you confess. It's freeing, being able to voice your concerns. Technically, you weren't revealing anything that you weren't supposed to. Simon wordlessly opens the door to his restaurant, ushering you back inside. It was only a couple minutes after closing, and Denis was still at the bar, wiping down countertops. Your eyes meet for a moment before he simply nods in acknowledgment and returns to his work. Simon gestures for you to sit at the bar and you comply. He leaves you there, disappearing through the door leading to what you presume to be the kitchen.
After a moment, he returns, holding a cup of steaming hot tea. You recognize it as the same tea you regularly enjoyed with the van gang. The tension in your shoulders seems to wash away as you take a long sip of the steaming liquid. The others always complained about it being painfully hot, but you found the heat to be pleasant. Taking a break from the tea, you watch as Simon hums and taps his chin, obviously pondering something. After a moment, he has a noticeable epiphany, snapping his fingers in a 'eureka' moment. Pointing at you, he excitedly imparts his own words of wisdom.
"Never leave!"
You can only continue to stare at him, your blinking lids suddenly feeling heavier as you process what he had said. Never leave...? Your chuckle sounds more bitter than you intend it to be. "Of course, if it worked that way, I wouldn't ever leave, Simon--but there's going to be a time where I have to."
"Yes, of course, there may be time when you want to leave, but you just wait for that time to come!" You don't know if it's the language barrier or the sheer naivete of the statement, but you are thoroughly confused. You look over at Denis, who returns your gaze. However, he only shrugs and continues cleaning.
"W-Well, that'd be nice if I had the choice but--there are other factors...there are reasons...why I would have to leave." It's very hard to explain without sharing too much. At this point, it was becoming a little too obvious that this situation wasn't entirely hypothetical. Simon's smile suddenly drops. He doesn't look angry or discontented per se, but he talks slowly, his next words carrying a great weight.
"Other factors is correct--but nothing can force you--not if you don't want to."
You have no response to that. No rebuttal or explanation for how that was obviously not the right answer. You could only sit there, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He was telling you to disobey your father. Not word for word, but that was the advice he was giving you. To go against Father's wishes--that would be ridiculous. Of course, he couldn't force you, but he never would! He had done so much for you, always holding your best interest at heart.
"Only you know what's best for you." The voice is foreign and you look around the room to find where it came from. You're surprised to find that it was the usually silent Denis. His gaze is the same, stern and tired, but it's trained so intently on you in a way it had never been before. "Others may think they know what's best, or act like they know what's best, but you're the only one who can truly make that decision."
His Japanese was clearer than Simon's. You wonder what time he had to practice, considering he had rarely spoken as far as you knew. Your gaze switched between the two of them, noting how they seemed to have the same opinion on the matter. It was a really headstrong conclusion to make: no one, not even your father, had the right to force you out of something that was good for you. All you had been taught growing up was to be obedient and respectful, namely to your father. When he told you to do something, anything otherwise hadn't even been considered an option. In fact, you don't recall ever receiving any form of punishment.
Maybe...just this once...he would be understanding? He was always so kind to you...he would respect your wishes, wouldn't he? If you explained how much this city meant to you--and you were willing to compromise! Maybe if you left for a brief period and came back, or if you could at least keep in contact with your friends and let them know where you were. You felt as though a physical weight had been lifted off of your shoulders. The whole day, you had felt so hopeless, but there was hope! All you had to do was speak up for yourself a little bit!
When you try to pay for the tea before leaving, Simon refuses the payment, claiming that it was a "Regular's Special" or something. Choosing not to argue, you thank the two men and say your goodbyes. As you walk through the plaza, you can't help but notice how much emptier it is than normal. People must have decided to stay indoors in response to all of the Slasher attacks. Due to the prolonged time spent at Russia's Sushi, you were cutting it a little close between your visit to Anri's and the boarding time for your flight.
If you called him right now, would he let you miss the flight? Would you be able to head to Anri's, tell the whole funny story, and laugh it off? Would you be able to stay here longer? You stare at your phone in your hand, dreading the moment you would have to press that 'call' button. Father had never been angry with you. The way he had spoken this morning was truly the shortest he had ever been. Perhaps he was just in a bad mood at the time. Now that he'd had the whole day to wake up, he'd be more pleasant, like he always was. He would understand. He would understand. He would understand.
"Dr. Brigall speaking."
You had called him without even realizing it. Swallowing the lump in your throat, you raise the phone to your ear.
"F-Father! This is (Y/N)."
"(Y/N)," you swear you could hear a sigh, but it could have just been background noise. "Something the matter? The time to board your flight is approaching. On your way to the airport, I presume?"
"N-No, not ye--no, I'm not." Trying to correctly place your words is excruciating and your stuttering all over the place. You had hoped he would've returned to his warmer demeanor, but it was actually making the deed harder.
