Bound by Fate

I Feel Like We've Been Here Before...

Shizuo sat across from Izaya in a corner booth at Russia Sushi - the restaurant that Izaya had mentioned. The blonde was trying to hold back an overly amused chuckle that threatened to sneak out as he watched his date stare in wonder at the tall black Russian sushi chef behind the counter. "You've really never been here before, have you?" he asked through a chuckle.

Izaya shook his head absently before turning his attention back to the blonde across from him. "It's so interesting here!" he exclaimed with sparkling eyes, leaning in toward Shizuo excitedly. "Why have I only just discovered how many fascinating humans there are in Ikebukuro?"

The blonde raised an amused eyebrow as he smiled at the exceedingly happy look on Izaya's face. "You really like to people watch, don't you?" Shizuo asked, leaning an elbow on the table while they waited for their food.

Izaya nodded in response, his eyes continuing to search the restaurant. "Humans are the most interesting creatures you can hope to come across. They're all different yet the same. Some follow their heads, while other listen to their hearts; but they're all driven by the same basic instincts: money, power, pride, fear, sex... love." He paused, his eyes flickering to Shizuo so quickly the blonde almost missed it. "No matter what, there is always something to see. Something to remember. Humans are so predictable but infinitely amusing. I love them all!" Izaya paused again, seeming to struggle with a thought before his crimson gaze fell steadily on Shizuo. "And, yet there are moments, rare and beautiful, where something or someone surprises me. And even rarer and more beautiful still, that I come across someone so unique that I can't help but study them up close. Someone who can surprise me to the point that I'm left breathless."

Shizuo bit his lower lip to hold back a self satisfied smirk as he reached across the table to just barely graze his fingers against Izaya's. "Is that something that happens often?" the blonde asked playfully, glancing sidelong at the sushi chef before returning his amused eyes to the intense russet gaze across from him. "I mean, does Simon leave you breathless?"

Izaya shook his head and chuckled quietly. "He does not. And, no. It does not happen often," the brunette responded, his voice turning serious. "In fact, it's only ever happened once. Oh, yes. People have surprised me every once in a while but nothing like I have experienced recently. No one has ever left me dumbstruck. No one has ever pulled me in so close. I've never wanted to open up to anyone. Feel vulnerable around anyone. I... I like to think my love for humans is equal. I don't feel stronger for any one individual." Izaya pauses to bite his lip before continuing. "That is until you. Heiwajima Shizuo threw my whole life off kilter. Meeting you was the biggest surprise of my life."

Shizuo's breath caught in his throat as Izaya narrowed his eyes and seemed to study him. "You say that like it's a bad thing. I feel like I should apologize for some reason," the blonde said with a nervous laugh.

"Oh, no! I didn't mean it like that at all. It's just a new feeling for me. It's disorienting," Izaya admitted, his eyes softening as he met Shizuo's gentle eyes. "Intoxicating, even. I'm very happy that you found your way into my life, Shizuo. I feel like I was missing something but didn't realize it until I wandered into your bar."

Shizuo felt his heart leap in his chest and found that he had couldn't find the words to express what he was thinking. He opened his mouth but nothing came out until he felt Izaya's hand clasp around his. "I know what you mean, Izaya," he said quietly, almost unsure of himself. "At the risk of sounding like a sap... I feel like I've known you a lot longer than I have. I feel like I found a piece of myself when you opened that smart mouth to tell off that asshole who was harassing you."

"Really? That was when you fell for me? When I was telling off another man who was actively hitting on me?" Izaya said with a grin as he leaned into the upturned palm of his free hand. "It wasn't when I told you to surprise me with a drink?"