#i can't believe i went so many fucking years without it and being called paranoid only to catch it the second i get an outside job

[kagedbird]

I'm 95% sure I caught covid from my coworker who drives me to and from work. :(

[floresmarique]

THREAD: THE COBRA KAI BOYS AS BOYFRIENDS (SPICY STUFF INCLUDED)

Johnny;

You met him in a bar and he offered you a drink

Ended up having sex on the same night because the sexual tension was too much

He asked for your number the next day

"Would you like to do that again?"

You ended up dating

A G E G A P

When you found out he was teaching in a dojo, you wanted to join in but he snapped

"You are gonna be a distraction for me, babe"

Showed up anyway the next day at the dojo just for the sake of making him mad

He kept your relationship as a secret to his students

A N G R Y S E X I N H I S O F F I C E A T N I G H T

He likes to snuggle you before sleeping because he wants to feel you next to him

He's a soft bby when he's sleepy

He likes to see you wear his clothes

He made you wear his large black gi and laughed his ass off

He ✨railed you✨ right after that

Your arguments are mostly about him wanting to beat up someone and you trying to make him think about that

Sometimes you both have the same ideas and an apocalypse happens

He is ✨possessive✨

Likes to call you with pet names such as; babygirl, babe and, when's he's being really soft, also angel

Secretly dreams about your wedding and family

"I'd like our son to have your eyes, my hair colour and my physiognomy. He's gonna be a fucking badass."

When he's feeling good, he wakes you up in the morning with a breakfast he made himself

Most of the times the pancakes are burned but you still eat them to make him happy

He likes rough sex or to passionately make love to you

Has a kink for choking-

Likes when you get dominant

Sometimes he needs reassurance in the most inappropriate moments

"Babe, do you still love me?"

"Yes Johnny, i love you but we are at a funeral-"

He snores a lot and you have to slap his face in the middle of the night to make him stop

You have a kink for him with a beard

"Don't shave it- fuck me in that before"

He likes it when you call him "Sensei"

Your relationship is basically a comedy but you love each other to the core

Daniel;

You met him at the end of the 80s at the University

He spilled coffee on you by mistake and started to stutter

You chuckled and saw that he was an hottie so you didn't get mad

He tried to wipe the coffe away from you shirt with his jacket but made the situation worse

Accidentally touched your boobies and died inside

You both crushed on each other and started to hang out together

NEVER SEPARATED AFTER

He asked you to marry him after 3 years of relationship-

You obviously said yes

His mother showed you embarassing pics of him when he was younger

Daniel watched everything from afar with a 'i really want to sink into the floor and enter another dimension' glance

Your first time was sweet and intense

You then discovered that he was ✨KiNkY✨

You were sHoCkEd when you realized he had a daddy and choking kink

He likes lingerie on you

You know shit is about to go down when he returns home from work and stays silent till he gets close to you

"You were on my mind all day, love"

HE LIKES TO CALL YOU DIRTY NAMES TOO-

You like to spy on him while he is practicing his Karate skills

You literally begged for him to train you

He eventually tried to train you but you always ended up kissing and ✨fucking✨

Your arguments are about you getting mad at him because he forgets important things and him getting mad at you because you don't forgive him quickly

You give him the silent treatment when you're mad

He teases you till you start laughing and showers you with material gifts

"I'm sorry honey, can you please forgive me now?"

He doesn't snore when he sleeps but moves so much to the point of accidentally pushing you out of the bed

When you fall asleep while cuddling, he will stay in that position all night

Likes to see you with his button up shirts

He's the most romantic bby in the world

Your relationship is so good that is envied by many people-

Miguel;

You met him in a grocery store

While waiting in the line, he 'accidentally' bumped into you

"I like those cereals too!"