"Well, why would that be? Punctuality is very important, you wouldn't want to keep everyone on the plane waiting, would you?"
"Father, I've had such a great time here. I've made so many friends and already progressed so much in my studies!"
"That's great to hear. I'm glad you benefited from this in some way before you had to return home." You realize that he's not getting the point; that you would have to state it explicitly.
"Exactly! So...imagine how much I could benefit from staying here the whole year, like we had originally planned!"
"...(Y/N), I hope you're not trying to do what I think you're doing. I thought I made myself very clear this morning. You are going to be on that flight." You can already hear how his tone is starting to shift, mimicking that same strict attitude from this morning.
"I-I understand that you think this is what's best for me, but I think this is what's best for me! Staying here, and building more relationships, and--" Now that you've started, you can't stop. You could convince him, you could make him understand.
"(Y/N), I won't repeat myself--"
"--and developing my studies and--!"
"YOUNG LADY, YOU WILL OBEY ME THIS INSTANT!"
All the breath seems to leave your body. Had your grip on your phone not tightened, you almost would have dropped it. You stand alone, under the illumination of a single streetlight. Father had raised his voice at you. He had gotten angry at you so quickly. The way your throat clenches, it feels as though you're choking on air. Your father is silent, save for the sound of labored breathing. It seems as though neither of you could muster up something to say.
"...(Y/N)?"
"Y-yes, sir?"
"I'm sorry...head back to the apartment, okay?" Your previously stopped heart begins to beat again as you understand the implications of his statement. The apartment, not the airport. "You've grown up so much, I trust you to make the right choices for yourself."
So immediately after his outburst, the change in tone gave you whiplash. His voice is tender, the way he always speaks to you, but it wasn't anywhere near as comforting. Had it just been a moment of a lost temper? He says 'I love you' and you're still too choked up to answer. After a pause, there's a click and a monotone, signaling that he hung up.
Your hand falls from your ear to your side, keeping a limp grip on the phone. You lean against the stone wall beside you in an attempt to recompose yourself. It had worked, you guess, he had allowed you to stay. That didn't stop your mind from reeling at the sheer animosity that had taken over his voice. It was hostile, almost animalistic how he had yelled.
Scanning your surroundings, you realize that you had strayed far off of your path. The phone call must have distracted you so much, you began to wander aimlessly. You let out a tired sigh, beginning to type your address into your GPS.
"Well, well, well, boys! Looks like we've got a stray kitten here, all alone!"
The voice is masculine, and forcibly so--like that of a high schooler trying to deepen his timbre. You're afraid to look up from your phone. You mentally weighed the possibility of them talking about an actual kitten--or at least just leaving you alone if you ignored them. However, the sound of metal tapping against the wall you were leaning on, inches from your head no less, dispelled every bit of that possibility.
There are three of them, all varying in body shapes. It was almost comedic how drastically they contrasted one another in height, size, and even hair color. One trait that united them, however, were the bright accents of yellow decorating each of their persons. Gang members. The source of the tapping, you notice, was the metal crowbar in the hands of the shortest member. He's sneering at you in a predatory manner that makes you want to go take a shower. The one who had been talking wasn't him, but the lean blonde. He's way older than his voice implies. He couldn't have been that much older than you, but his jagged features and sunken eyes did little to boost his youth.
He stands closest to you, eyes scanning your frame. You say nothing, cautiously awaiting whatever it is that they wanted from you. In response to your silence, the blonde grunts in confusion, his smirk falling. "What, nothing to say? Eh, that's alright. I'll do most of the talking."
You absolutely despised how much he was invading your personal space. The sensation of his breath fanning against your skin had you clenching your fists. You're only half-listening to what he's saying, zeroing in on the two men behind him in hopes of finding a way out.
"...and no need to introduce yourself. I know exactly who you are...I gotta say, Heiwajima's got pretty good taste in women." At that, your focus snaps back to him immediately. What on earth did he mean by that?
"Yo Horada, you sure about this? That dude's gonna be pissed if we fuck with his girl." The tallest of them, a brawny, tan man whispers into 'Horada's' ear. He didn't do that good of a job of keeping his voice down, though. Horada swats the man's face with the back of his hand.
"Ah, shuddup, willya? That's the point. We throw his girl around a little bit, give 'er a couple of scars. Then he and that pansy colorless gang get the message not to fuck with us."
Your ears are ringing at the word 'scars'. Just what did they want to do to you? Did they really think that you were in a relationship with Shizuo? What did this have to do with the Dollars? A calloused hand runs across your cheek and cradles your chin, mockingly affectionate. You hadn't thought it to be possible, but Horada is even closer now, forcing you to turn your head to the side in an attempt to avoid him.
