Shizuo didn't really know how to react.
"Are you...?"
She sat down, but then she edged farther away from him.
"I...I just want to talk." She sighed.
"I'm not going to pretend I'm not afraid of you. After what you did to my son, I don't think I could ever forgive you." She started.
"That's fair enough." Shizuo said, laughing lightheartedly.
"Right off the bat, I wanted to give this to you." She said, handing over a set of keys.
"These are the keys to my husband's spare house." She added.
Shizuo took a second to register what she had said. "No. No no no. I can't take this. Mrs Midoriya."
"Just call me Inko. And just take it, you need it." Inko pushed.
"I'm not the type to take something and give nothing in return. I won't ever be able to repay you." Shizuo replied, pushing Inko's hand away.
"Yes you can. I only have one condition."
Shizuo didn't say anything.
"You stay away from my son."
"That's it?" Shizuo asked.
Inko chuckled. "Were you expecting more? Yes. That's it."
"I..." Shizuo was at a short loss of words. Staying away from Midoriya wasn't a problem. He would've done the same regardless. But he couldn't just take this.
"Don't pretend you don't want this. Izuku told me. I wasn't too sure whether to believe him, but seeing you here, I'm sure now."
"But still...why? To you, I should be a monster that is threatening your son's safety. Not someone you feel bad for." Shizuo asked.
"From what I've seen, you do seem like a good person, but because of what you have done... Look. I don't want to sympathize with a criminal, but I still want to give you this. I want you to stand up straight again, as a better person." Inko stated.
For a split second, Shizuo was reminded of the flea.
"I'll take the key, but you should have a talk with your son. I can't really stay away if he doesn't, can I?" Shizuo questioned.
Inko smiles bitterly. "I did. He didn't take it all too well. He keeps saying he wants to save you and whatnot."
Shizuo freezes. Save him? He was a monster. He could never understand what was going in that kid's mind.
"And, I wanted to give you this." Inko reached into her bag and pulled one of those rectangle devices Shizuo always saw people holding.
"What is this?" Shizuo asked.
"It's a phone. Basically a more advanced version of the flip phone you have." Inko said, pointing at the phone poking out of Shizuo's pocket.
"I can't take this. The apartment is enough." Shizuo refused.
"You have to. The address is inside. Here, I'll teach you." Inko offered.
After a quick lesson, Shizuo had all the basics down. But he still had a lot to learn about this world, he continued to explore the new advanced technology . And amidst of all his confusion, Inko put the key in Shizuo's hand. "I'll be going."
"..."
Shizuo tossed the keys in his hand up and down. Now, the problem of where he was going to live was solved, the next thing on the list is to find a job. He sighed. He doubted he was going to find a job now that he had a criminal record. He thought about being a bartender again, but remembered the flea. He checked his phone again, to make sure he was on the right track.
Suddenly, he saw a shadow of someone very familiar.
"Would you care to explain why your motorcycle has no lights or license plate? This would cause quite a concern to others."
"I'm sorry sir, can you let it slide once?"
"Sorry, but no can do lady. Also, can you take of the helmet? I'm speaking to you. It's common courtesy to take off your helmet when talking to someone." The officer pointed at Celty's helmet.
"I...I think it would scare you."
"Oh yeah? Try me then."
Celty hesitated, but reluctantly did so. Based on what she had seen, some people had rather strange looks, unless it was cosplay, that is.
Celty took off her helmet to reveal a neck, but with nothing but black smoke above it.
"A dullahan? That's one I haven't seen. So that's why you can't talk."
Celty was in shock. She at least expected the officer to be a little surprised, but he was unfazed. What kind of world was she in?
"Are you going to say anything?"
"Oh right. This isn't really a motorcycle, it's a horse, it just took shape in a motorcycle."
Celty walked over and patted the seat of the motorcycle, and sure enough, it turned black and into a horse. A headless horse.
"I see...now, I don't have any records of your name, so you're probably not from around here, since this is your first offence, I'll let this slide."
"Thanks officer!"
"I'm not done speaking yet. As I was saying, I let this slide. But get an actual motorcycle, not a horse."
"Got it."
"You're free to go."
Celty thanked the officer as she put her helmet back on.
He was so nice! Unlike the man on the white motorbike... Celty got the shudders when she remembered the scary man.
"Celty!"
Eh? Was someone calling her?
"Celty!" Celty turned around, and saw Shizuo jogging up to him.
"Shizuo?!" Celty immediately typed out.
"Yeah. It's me. Man, it's good to see a friend out here." Shizuo said, chuckling under his breath.
"You're here!?"
"What's wrong? Why are you so surprised?"
"You and Izaya went missing back in Ikebukuro!"
A/N: I am not good with cliff hangers.