You started talking so much that when it was your turn, the cashier had to call you three times YELLING

He asked for your number out of the grocery store and immediately texted you when you turned your back to him to walk away

He made silly jokes just to make you laugh

When he saw you at school, you waved at him but he runned away while his two friends stood there confused

"Sorry, i wasn't mentally prepared to see you there, like that, it's a lot of pressure-"

You thought that it was pretty cute that he felt embarassed so you brushed it off

After two months he finally asked you to go on a date with him at the Arcade

Your first kiss was goofy and you bursted out laughing in his face

He then cupped your cheeks and gave you a vEry intense kiss

You were officially together after that

When you first visited his house, his grandma offered you a joint that you refused but it made you support her to the maximum-

Carmen treated you as you were already his wife-

When you first mentioned the word 'sex' to him, he started to sweat

You then realized he was an horny boy because whenever you touched him even just to caress him, he had an erection-

You both were unexperienced virgins

When you first gave him a blowjob he literally screamed

Your first time was slow and romantic

"Is this okay? Does it hurt?" Every five seconds

He felt a man after losing his v-card

He ALWAYS holds hands with you, even at school

After seeing you at the tournament to support him, he sent you a wink that made you squeal-

He celebreated the victory of the tournament with a party in your panties- (if u know what i mean)

He likes to send you sweet texts while you're sleeping so that you can read them the next morning and wake up with a smile

Arguments???? What are those????

He never wants to fight with you because he's too scared to lose you

He will let you know if something is bothering him anyway

He is a softie, what do you expect?

Tells you that he loves you at least 3 times a day

Relationship goals

Hawk;

He had a crush on you before becoming Hawk

Was literally too scared of rejection to ask you out but found the courage after he completely changed his whole vibe

You said yes, obviously

You went went out to eat and then had a walk while he rested his arm around your shoulder

Your first kiss was a full make out session-

He also grabbed your ass and you didn't mind-

When you told him that you liked him even before, he didn't believe you

He liked to act like a badass infront of the others but was completely vulnerable with you

He once cried while talking to you about his past and fell asleep in your arms right after

You liked to help him style his hair and you were also the one that dyed them everytime

Your first time with him happened during a make out session

He didn't use protection and you got mad at him for that

"Babeeee c'mon, i pulled out! the worst that can happen is a little Hawk, nothing bad about it"

He dies of jealousy everytime someones looks at you but acts like he doesn't care

You know he cares and you tease him about it-

Which leads to a very intense fuck-

His mother loves you SO MUCH

Literally so much that sometimes he jokes about it

"I think you love her more than you love me???"

You had just one serious argument and it was about you getting mad at him for how he treated his old friend acting like a bully

He told you to ✨fuck off✨

At 3:00 am he was knocking at your door crying desperately

"I'm sorry, please, i'm sorry"

You tried to act tough but when you saw him you started to cry too

He understood what you meant and listened to you

Your relationship has up and downs but your love is strong so you overcome every difficulty together

Demetri;

You met him in the Science Lab

"You know, i think that what you're doing is wrong and i know how to make it right"

Little did you know that he would have used the same mechanism with your heart too-

He wasn't the type that crushed over girls but when he saw you, not even his smart mind knew what was happening to him

He narrowed his eyes at you when you wanted to sit next to him at lunch

"Well if you want to get bullied then, you can sit here i guess"

He was too awkward to ask you out so he sent Miguel to talk to you-

The situation made you laugh so you accepted

Your first date was at your house because he told you he didn't like crowded places

You watched 'Tron:Legacy' and you loved to see how excited he got during the movie

You made the first move and kissed him

"Why did you do that?"

He stood up right after and headed to the bathroom

You heard him talk alone while you regretted your life decisions

After 20 minutes he returned in your room and kissed you before you could speak

People couldn't believe he was dating someone at first

He liked to show you off because he thought you were the prettiest girl he ever met

He still had troubles telling you everything

He got a ✨boner✨ everytime you hugged him

You never had the sex talk, it just happened

"Why are you on your knees- oh"

Having sexual experiences boosted his confidence

It really made him less of a smartass but also very paranoid

"What if you're pregnant now?"