"'Sides, what kind of man leaves his chick all alone like this? Poor baby, maybe you need a real man to protect ya. Damn, I've always wondered what it's like to be with a forei--!"
You had never punched anyone in your life. As malicious as it sounded, after watching people do it on TV and seeing Shizuo in the act numerous times, you always had an itching inclination to try it. The way he was forcing himself closer to you, saying such awful things, sent that inclination boiling over the edge. Despite being out of practice, the clean contact between your knuckles and his face was immensely satisfying.
His head reels to the side at the force, followed by his neck, his shoulders, his upper body...his legs...his feet...there he goes.
You're shocked at the sight of his entire body flying a few inches. His friends are the same, staring at his crumpled body with gaping mouths. Taking their distraction as an opportunity, you start to book it. However, a large, clammy hand grabs your elbow. You're pulled back into a large, bulky body and you know that it's the tan man. Fight or flight taking over, you reel your free arm forward before elbowing him straight in the ribs. It's a foolish attempt, considering how strong he must be. Your elbow comes in contact with his firm, sturdy torso--and you can feel something snap. Your elbow continues to dig, jabbing into him with little resistance. He let's out a deep grunt and curses.
The grip on your arm loosens. Before you make a break for it, however, you're distracted by the man's coughing fit. He stumbles backward, cradling his chest. After one particularly hard cough, a splash of red appears on the pavement beneath him. Was that....blood...?
It was just you and the man with the crowbar, now, both of you staring at the disarmed forms of the two men. The blonde wasn't moving, most likely unconscious, and it seemed that the tan man was on the way there. Did these guys have health problems or something? Why were they so weak to your feeble attacks?
"You bitch!" The remaining member snaps out of it, waving his crowbar at you threateningly. By the time you've pulled yourself from your thoughts, he's lunging at you. Practically teleporting closer to you in flashes. Your body tenses, scrambling for some sort of counter to the attack, but you're thinking too slowly. The crowbar swings closer and closer to your face, headed for a possibly fatal collision.
However painful that would have been, the sound of metal screeching against metal is pretty excruciating too. The crowbar is suspended in the air, mere centimeters from your face. The one thing keeping it from knocking you out was...a blade? The short man's arms trembled, contrasting the calm, steady hand that brandished the knife.
Your knees give out, sending you falling to the ground. The crowbar clatters to the ground in front of you, discarded by its wielder. You watch as he stumbles away, leaving the other incapacitated members of his posse behind.
"Looks like you've made quite the commotion." The low voice is muffled to your ears, like a phone call cutting in and out. You muster up the effort to look at the person standing above you, your strength rapidly depleting.
It was that same off-putting smile he had worn the first time you saw him. Eyes narrowed, focused so obviously on you that you knew he couldn't have been looking at anyone else. Seeing such a mischievous expression up close, you can't help but remember a familiar face.
That young twin with the glasses, the one who had said such outrageous, perverted things, had smiled at you the same way.
"Do you...by any chance... have a sis..." Your tongue feels like lead in your mouth, just like the rest of your body. You were suddenly so tired.... Technically, it had been a good 48 hours since you had a normal night of sleep. All you can do is watch as your vision flickers out, trained on the darkly dressed, smiling man above you.
The Gist: You like Shizuo Heiwajima. Izaya can't allow the monster to receive such affection, and thus he hatches a plan. It doesn't go smoothly.
Word count: 2.7k
Warnings: little bit of angst, really that's it...
________
You liked him. A lot. So much, in fact, that sometimes you worried your poor little beating heart couldn't keep up.
He was strong. Stronger than anyone you knew, both inside and out. He took down any opponents that came his way, never showing a glimmer of fear or doubt in himself.
He was kind. Others thought him scary, intimidating... and you were ashamed to say you were no different. Until you spied him in a back alleyway after school, offering the last mouthfuls of a bottle of milk to a scraggly black kitten with no collar.
He was always trying his best, especially when he didn't succeed at something. You'd see him lingering behind after class sometimes, stopping the teacher with a notebook and a few questions.
The only problem? You were shy. You didn't even know where to begin, or what to do or say. The only conversation you'd had with him, was at school, when he turned around to ask for an eraser. You'd stuttered through a reply, and nearly jumped five feet when your finger brushed his.
But today, today you were determined to have a proper conversation with him. It was after school, and he was out in the front courtyard, smoking. A terrible habit, but you didn't mind it. His bleach blonde hair stood out like a beacon among the grass, and the smoke created a trail that led right to him.
You ran the same scenario you planned out over and over again in your head, till it stuck there like cement. When you finally got up the courage to call out his name, he glanced around, looking confused.
Shizuo Heiwajima wasn't used to feminine voices calling out his name.
