Hachimenroppi initially thought seeing his closest friend fall into a relationship was a good thing. Izaya had finally found someone, out of all his beloved humans, to call his own. That was fine, Roppi was mostly okay with it, even though when he thought of Izaya being with someone it was usually him. Some may even go as far as to say he was happy for Izaya; after all the informant was a infamous and widely hated person. It was good that he had another person on his side, besides Roppi himself, right?
Again, that's what he initially thought. Slowly, Izaya began to invest more time in Delic and their relationship, rather than Roppi and his job. He began canceling meetings with clients, slowly stopped harassing Shizuo, and began to develop a softer side. Izaya also started spending more time at home but refused to invite Roppi over and that pissed him off. After everything he'd given Izaya, he got tossed away like trash?
Then, the kicker was when Izaya, one day out of the blue, asked for the duplicate key to his apartment he'd given Roppi. Apparently, Delic didn't want any potential interruptions while they were together; Roppi had hung up on him right then and there, fuming. He couldn't believe that Izaya had the nerve to even ask. He wasn't going to give up that key; that was a symbol of their relationship. Even though most of the time Izaya left his door open, him giving Roppi the key to his house meant so much. Especially to Roppi himself... After all, he was in love with his best friend. He didn't know how, he didn't know when, but one day, he'd realized that while everyone else seemed to be in black and white, Izaya was the only person he saw in full color. He was the only who stood amongst the crowd. He began loving the little things Izaya did, the things everyone else found annoying. Yet he kept it to himself. He could never have Izaya. Not in the way he wanted. So he kept quiet, and played the role of supportive best friend. Izaya never even noticed.
But this thing with Delic, it was getting on Roppi's last nerve. The handful of times he'd met Delic, was more than he'd ever needed. Delic was loud, unashamed, and way too into music. He was bordering on obnoxious. He didn't see what Izaya saw and yet they were going on a year in a few days.
He wanted them to be over. He wanted Izaya to himself again, in a world where everyone hated him. Where it was Izaya and Roppi vs everyone else. He wanted to be the only one in Izaya's life. Roppi wanted to be with him. And as Roppi secretly watched Izaya and Delic go on dates and stay in at home or even get intimate, he came to a conclusion. He would need to cut Delic out of the picture. Literally. Izaya wouldn't let Delic go any other way.
Izaya had to admit, he'd been starting to think he'd never get into a real romantic relationship. And why wouldn't he? All of human kind hated him on some level for all the shit he caused, and while he might've had a little interest in Shizuo - he knew those feelings would never be returned.
But then, he met the blonde's cousin - Delic. And he was everything Shizuo wasn't. But it was a good thing. Because unlike the other Heiwajima, Delic would actually want Izaya around. He made it clear from the moment they met how attracted to the informant he was. He even renounced his playboy ways just to have a real relationship with Izaya, and the raven couldn't have believed himself to be any more fortunate.
However... not everything was all sunshine forever. He realized the strain he'd been putting on his friendship with his own cousin, Hachimenroppi, ever since he got with Delic officially. And the possessive blonde always wanted Izaya for himself, so it meant less and less time for him to be around anyone else. Maybe Delic had even picked up on Roppi's feelings first, because he demanded Izaya ask for his apartment key back. And when Roppi angrily hung up on him... that was when he started to realize.
But they were cousins! And he was happy to be with Delic. Izaya sighed, shaking pestering thoughts out of his head as he aimlessly flipped through TV channels. Delic was out on the balcony right now, smoking a cigarette. A habit Izaya never liked.
Roppi was sitting in the spare room he'd claimed for himself years ago, the TV on and lowered so that he could keep an ear out for Izaya. Roppi had snuck back into the house when Izaya had gone out, most likely with Delic. He was in the kitchen eating when the pair had come back and spotted him almost immediately. Roppi had then thrown his half eaten sandwich away and sauntered out of the area, tossing over his shoulder "I'll stay in my room. You guys do whatever. I'll stay out of your way." Before either of them were able to say anything. That was hours ago. Roppi had been confined to the room heard the balcony door since then, and he wasn't exactly happy about. A virtual stranger was taking over his spot in Izaya's life, the spot he'd carved for himself over the years, in just under a year. It made his blood boil just thinking about it.