"I swallowed, i can't get pregnant like this! I thought you were smarter than that."

Your first time was kinda awkward and short but you weren't surprised about it

As time went by, he started to get more comfortable with his sexuality and became a very gentle and passionate lover

He had his whole future with you all planned out

He loves to call you "Honey"

Your arguments are mostly about movies or books you both like

He takes them seriously tho and you kinda like to see him full of rage

"Just accept it, i'm right and you are wrong. I still love you anyway, honey"

It took him some time before he started to feel comfortable with cuddles

He doesn't like P.D.A because he prefers to have you all to himself without anyone watching

He likes to hold hands with you anyway

Your relationship is strong and everyone thinks you were both made for each other

Robby;

You first saw him at the tournament

You were in the Cobra Kai dojo-

You both shared som glances and at the end of the tournament you congratulated with him even tho he lost

He acted a little bit cold and just nodded

The day after he called his father just to ask about you-

Johnny knew what was up and helped him, combining the both of you

You are the main reason why Johnny and Robby got closer

When you found out your Sensei was his father, you understood why Robby was so hot-

Your first date was pretty chill and it was at the cinema

You both knew each other better, whispering in the middle of the movie

He was a flirt ALL THE TIME

But also a sweet bby

Your first kiss happened at the end of the night infront of your house

He went from "angel baby boy" to "your daughter calls me daddy too" very quickly

Johnny acted like it wasn't a big deal but asked about you two at least 2 times a week after training

Robby couldn't keep his hands to himself whenever you were around

You snogged EVERYWHERE when you had the opportunity

He invited you multiple times at his house since his mother was never around

You let him vent about his relationship with his parents and listen to him

Your first time happened on his couch

It started with you simply cuddling while watching a movie and then an heated make out session happened

It was slow and passionate with him whispering to you how much he loved you

When he told you he was a virgin before you and always lied, you didn't believe him

He is a sucker for P.D.A

You are both two jealous bastards and your arguments are mostly about jealousy

You were jealous of Sam and a big argument started because of that

He reassured you, telling you that he only had eyes for you

He secretly is a bottom most of the time-

But when he takes control, he will ✨rail you✨

He's proud of you and loves to show you off

He LOVES cuddles so much and can't sleep if he doesn't feel your fingertips in his hair-

Your meeting with his mother was awkward since she was with another man-

He is ✨protective✨ and will never let you get hurt

Loves to see you blush while he tells you sweet things

Got mad when you told him that you thought Johnny was hot

"He is my father!"

"Yeah and you both have the same DNA, so both hot-"

Gave you the silent treatment after but lost it when he found you with only one of his shirts on the bed-

He always has new ideas whenever you two hang out together

"We should go climbing-"

He is so romantic, like DAMN-

"I'm a gentleman in the streets and a beast in the sheets"

Calls you "babygirl" everytime

Your relationship is long lasting and never boring

Aaaaa this is my second thread lmao, hope you liked it- ♡

[sachigram]

I think a lot about Hearts Like Ours because I've been wanting to comment on the last chapter since it came out and I finally think I can. On another note, I read that "send me some Shizaya prompts you'd like to see! Who knows, maybe I'll write a few" please, don't feel obligated at all, but I can't write myself and I've been thinking about a story for a long time, about Izaya being in love with Shizuo since Highschool but extremely hurt because he hated him on sight, and then on present time +

“And then on present time Izaya finds out that someone is going to hurt Kasuka, Shizuo doesn't answer his phone so Izaya goes to the place himself and without thinking puts himself between Kasuka and the guy who has going to stab him, Kasuka takes him to Shinra and after this Shizuo gets obsessed with trying to know why Izaya would almost die for Kasuka.”

For you, @murasaki19! I wrote this very quickly, and I am sure there are errors, but I hope it cheers you up! <3 Your reviews mean a lot to me, and I’ve missed seeing your name in my notes. I’m always around if you need to talk! 

It happens by accident, really.