You trotted over, retrieving your cellphone from your uniform pocket and fiddling with the hem of your skirt. You rubbed the dark blue fabric between your thumb and index finger, the texture sending soft, soothing signals through your nerves.
"I wasn't here yesterday, and uh, I was wondering if you'd taken the note from Ancient History? If not, don't worry, I'm sure I could get it from someone else."
Shizuo cocked his head to the side. "Yeah, I've got it. But why ask me? I'm not exactly an outstanding student." He was blunt. But, you kinda liked that kind of transparency.
Well, see, this is all a stupid lie, since I already got the note from my friend. But I concocted this whole scenario just so I could get a chance to talk to you. Wow. It sounded so much more pathetic that way. You forced a smile that turned out too shy and sheepish, "I forgot to ask someone earlier, and I just caught you on the way out of school. But if it's too much trouble-"
"No, it's fine. I left my notes at home, though..."
"Oh! That's okay, do you have your cell phone?"
The sun burned down on you as you exchanged numbers with Shizuo, who, unlike you, was utterly calm and unfazed throughout the entire situation. With a casual assurance that he'd send you pictures when you got home, he stowed away his pack of cigarettes and headed off.
You stared down at your phone for a long time. The new contact "Shizuo Heiwajima" shined back, and a shot of pride swelled in your chest. I did it. I actually did it. You jumped when someone tapped your shoulder.
"Oh? Someone looks pleased with themselves. Honestly, you're pathetic."
None other the infamous Izaya Orihara slunk around from behind you, eyes sharp and lips tugged into a contemplative frown as he studied you. After what felt like hours, he spoke again, "Hope you don't mind the sudden interrogation, but I've just got to know- what about that monster appeals to you?"
Now, it was your turn to study him. To try and figure out what is angle was, what exactly is was that he wanted.
Izaya kept on to fill the silence. "I mean, I can't understand what any human would see in a monster. And Shizu-chan's the biggest monster of them all..." Reddish brown eyes tried to pry into your soul, desperate to seek answers. Because, Shizuo wasn't supposed to have girls crushing on him- everyone should be in fear of him, the beast. But here you were, swooning over Shizuo like he was any ordinary high schooler. It had to stop. It wasn't right. No where did this fit into Izaya's vision of Shizuo Heiwajima.
You fidgeted underneath his gaze, but forced your spine to straighten and your chin to lift. You'd known Izaya Orihara for a long time, been to the same elementary and middle school as him. And you'd watched how he'd changed over the years, but one thing never did. He always kept his distance. Never got too close to anyone.
So, you sucked in a breath through your teeth and armed yourself with the truth.
"With all due respect, Orihara-san, I think you're just jealous of Shizuo, because you're too scared to love anyone."
Izaya froze. Where on earth did a quiet, shy and unassuming girl like you get the audacity to call him out? This little interrogation was supposed to be about Shizu-chan, not himself. And yet here you were, turning the table around to him. He didn't like that. Not one bit.
The third year's gaze darkened to something cunning and malicious, but instead of scurrying away in fear like you were supposed to, your lips parted and your eyes softened. You had a near maternal shimmer in your eyes, like you were trying to comfort a child.
"I'm sorry," you spoke, a pastel kind of apology and unwavering genuine quality he couldn't see through- because there was no trick, no hidden motive. "It was the truth, but I shouldn't have said it. I'm sorry."
In that moment you saw right through him. And, he hated you for it.
---
Izaya watched you hopelessly chase after Shizuo Heiwajima over the next couple of weeks, and pondered every which way that he could make your life miserable. But then, an idea caught. Perhaps his goal should be the opposite. If he could play you like a fiddle, not only would he take you away from the monster, but, he'd also prove that no one could get the better of him.
So instead of making your life trash, he'd shower you in the love you so desperately craved, and steal you away from Shizuo all the while.
---
You fretted over Izaya Orihara the next couple of days, and deeply regretted what you'd said. Not really because it hurt him- many would argue that he deserved to be hurt- but because you'd just made an enemy out of him. Izaya was, well... he was Izaya. That was not a good thing. He was the worst person, even worse than Shizuo, to make an enemy out of, and you'd gone and pissed him right off.
Third year of high school was gonna be hell.
That week, you kept your head down, and stayed away from Shizuo temporarily. Because wherever Shizu-chan went, so did Izaya.
The fledgling info broker caught you on your way to your last class.
"(Name)!" He piped up, a smile as false as ever plastered on his face as he matched your pace. You quickened your stride and tugged your books closer.
Again a shocking confidence came with ease. You wish you could keep your mouth shut. "Izaya, what do you want?"
He smiled. "Just your time. What are you doing tonight?"
Tonight? What am I doing... oh. I get it.
"No, Orihara."
"No to what? That's not a proper answer, you know,"
"I know. But I also know why you're asking, and so the answer's no."