Roppi had heard the balcony door slide open, and he sat up from where he'd flung himself on the bed. He had come up with the idea to mess with Izaya's head a little bit as he had sat there in the dark room. Just enough to start him doubting Delic. That was where it'd all begin.
So Roppi began to put his plan into action, carefully opening his bedroom door and creeping down the hallway, past the tall glass doors that led outside. He looked over at where Izaya was spread out all over the couch flicking through the channels, and for the first time in a while, smiled to himself. He hopped over the back of the couch, landing right next to Izaya. "Hey there, Izaya~" Roppi purred, getting as close to his cousin as possible without making it weird. "How's it going with Delic?" He questioned innocently, raising his eyebrows. "I haven't seen him in a while. I hope everything is okay between you two? I was worried you'd caught Delic cheating or something and decided to cut him off."
Izaya could sense Roppi's presence before he even spoke, or made his way near the couch. Normally he would've welcomed it, but he read Roppi way better than any other person. And he could tell his intentions weren't just for friendly conversation. An eyebrow raised, he placed the remote back down on the couch beside him and looked at the other raven.
"Everything's fine, why do you ask? Delic wouldn't cheat, Roppi, you've got the wrong idea about him..."
"He wouldn't, you say." Roppi muttered, grinding his teeth together in annoyance. "Yet, have you ever asked why his past relationships never worked? Why they were always so... Short lived?" He said, pulling his facade back into place. While Izaya must have caught wind of his feelings, maybe even his intentions, Roppi doubted he knew everything. He just had to keep playing dumb; playing innocent. He just needed to set his pawns up in the right way so when he was ready, they'd all fall and take each other down. It would be beautiful. And Roppi, because he loved Izaya so much, would help him stand again. But only if Roppi could remain at his side forever. That was his condition. If not... Well then, Roppi would have to force him down a peg or two and make Izaya depend on him.
Roppi focused his attention back on Izaya, staring at him in mock concern. "Maybe you should talk to him about that, or maybe even check into his background a little. Some digging never hurt anybody~" Roppi said, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm just trying to look out for you. After all, no one can change that quickly. Delic is lying to you about something."
Izaya caught wind of what Roppi was doing, they were related after all. Sometimes he asked Roppi to help him with work in the past and go out impersonating him, and Roppi always did it. Why? The answer was obvious.
So he was obviously trained by the best when it came to toying with emotions and making everything work out in his favor. However... using Delic was inexcusable. After all, Izaya loved the blonde… didn't he?
"I'm aware of Delic's past... but he's renounced his ways, and I'm inclined to believe him. After all, he's never out partying anymore and I'm with him when he DJs at PsycheDelic Dreams. If anything, Delic is the one who rarely lets me out of his sight." He could read the annoyance in Roppi's vibrant crimson eyes, and suppressed his smirk.
Roppi narrowed his eyes at Izaya, finding his opening. "Maybe the reason he keeps you so close," Roppi said, inching closer, "is because your perspective is cut short when there's something in your way." Roppi could kiss himself for thinking of that on the spot. "Think about it!" Roppi insisted, looking toward the glass doors where Delic had stepped outside. He needed to put these thoughts into Izaya's head and then beat it; He didn't want to have to keep up 'small talk' with Delic, nor did he even want to see his face. If he did, Roppi was a little worried he'd end up cutting it off. As much as he wanted to spend time with Izaya, he wanted to do it with no other people hanging around. So he just had to wait. "When you're as smothered by someone as you are with Delic, that person won't be able to see past what they want to see. If you're catching my drift, here." Roppi said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Basically, what I'm saying is, you can't see Delic's true self or even his intentions because you're blinded by love," Roppi's lip curled in disgust at just the thought of it, "but unlike you, I can see everything clearly. I have no bias toward him, and I can see everything he's doing." He stated triumphantly. "Ask him about the cute young guy with the white jacket and pink headphones, Izaya. Watch him freeze and come up with an excuse." Roppi smiled at Izaya, leaning to kiss his cheek. And it wasn't a friendly smile. Not at all. It was completely vicious.