Izaya keeps tabs on everyone and everything; it's part of his informant position. Even the most trivial of information can be useful later, like pawns making it across the chessboard. Honestly, it has nothing to do with Shizuo or his family. Still, Izaya stumbles across a plot to kidnap Kasuka, and wars with himself on what to do about it.

On one hand, he hates Shizuo, and therefore, he hates Kasuka. He should revel in the idea of Kasuka being killed or worse, should love the thought of the anguish it would cause Shizuo to lose his precious baby brother.

On the other hand, Izaya has sisters, and he knows Shizuo has helped keep them out of trouble more than a few times, even while hating Izaya.

Something else entirely, Izaya doesn't want Shizuo to lose Kasuka, and it makes Izaya so sick of himself that he can't even look at his reflection on his dark phone screen.

“Fuck,” he mutters, shoving back from his computer. He picks up his phone, goes to Shizuo's contact, hesitates. He can call Shizuo and let the beast handle it. Whether Shizuo believes him or not, Izaya can say he tried, and that should settle his conscience, right? It should be the end of Izaya's involvement.

He presses the 'call' button. It rings once, and then goes to voicemail, and Izaya clenches his teeth, knowing Shizuo ignored the call and likely would delete a voicemail before listening to it. Izaya can't blame him, but still, being ignored always pisses Izaya off beyond anything else.

“Should just let him lose his fucking brother,” Izaya grumbles to no one. Namie left for the day, and no one else will be coming by. Shinra likely would ignore a call from Izaya as well. He's alone in this, as he normally is.

For once, he finally feels the emptiness.

***

He's in the city— He doesn't have a clue what he's doing.

The men who are going to take Kasuka have his work schedule figured out. It's not hard to attain information like that, as long as you know the right people. Izaya himself buys most of his information, and turns around and sells it to whoever asks. It's possible some of these men work with Kasuka, or some of them could have hacked into his file, his schedule, his manager's schedules. Something like this just happened with Kasuka's little girlfriend, right? And then Shinra got attacked. Everyone should have learned a lesson from that, but...

“The more things change,” Izaya mutters aloud.

“Hello?” A man's voice answers him. Izaya sighs, realizing Kasuka heard him and is addressing him. Kasuka is alone— Why is he alone? Where's security? Where's the driver? The car is parked, so where is the fucking driver? “Oh. Orihara-san?”

“Yes,” Izaya says, quieting the questions zipping through his mind. He has an image to maintain, if nothing else, and even if he wasn't consciously planning on coming here, he's here now, and he has to make it look like he meant to be.

“Did you...need something?” Kasuka asks, and Izaya can only imagine how confused Kasuka must be. He's heard awful things for years about Izaya, true things, and all Kasuka knows is that Izaya hates Shizuo, and Shizuo hates Izaya.

“Why are you alone?” Izaya asks, stalling. He moves away from the wall he was leaning against and inches closer to Kasuka.

“My driver is across the street, grabbing to-go food. The guards are right by the door,” Kasuka says in his usual bored tone.

“Inside isn't close enough to stop something from happening,” Izaya says, and Kasuka tilts his head.

“Are you going to attack me or something?”

“I'm only saying, it would be better for you to have someone around, anyone.” Izaya looks over his shoulder, paranoid. He doesn't care about what happens to Kasuka. He's told himself that over and over, and yet, here he is.

“Well. You're here,” Kasuka says with a shrug. “And my driver will be right back.”

Izaya is about to answer and say something along the lines of, 'why wouldn't a big celebrity have his own bodyguards?', or, 'isn't your girlfriend some kind of monster with inhuman strength?', but he doesn't get the chance. Everything happens so fast from there, and even afterwards, Izaya still doesn't know what exactly happened.

All he knows is, he wakes up at Shinra's, and there's a hole in his stomach.

***

“I'm just. I'm floored, you know? I'm totally flabbergasted!” Shinra says jovially as he applies something to Izaya's wound. “Kasuka-san called me and was as close to panicking as can be allowed. He hasn't sounded like that since Hijiribe-san got injured. He drove you here and said you took a knife for him! Could it be that my influence from all those years ago rubbed off on you?”