"Oh? And pray tell, why am I asking?" He drawled back, shoulder bumping against yours as the pair of you navigated the busy hallways of Raijin.
"Because you don't want to lose to Shizuo, that's why. I'm not going to be another one of your pawns, and whether you like it or it or not, I like Shizuo. You're just going to have to live with it, Orihara."
For a moment, the noir haired boy was at a loss. But like always, Izaya was quick to recover. "Perhaps. But did you ever think that maybe I am interested in you? Just you, nothing to do with Shizu-chan. You know, a girl's never quite talked to me in the nature that you did the other week, and how can you blame me for wanting to know more about such a unique human?"
"Whatever you say, Orihara. Excuse me, but I'm going to be late to class." You chuckled, like he'd told a funny joke. Then you brushed past him like a ghost before he could catch you.
---
Izaya's ploys for affection didn't cease.
The next week, he followed you around during lunch, successfully scaring off all of your friends. Then a couple days later, he invited you for dinner. You declined. Not long after, he wrote you the most beautifully constructed poem you'd ever read. He should've entered it into a contest, or something.
You pondered, not for the first time, how deeply Izaya must hate Shizuo Heiwajima. Going to such lengths for the sake of taking something from Shizuo...
Today, you'd artfully evaded him at school, and spent some time after class in the library. It was time to crack open the biology textbook, and start studying.
Twenty minutes later... and you snapped your pencil in half.
You jumped at first, then turned to cast a glare over your shoulder. "Oh, it's just you, Orihara. Could you pass on the antics for today? I really have to focus or I'm gonna fail this test." Flipping to the next page in the textbook, you turned back to your notebook and retrieved a new pencil. The library was empty except for the two of you. God knows where that useless librarian of yours had wandered off to now.
"Fail? Nonsense, not when you have me as your tutor," he took an unwelcome seat in the chair next to you. You made a loose shooing motion with your hand and shook your head.
"Nope. No way. I'm not letting this happen." You didn't know if you were speaking more to him or yourself.
Izaya smiled, all pearly whites, "don't be childish, biology is my expertise."
"Everything is your damn expertise," you muttered under your breath.
He took the snide remark as a compliment and grinned, "ah, learning about the bilayer? Well, it seems complicated at first, but if you look at it this way..." He'd snatched your pencil and started writing in his own neat scripture below yours, putting your penmanship to shame. His voice was constant and calming as he spoke, and you found yourself allowing him to shift a little closer, and you didn't even comment when his knuckle brushed yours.
All in all, you were shocked to admit that you'd enjoyed spending time with him.
---
Today you'd done it. Izaya had watched from afar, face lighting with a smile as Shizu-chan rejected you. You'd spent two months working up the nerve, all for Shizuo to say a simple no. But what irked him was that the smile wasn't simply one of hate towards his dear Shizu-chan, but one of relief directed to yourself.
It didn't make sense. And, he didn't want it to.
---
Izaya didn't understand why, but even after facing rejection, you continued to pine after Shizuo, like nothing had changed at all. The most obvious obstacle apparently meant nothing to you.
That afternoon Izaya leaned against the school's hard exterior with a yawn as a mousy third year confessed her love to him. He typically liked to play around with the girls when this happened, and he liked to see how long it took before he could make them cry. Not that he had anything against them, just that it was entertaining to see the limits at which he could push his dear humans.
But the longer he stared at this girl, the more her features began to tweak and twist into a very familiar person... you. He imagined how he'd react if it were you standing here and giving the confession instead. Instead of the expected disgust and slight humour, he felt a warmth swell somewhere within his icy heart. It threatened to thaw the ice, and that was not okay.
---
Very abruptly, Izaya stopped with the advances. It had been almost four months of his continued attempts and ploys for your affection, and now that he'd seemingly vanished... well, you kinda missed his company.
When he wasn't plotting or scheming, he was actually an okay guy to be around.
Maybe he's finally given up...?
For some odd reason, that thought made you very sad.
One day your feet brought you to his favourite rooftop spot before your brain could catch up. Sure enough, there he stood, waving off a group of guys as you approached.
"I'm afraid I can't entertain you today, I'm a little busy." Izaya replied smoothly.
"Oh please, you harassed me against my will for months, you can put up with me for a few minutes."
Smiling bitterly, he raised his hands in mock surrender. So, you went on.
"You finally throw in the towel, Orihara? Realize that my feelings for Shizuo are so out of your league?" Enunciating your words just enough to bug him, you continued on, a light breeze taking your hair and dancing with it, "I mean, there must be a reason you suddenly dropped out of my life, right?"