It was because he knew that that little tidbit of info would be all Izaya needed to start questioning himself and Delic. Even though Izaya prided himself on finding humans fascinating and their emotions and actions exciting, he sometimes forgot he was one too. And jealousy and doubt was one of the more simple emotions. With a few well-placed words, anyone could experience it. You just had to know what buttons to push. Roppi stood up from the couch, straightening out his shirt, then walked over to hallway leading to his room.
"Test out my little theory. If he passes, I won't bring this up any more. If not... Well," Roppi turned to smirk at Izaya.
"You know where to find me."
Yes, but you a bias towards me.
You love me.
Was what Izaya wanted to say. However, he froze upon hearing those final words. Suddenly Izaya wasn't so cool and confident.
"Psyche...?" The android Shinra had built for him... could their close friendship possibly secretly be something more? He never thought about it until now. Psyche seemed too loyal to do such a thing. But Delic did often call him things like cute and adorable... and they did hang out and even work together quite often...
Before he could say anything more, Roppi was gone. And Delic returned. Izaya didn't like this, not one bit. He was used to being the one in charge, playing everyone else like pawns on a chess board. Now... Roppi was resembling him a little too much. Dare he say, he was a little attracted to it.
"Delic..."
He knew the blonde couldn't sense his internal conflict, Delic unfortunately had the same intelligence as that protozoan he used to fight daily. But that could also work to his advantage, being that he couldn't trick someone as smart as Izaya Orihara for very long.
Focus...
He told himself.
He knew that letting his thoughts run wild would mess things up terribly. If something really was going on with Psyche and Delic, he wanted it to appear as if he had no suspicions at all. He wanted to hear Delic confess without being accused.
So he kept a calm demeanor, since putting up a facade was never difficult for the informant. "You've got work again with Psyche tomorrow, don't you? How are you two, anyway?"
Delic plopped down next to Izaya, casually slinging an arm across his shoulders. "Psyche? Yeah, I got work with that cutie again tomorrow." He said, twirling a piece of Izaya's hair between his fingers. "And we're pretty good. I missed him a lot. We have a lot to catch up on…"
"Oh, hey…" Delic said, turning to face Izaya. "Is it okay if Psyche and I hang tomorrow night? It's just that it's been awhile since I've seen him and well..." He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck. "You okay with that? We didn't have anything planned anyways, right?"
Izaya didn't dare let the pang in his heart show in his facial expression. After all, that'd give away that something was wrong. And nothing was supposed to be wrong in Delic's eyes. Yes... Izaya had himself convinced he was still in control, just as always.
"Sure, I don't see why not. I'm sure he's missed you, you're like his best friend you know..." He looked down at his lap, trying to play it cool when he continued.
"I actually thought I'd pay Shinra a visit tomorrow."
Boom.
Delic was always jealous of him with Shinra, because he knew Shinra and him had a thing in high school and feelings were never fully buried on Shinra's side.
Delic paused, looking over at Izaya after statement, a swirl of jealousy pulsing through him. "Oh?" He said, removing his arm from around Izaya slowly. "What will you be doing there?" He asked as he picked up the remote and began flicking through the channels.
"If that's the case, then maybe I'll spend the night with Psyche." Delic said, finally settling on something to watch. "That sound okay?"
"Sure, why not?" Izaya smirked slightly. "I've gotten used to not being alone at night, though, so I suppose I'll have to sleep over Shinra's if you were to stay at Psyche's..."
He eyed the blonde. "Of course, I assumed you'd much rather spent the night with me... Considering we can do different activities than you can with Psyche~."
Delic stiffened, turning to look at Izaya once more.