“Would you please stop talking?” Izaya asks, irritated for many reasons, one of which being Shinra's voice. He has another scar from a knife wound. Izaya doesn't ever want to get stabbed again. It's not fun at all. He wouldn't recommend it to anybody.

“I just wanna know what was going through your head!” Shinra chatters. “Did you know what you were doing? It seems like you don't remember. Did you know the news is reporting you as a hero? They used your name! Hey, are you listening?” Shinra leans over Izaya, squinting at him.

“I don't remember it,” Izaya says, shoving Shinra away. “I was on autopilot.”

“Ah, well,” Shinra says. He leans back in his chair and shrugs a bit. “I think maybe you're working on clearing your bad name. Unfortunately, you'll have to get stabbed a lot more.”

Celty walks in, and Izaya sees his reflection in her helmet. He closes his eyes, not wanting to deal with her, but Shinra laughs at whatever she tells him.

“Kasuka-san is here to visit you. We told him you were awake.”

“What!” Izaya tries to sit up, regrets it immediately. He falls into the sheets with a wince. “I don't want to see him.”

“Sorry,” Kasuka's voice says, already in the room. “They said it was okay.”

“One day, I'm going to sell Shinra to pirates,” Izaya says.

“That might work. A doctor always has value,” Kasuka replies, and Izaya nods. There's silence for a few moments, and then Kasuka clears his throat. “You saved me.”

“I didn't. Or, I didn't mean to.”

“I wanted to thank you.”

“Don't. It's gross; I don't want your thanks.”

“Still,” Kasuka insists, and when Izaya looks over at him, Kasuka is giving him an earnest expression. “I could be in this bed, or much worse. I could be dead. Thank you.”

“Thanking me would be acceptable if I went with the intention of saving you. I didn't. I didn't think about it, and I don't remember it. So really, you don't have to—“

There's a bang in the next room, followed by Shinra shouting.

“WHERE IS HE?!”

“Oh,” Kasuka says, and then he stands. “Shizuo's here.”

“Fucking great,” Izaya mutters. He wonders if Shinra can give him more drugs.

Heavy footsteps thud towards the door, and then it's flying open, revealing a frantic Shizuo. Immediately, he's on Kasuka, looking him over, talking so quickly that Izaya realizes he's already on a lot of drugs, because he can't focus on it. Izaya giggles and moves his hands around in the air, finally feeling the effects of whatever Shinra gave him.

“Why's he here?!” Shizuo barks, and Izaya drops his hands and pouts up at the Heiwajima brothers.

“Can't you have a reunion elsewhere? I'm recovering from an ordeal,” Izaya says, and he blinks as his words slur. “Shinra! What did you give me?”

“Morphine,” Shinra calls.

“I like it.”

“Most people do.”

“Orihara-san—“ Kasuka begins.

“Gross, call me Izaya,” Izaya interjects.

“Uh. Izaya-san saved me. He took a knife for me,” Kasuka continues.

“What? That's fucking impossible. I'm sure he's probably the one who hired those guys to begin with,” Shizuo says, and Izaya tries to be offended, but can't really argue.

“No. Izaya-san showed up on his own, and then some men charged us. Izaya-san jumped in front of me, and then my guards came out from all the noise.”

“I don't buy it. He was involved,” Shizuo argues.

“Even if he was, he paid a price for it,” Kasuka says. Izaya is back to waving his hands around, and he pauses when he feels that everyone is looking at him.

“Am I supposed to say something profound?” Izaya asks. “I think— I think I'm stoned.”

Shizuo marches over to the bed and hovers over Izaya. He glares down at him, and Izaya tries to remember the last time they were this close. Didn't Shizuo headbutt him?

“Why the fuck would you do that? Why would you save my brother?” Shizuo asks.