Izaya didn't answer right away, instead he turned to stare past the rooftop fence and out at the city. Horns honked, lights blinked, and buildings buzzed. You took time to look at him. Like, really look at someone. When you actually look at someone, you can find so many unique things. For example, his eyes- were they brown or red? You couldn't tell. How unique. Izaya's complexion was flawless, it was highly suspicious that you'd never once caught a single pimple on his face. His hair was nice too, it looked silky- you had a sudden urge to run your fingers through it.
Izaya's voice broke your trance.
"I stand by what I said a few months ago... you're a unique human."
"That doesn't answer my question," you quipped.
"You want an answer so badly? Fine, I gave up. Simple as that. Shizu-chan can have you, for all I care. Oh, wait. That's right, he doesn't want you."
Ouch. Clearly someone was upset. Your eyes narrowed, gaze growing heavy.
"You know how I said you were too scared to love someone?" He didn't answer, "well what if I told you I could relate to that?" Because I don't want to love a guy like you. But I think I might be-
"-then I'd say that's silly, since you're still pining after Shizu-chan."
"I wasn't talking about Shizuo."
The air prickled, charged with electricity. Both parties stood their ground, neither of you refusing to give in to the other. Finally, you spoke back up.
"You're a really crappy guy, you know that? Every time I turn around you're plotting something, always busy ruining someone's day. Don't you ever get tired of it?"
When he spoke, his voice was light as a feather. "Tired of what?"
"Of holding back, of limiting yourself to observing humanity but not allowing yourself to be among them were you belong. Isn't it exhausting?"
He didn't answer with words. Instead, he decided to take your advice against all of his better judgement, and let go once, if only for a few fleeting seconds. The kiss was slow, your lips soft. He didn't want to pull back, because he knew this would be the last time he got to experience this- this feeling, without holding himself back.
With the desperate nature of the kiss, he guessed you knew that just as well as he did, that this would be the exception to his golden rule. A brief, fleeting window that was about to pass.
As brief as it was, you let yourself love Izaya Orihara with all you had.
idk if you’re still doing the flower event thingy, but i would love to see what’s your perspective on izaya and the flowers i pick are, petunia, aster, verbena, and zinnia. 👀👀👀
thank u so much!
It's been a while since I've written for the husbando. Thank you for the request!
❁ Petunia — How would they tell them they are in love? Where?
Ha…
Izaya is never going to give a proper confession—his s/o is just going to have to learn to read between the lines
His s/o might realize when Izaya spends much more time with them than he does any of his other “precious humans,” showing up inexplicably and pestering them with a plethora of random personal questions and teasing remarks
Or maybe when Izaya begins to refer to them as his “favorite” and claims he needs to protect "his human" from the “many bad guys” in Ikebukuro (as if he isn’t one himself)
Surely by the time their clothing occupies half of the information broker’s large closet and there’s a shiny new silver key on their keychain they realize Izaya’s true intentions...right?
❁ Aster — How they are like? They change when their S/O is around?
To most people—including his s/o—Izaya does not seem to change around anyone
He always maintains his playful, pseudo-childish behavior regardless of the company (unless, of course, that damned flea is being particularly annoying...)
However, only a select few who are very familiar with Izaya and particularly observant notice the subtle changes when he is around his s/o. Namely: Izaya’s protectiveness, similarly to how he treats his sisters. He is always looking out for potential threats when his s/o is around, careful to keep them away from the people who would be willing to hurt them to get to Izaya
❁ Verbena — How are morning with them like?
He is also more likely to do things for his s/o without expecting anything in return. With anyone else Izaya would never offer any favors for free. Izaya is manipulative and an avid user of blackmail. He only does what benefits him, whether it’s for his own personal gain or merely entertainment . No one has received help from Izaya without it being used against them later in some way
It is extremely rare that his s/o sees Izaya in the mornings. He is usually gone before they wake up, his side of the bed ice cold. Whether he is out running errands, surveying the city, or working in his home office, Izaya is almost always on the move as soon as he wakes up
On the rare case he does sleep in (after a particularly tiring night or an anniversary), his s/o may catch a brief moment of Izaya with his guard down, eyelashes fluttering faintly against his pale cheeks and lips slightly parted as he breathes softly
However, Izaya will wake up unexpectedly and catch his s/o staring so they should be prepared for an ample amount of teasing!
❁ Zinnia — How they are in bed?
As expected, Izaya’s teasing does not stop at the bedroom door
He will praise his s/o in a way that almost sounds condescending, thoroughly enjoying the way they flush and squirm under his gaze
Izaya is not gentle but he’s not very rough either—all of his touches are firm and full of intent. He will manipulate his s/o's pliant body to get the exact reaction he desires. Sometimes this can mean orgasm denial or overstimulation…
He’s not really a possessive guy but he sometimes will mark his s/o in inconvenient places just to see their embarrassment the next day as they try to hide their neck in the middle of summer
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Izaya, shizuo and kida reaction to their crush confessing to them. They are just hanging out. They have a moment of peace and crush confesses while drinking a drink. Drinking it cuz they nervous. It keeps them from over reacting and saying anything else that is stupid. Outside they are calm straight faced, but inside they are screaming.