“I didn't save anyone,” Izaya says, and then he reaches up and touches the tip of Shizuo's nose. “Boop.”

Shizuo snarls down at him, and then someone, probably Celty, drags Shizuo away. Izaya looks up at the empty space Shizuo left and misses Shizuo occupying it. Then, someone else hovers over him.

“I won't forget this, Izaya-san.” Kasuka puts his hand over Izaya's and squeezes. “Thank you.”

“Oh. Go away,” Izaya mutters, and he rolls over. “Being thanked so much reminds me why I'd rather everyone cursed me.”

“I'm sorry you feel that way,” Kasuka says.

“Don't thank him! Don't apologize to him! What the fuck!” Shizuo barks from somewhere, and then Izaya passes out again.

***

Next time he wakes, he's alone.

He reaches for his phone on the table next to the bed. He has messages from Namie, from Shiki, from his sisters. He grumbles and reads through Mairu's babbling about how much she loves him for taking a knife for Yuhei. He replies with a series of emojis, most of them the dancing red dress woman.

Namie asks if Izaya has a brain tumor.

Shiki wants to know if Izaya will return to work now that he's an A-list hero.

“Feeling better?” Shinra asks, and Izaya looks over at him. “You've been pretty out of it.”

“Am I still high?” Izaya asks.

“I hope not. I've been lowering your dosage. Are you in pain?”

“Mm. A little.”

“Do you want more medicine?”

“No. I'd like to think clearly.” Izaya puts his phone down. “I really don't remember it. I just...acted.”

“That's okay,” Shinra says. There's a beat of silence, and then, “You told me some...interesting things while you were doped up.”

“Ugh.” Izaya covers his eyes. “Were we alone?”

“Yeah. Yeah, Celty was in bed. It was just us.”

“Are we alone now?” Izaya asks, his voice muffled from his hands.

“Yes.”

“What did I say?”

Shinra laughs. “You said you didn't want to give Shizuo-kun another reason to hate you.”

“...is that all?” Izaya prompts.

“You might have mentioned loving him. Once or twice.”

“I changed my mind, I want more drugs,” Izaya says, and Shinra laughs again.

“It's okay. Really. I already kind of knew. You aren't as hard to read as you think you are,” Shinra says, and Izaya peeks up at him.

“I knew you knew.” Izaya groans and rubs his eyes. “It doesn't matter.”

“It matters,” Shinra says softly. “Loving someone always matters.”

“Oh, shut up,” Izaya says. “Anyway, can I go soon?”

“I want to keep you a little longer. Your wound is still bleeding a bit, and I can't let you go before I know for sure your stitches won't pop open. It'd be bad if your intestines started to escape, you know?”

“I imagine it wouldn't be good.”

“Have you thought of telling him?” Shinra asks. “Shizuo-kun, I mean. You could tell him.”

“And then what?” Izaya prompts. “He wouldn't believe me, and I wouldn't blame him. No, it's better he not know. I'm glad he wasn't in the room when I was out of it.”

Shinra sighs. “I wish he would have been.”

The day passes slowly. Izaya replies to messages on his phone, barks at Shinra for a charger when his phone starts to die. He and Shinra play cards, and Izaya's chest clenches when he thinks of how long it's been since he spent time with Shinra like this.

“You know, you can come over sometime,” Shinra says, clearly thinking the same. “I'd like that.”

“Your girlfriend hates me,” Izaya says.

“You think everyone hates you. You think it before they even know you. Besides, Celty is a forgiving angel. She doesn't hate anyone. Except, well, I guess she hates cops.”

When the sun starts to set, Shizuo comes back. Izaya pretends to be asleep, but Shizuo isn't having it. He shakes Izaya roughly until Izaya looks up at him through narrowed eyes.

“What?” Izaya asks, and Shizuo glares at him.

“Why'd you save my brother?”

“I told you, I don't know!” Izaya hisses, and he tries to roll away from Shizuo.

“Well, I decided I'm not leaving until you tell me!” Shizuo replies.

Izaya groans at the ceiling, and then he turns to Shizuo.

“You got me. I saved him so you'd owe me one. Now, I can ask you to do anything, and you have to do it.”

“Bullshit,” Shizuo says. “You think I don't know when you're lying? I can tell.”

“I don't know why,” Izaya says.

“Bullshit,” Shizuo says again.

“I don't know what you want me to say. You won't believe me no matter what my answer is.”

“You could try telling the truth. You know, for once.”

Izaya turns over and pulls his pillow over his head, refusing to answer. True to his word, Shizuo plops down into the chair Shinra was occupying earlier and refuses to leave.

“Are you staying for dinner?” Shinra asks a bit later.

“I guess,” Shizuo says.

“I always wanted us all to hang out!” Shinra says happily, and Shizuo and Izaya tell him to 'shut the fuck up' at the same time.

After dinner, and after Shinra offers to hand-feed Izaya for the tenth time, Shizuo winds up falling asleep on the chair, his arms crossed across his chest, his head lolling to the side. Even asleep, he looks irritated. It's not the first time Izaya's seen his sleeping face, but it's interesting nonetheless.

“I guess he's staying,” Shinra says, entering the room. He tosses a blanket over Shizuo. “I think this is progress.”

“He's just a stubborn monster,” Izaya mutters, and when Shinra leaves the room and turns the light out, Izaya is left listening to Shizuo's quiet breathing.

It's been a long time since Izaya slept in the same room as someone. He's used to his sisters falling asleep on him, and he's stayed with Shinra a few times, but this is something new. His worst enemy is unconscious next to him. Izaya knows he should be taking advantage of this, but he doesn't. He spends his time scrolling through his phone, and when he's bored of that, he watches Shizuo sleep. It's creepy, he knows it is. Izaya's always watched people because it's easier than interacting with them. Like this, it's almost like they could be friends, neither of them talking or arguing.

Shizuo twitches in his sleep and makes a noise, and Izaya tears his eyes away.

“I saved him for you,” Izaya whispers, knowing Shizuo won't hear him anyway. After a few minutes, Izaya sits up and carefully detaches himself from various wires. He can't stay here anymore, stitches be damned. He steps past Shizuo and pads down the hallway, collecting his things before he exits the apartment and arranges for someone to pick him up.

It's easier to be alone.

***

A week passes. Izaya works from his bed, relents to letting Shinra come give him checkups, and tortures Namie into bringing him things. By the end of the week, Namie is threatening to smother him with a pillow, which is actually pretty tame for her. Izaya isn't too worried about it. He knows she carries a paralyzing serum with her, after all. The fact she hasn't used it yet means she doesn't hate him too much.

She tells him she's leaving for the day, and he grunts at her, his eyes glued to the screen of his tablet. He's reading about Kasuka's latest gig, silently appraising the raise of security around Kasuka since the incident. Izaya's sisters have since cursed him, saying they'll never get through all the people around Kasuka now. Kasuka recently sent Izaya a fruit basket, and Izaya considers calling to Namie to bring him a pear, but he thinks better of it. She's pretty pissed at him already.

Next thing he knows, someone is in the doorway of his bedroom, loudly crunching on an apple.

“Shizu-chan,” Izaya says, setting the tablet down.

“That lady let me in,” Shizuo says as he strides across the room. “Did Kasuka send you this? The arrangement looked expensive.”

“He did. I don't suppose I could convince you to bring me a pear?” Izaya asks.

“I'll bring you one if you answer my questions honestly,” Shizuo says.

“Still caught up on that, huh? I've already said all there is to say.”

“Your loss, I guess,” Shizuo says with a shrug. “I'll start eating the pears next.”

“I hate you,” Izaya hisses. He crosses his arms and grumbles. “I wish I'd let your brother get stabbed instead.”

“Yeah, well. You didn't.”

“I should have. I wanted to.”

“Did you? Want to?”