A/N: i’m sorry this request took me so long. life has been busy, as usual. i got carried away writing a one shot based on this request for izaya, i hope that’s fine!!! i’ll try to come up with something for shizuo and kida as well eventually.
“Oh?”, he asks, casually, his everlasting grin neither fading nor growing wider. It remains resting on his lips elegantly as if calculated with ease and practiced to perfection. Though his eyes tell a different story, the glimmer inside his brown orbs giving away the excitement.
They practically scream ‘I found your weakspot then, huh?’ and give away y/n’s doom.
“Is that so?” he chuckles and sets down his drink, his movements - again - nothing less than graceful and thought through. Amusement lingers in his tone, which also is not out of character for the mischievious informant, but hits different in this specific scenario.
He’s clearly dragging out the moment and enjoying their embarrassment. Then again, how could he not? It would be a shame to not get the most out of this. Considering how lovely they look with that particular shade of pink dusting their cheeks, dedicated to only him. How sweet they appear sitting next to him, eyes wandering off to the ground in a pathetic but charming attempt to avoid his gaze. How endearing they act with their nervous fingers clinging to the glass in their hand, their fingertips slightly tracing the rim in a shaking matter.
They struggle to find words as they are still shocked about their own sudden outburst. ‘I like you.’ how silly was that?
There are so many possibilities. So many ways to entice the utmost exciting reactions from them. They are so vulnerable for him right now, it’s ridiculous.
He knows he will regret getting impatient. Yet that does not stop him. Before their lips can even part to justify their confession, his hand reaches out to cup their face. Once the knuckle of his finger, accompanied by the cool touch of his metal ring, as well as his thumb gently but confidently take ahold of their chin, they forget whatever words they had struggled to come up with anyway. Tilting their face upwards, Izaya leans in closer.
Slowly.
In such a carefully slow manner, it must be on purpose to torture them further.
Once their noses touch and their breath gently brushes against each other, an ever so faint hint of the sweet alcoholic taste hovering in the small space left between their mouths…
he stops.
Whereas their gaze was focused on Izaya’s lips beforehand, it now travels across his features, setting on his half-lidded eyes. If the tension keeps up for another second, they’ll surely burst.
“I-Izaya, I’m-” the mumble shyly, but are cut off.
“Shh, now. There’s no need to say anything,” he whispers softly and his breath tickles their lips delicately.
Neither of the two make another movement. For a while, time freezes. At first, they grow more tense and uncomfortable, not knowing how to react to the raven’s shennanigans. Eventually though, they settle in this position, relaxing at the touch of his palm tracing their jawline and ultimately resting at their neck. His fingers barely run through their hair, just caressing their scalp and tucking a strand of hair behind their ear.
“I like you, too, Y/N,” he says. No smirk, no mocking voice, no sign of him acting like a trickster. It’s so unusual that it’s almost suspicious in itself. For a brief second, at least. “I thought you already knew. I do consider you as a dear friend, after all,” he adds with a chuckle and they slightly flinch.
They know he’s pulling their strings. He isn’t even trying to hide the fact that he wants them to repeat their words, wants them to explain the way they feel about him. To an extent, it’s cruel of him. But for the moment, they don’t mind being his toy. They’ve already given in.
"No, not in that way,” they mutter beneath their breath, fully aware that their voice would give out if they spoke up any louder.
"What do you mean, not in that way? I know exactly how you mean it,” Izaya snickers, thus confirming their suspicions. He’s reading their mind like an open book. “I’ve known all this time.”
They slightly purse their lips and attempt to free themselves from his grip, but Izaya crosses their intention by placing his lips on top of theirs. The kiss lasts for a solid while, alternating between slowly dragging skin against skin and experimentally pushing tongues against each other, before both pull away to catch some air.
Apparently a lot of people want to hold hands with Shizuo XD i mean, i get it. Anyway this was in regards to this post where I asked Shizuo stans to tell me what they would do if they were hanging out with Shizuo. I've only gotten three replies and i want at least 15 before I start getting into the platonic reader insert fic. Please say something even if someone else has said it! That just means I'll definitely implement it somehow! Race age gender height weight doesn't matter! All you have to do to reply is be a fan of Shizuo!! It's platonic only!!