Izaya exhales loudly and dramatically. “No. You wouldn't have let my sisters get stabbed. It's the same.”

“Yeah, but... It's not the same,” Shizuo says. “Kasuka is a grown man, and he's supposed to have guards on him. He's supposed to have people. Your sisters don't have anyone but you, and sometimes you're...”

“Inadequate?” Izaya asks.

“One person,” Shizuo corrects. “You're one person, and they escape where you can watch.”

“Dota-chin helps them, too. A lot of people do. I appreciate it, even if I don't say so.” Izaya groans and rubs at his wound under his shirt.

“Does it still hurt?” Shizuo asks.

“Yes. It's not too bad, though.”

“Shinra told me he took a knife for you once. It was crazy. I was pissed at him because I thought, if someone had just killed you then, I wouldn't have had to meet you at all.”

“I might have died,” Izaya says. “Nakura-kun hated me. He might have aimed somewhere more lethal the second time.”

“You didn't care though, did you? You wouldn't have cared if he wanted to kill you. You never cared when I wanted to,” Shizuo says.

“Who can say?” Izaya asks, and then he smiles. “I might have cared a little.”

“I don't want to hate you anymore,” Shizuo says. “You saved Kasuka. No matter what your reasons were, you saved him. And even before... Before, I was thinking I didn't want to hate you. It just seems like if we stay this way...”

“We'll die?” Izaya asks. Shizuo nods.

“I don't want to kill you, and I don't want you to kill me. I don't want to explain to your sisters that I murdered you.”

“So then, what do you propose?” Izaya asks.

“A truce? We can... I guess we don't have to be friends, but we could try not to kill each other. How's that?” Shizuo asks.

“That's fine. Whatever.” Izaya stretches, and then he pouts at Shizuo. “Now can you bring me a pear?”

“Brat,” Shizuo says, but he does just that.

They spend hours together. Izaya has a TV in his room for just this occasion, him getting injured and being bed-bound. Shizuo likes trash TV as it turns out, and Izaya delights in making fun of him for it. By the time Izaya's eyes are drooping, Shizuo is already hunched over, resting his head on Izaya's bed.

“You can stay. If you want.” Izaya wants to rest his hand on Shizuo's head, but he resists. “It's pretty late.”

“Yeah. I will, then,” Shizuo says, and Izaya expects Shizuo to either go down to the couch, or to the guest bedroom, but instead, Shizuo is climbing in bed next to Izaya and settling in.

“I hope your monster scent washes out with regular detergent,” Izaya mutters, hating the way his heart soars and then pounds in his ears at Shizuo's close proximity.

“Oh, fuck you,” Shizuo says, but he doesn't sound mad.

They're quiet for a while, and Izaya thinks maybe Shizuo has fallen asleep, but then Shizuo laughs softly in the darkness of the room.

“What is it?” Izaya asks.

“Just this. Us. If we tried to talk sooner, maybe we could've avoided a lot of things.”

“You wouldn't have listened. I wouldn't have listened either,” Izaya says.

“I know. It had to be this way.” Shizuo hums, and then he moves closer, tossing an arm over Izaya, who tenses up at the contact. “Is this okay?”

“Okay?”

“It doesn't hurt?”

“Oh. No, I mean, it's fine. This is fine.”

Shizuo laughs, moving closer. He inhales Izaya's hair, nuzzles into it.

“For a smart guy, you're an idiot, you know?”

“How so?” Izaya asks, bristling.

“You just are. You're easy to read.”

“I am not!”

“Mm.” Shizuo pulls Izaya closer, and Izaya wills himself to calm down or die, either would be fine at this point. “Tell me, why'd you save my brother?”

“Because I wanted to,” Izaya says, finding there is truth in that answer.

“Okay,” Shizuo murmurs. “That's good enough for me.”

Shizuo's lips press to Izaya's, and Izaya gasps softly, his hands on Shizuo's shoulders.

“I already know why, anyway,” Shizuo says, and Izaya pulls him into another kiss before they can argue.