You do headcanons? If so Could you do headcanons/scenarios with Izaya, Shizuo, and Chikage with a Lazy!S/O who literally spends all day caught up in their own little world and whatever they feel in the moment? like they will randomly stop and take a nap in the middle of the street of out of nowhere (or just lie there watching clouds) and even far prefers fast food/takeout to homemade/restrunts simply because it's less 'effort' May also always wear tank tops, shorts, and hoodies lol
LMAO THATS LITERALLY ME 💃🏻💃🏻 finally someone who requested chikage, I love him
—
Headcannon + Mini Drabble | Izaya, Shizuo & Chikage With A Lazy S/O
Pairing: Izaya x Gn!Reader, Shizuo x Gn!Reader, Chikage x Gn!Reader
Genre: Fluff
Warnings: Poorly Proofread
⚠️???Spoilers???⚠️
—
Izaya Orihara
Izaya constantly (fake) complains about your laziness. You better have lots of patience ‘cause this man will poke/tickle you to snap you out of your little dream world.
He uses your laziness as an excuse to cuddle you because “there’s nothing else you want to do other than lay around all day.” lmao you never said that but let a man dream.
He will make you wear his clothes. It boosts his ego so HARD. He may or may not buys shirts a size bigger just to say you drain in them.
Izaya adores your legs. Whenever he sees your bare legs, he either puts his hand on your thighs and start caressing your soft skin. He also loves having them wrapped around his head. Play with his hair and he’s a goner.
On a warm and sunny afternoon you and your boyfriend Izaya decided to go out and eat something. You claimed cooking something yourself is way too time consuming. Izaya didn’t fight you on that, so you two decided to go to Russian Sushi.
On your way, Shizuo crossed path with you and your man. We all know Shizuo is not very fond of Izaya, so Izaya told you to wait here as he took care of the ‘monster.’
You nodded your head and started looking for a quiet spot to wait for Izaya. After finding a spot under a big tree, you lied down on the green grass and clutched your belongings into your izayas hoodie and closed your eyes for a little nap.
——————————————————————————
You slowly started to wake up at the sounds of engines and people talking loudly. You yawned and opened your eyes. “So you finally decided to wake up, sleeping beauty.” A male voice said and you snapped your head towards the voice. Only to be met with the sight of Izayas sharp jawline.
He was holding you in a piggyback. You blushed at the thought of him carrying you through whole ikebukuro and snuggled your head into his neck. Chuckling at your little affectionate, he continued carrying you to Russian Sushi. ♡
Shizuo Heiwajima
He’s surprised he got himself into a relationship in the first place. Everyone is tbh.
After discovering his s/o's low-on-energy persona he was relieved. I can’t see Shizuo liking someone very overhyped and active. He’s not the most boyfriend-material man in the world and definitely not the most active one either.
Whenever you’re beside him or far away from him he always makes sure you’re safe. He doesn’t want anyone or himself hurt his precious darling with violent actions.
He LOVES carrying your bridal style while you take your little naps. He appreciates the way you trust him so much.
He finds your spontaneous and unplanned actions cute. Some of them catch him off guard, but he usually goes along with them because they sound ‘appealing.’ He just wants to spend time with you
It’s late night. You two were half wide awake in bed talking about random things that happened that day. Shizuo was about to roll onto his side and throw an arm over your frame. But you stood up from the bed and left the bedroom within a few seconds. He groaned at your sudden disappearance but soon followed you into the comfort of your shared apartment.
You were currently standing in front of the fridge looking for some leftovers to eat. You and your man went out eating some really good hamburgers the other day. So you decided to order two more to take home with you.
As you heard the heavy footstep of your boyfriend approaching you, you grabbed a little carton of milk and put it down on the table you placed the hamburger. “Want some?” You asked as you put the hamburger in the microwave to heat up a little. “No, I’m fine with milk.” He mumbled and pushed the straw into the opening of the carton.
Chikage Rokujou
Oohhhh his fangirls were a bit sad after they found out their handsome Rocchi was dating someone. But they stood by his side anyway lmao.
I had a lot of people saying he’s the “unloyal” type. But I personally don’t think he is. He may have this kind of reputation. But if he really loves someone he’d never hesitate to push someone away.
He is a tease. A smug and cocky man that loves getting on peoples nerves. When he sees you lazing around in your apartment he always cracks a joke about you aging faster and getting a bad body posture. But his teasing always includes many hugs and kisses :D
One day you were just lying on a bench admiring the clouds. You knew your boyfriend was nearby because of the sounds of motorbikes and men laughing. You were no stranger to Toramaru. They all knew you were their leaders most adored human.
You closed your eyes for a mere minute as you suddenly felt a hat on your face. “Hey there~” a familiar male voice whispered into your ear. “Hi.” You yawned and grasp the man’s hand. Exactly knowing who he was. “Come on, pretty baby, let’s take you home~” he slurred and pulled your body up from the bench. You let out several complains as he took you by your hand and walked you two home.