"Go right ahead then." He ground out, standing up swiftly from the couch and marching into the kitchen. "While you're there…" Delic started as he rummaged around the fridge, pulling out a beer and slamming the door closed, feeling slightly satisfied at hearing it squeak on its hinges. "Tell Shinra Psyche is due for an update soon. He was telling me about it last time we were together." He said as he returned to the living room, plopping back down on the couch, much farther from Izaya than he just had been. "Maybe I'll bring Psyche to the petting zoo or something," Delic mused out loud. "He texted me a few days ago talking about wanting to see some bunnies and stuff."
"I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time." He answered rather bitterly. Izaya could feel Delic's eyes on him, breathing a long sigh. This was all in his head, and he was playing right into Roppi's hands. How foolish of him. This is something a Heiwajima would do, not an Orihara.
He forced himself calm down, putting on a small smile as he scooted over down the couch and placed a hand on the blonde's chest, leaning in towards him a bit as if to place subliminal messages of seduction in his mind. "I'm sorry, Delic. Maybe I was letting my jealousy get the best of me. After all, you two are pretty close.. I can't really help it." He traced his finger up and down. "When was the last time we went out?"
Delic deflated, feeling Izaya's hands on him and hearing his words. He turned toward the dark haired man, opening his arms so he could hold him more comfortably. "It's fine," He grumbled, running his fingers up and down the length of Izaya's arm. "Just a little out of character, no? Where is this coming from?" He said, ignoring Izaya's last question. He kissed Izaya's cheek, wanting him to look at him, waiting patiently until he did so. "I only love you. I love Psyche too.. But not in the way I do you. He is, and will always just be, a close friend of mine." Delic said firmly, looking Izaya in the eyes.
Back in the bedroom, Roppi sat slumped against the wall, having started pacing when he heard Izaya apologize. It had been going great until- Until Izaya realized something. Roppi figured it was something along the lines of him noticing he had fell right into his game. While Roppi appreciated how sharp Izaya was, it was quite annoying at the moment. He just had to go ruin it. Roppi banged his head against the wall, feeling his irritation grow. He had to calm down before he did something that he would later regret. He had to think. Plan A failed, he just had to think of another way to put an end to the disgusting duo taking up the couch in the living room.
Roppi groaned, resting his head against the wall and closing his eyes. Fucking Delic.
The only way Izaya would believe Delic was being unfaithful now is if he caught him in the act. That would take some intricate planning but... It could be done.
"I hope so. I only love you as well, Delic." Izaya had some idea Roppi could hear them all the way from his room, and this brought a smirk to his face. He was going to have to try harder than that if he was to break them up, wasn't he~? Yet again, Izaya was the man in charge.
"Forget about it." He waved a hand nonchalantly.
"For now..." Crimson hues looked the blonde up and down before leaning all the way in, connecting their lips in a kiss to indicate what he wanted - something even Delic could understand.
Delic couldn't respond because suddenly he had a mouthful of Izaya, yet he had no complaints. There was no need for talking anymore, anyways. He kissed back almost immediately, his hands going to bury themselves in Izaya's dark locks and tongue darting out to lick across the informant's bottom lip. Yeah, words were overrated anyways.
Roppi watched Delic and Izaya make out from where he'd snuck down the hallway, jealousy burning through every fiber of his being. He couldn't help but stare at where Delic had his hands on Izaya, the urge to rip them off growing stronger every minute. He could make Izaya feel better than Delic ever could, whether it be physically or emotionally. Yet it was Delic on the couch, tasting and touching what was rightfully his. It made his blood boil. He ground his teeth together, trying to hold back his anger. He stalked back to his room, trying not to slam the door behind himself. It was childish, after all.
Roppi gathered his phone, keys, and coat, deciding on a plan of action. He'd go and pay Psyche a little visit. From there he wasn't sure if he should threaten him as Izaya or, put the thought into his head that Delic was planning to leave him behind. If he went with the first option, Psyche would obviously run to Delic and tell him everything. Delic would automatically side with his best friend. He had known Psyche longer than Izaya, after all. And it wouldn't be out of character for Izaya to threaten someone, especially Psyche. After all, he'd made it very clear he was jealous of Psyche...
If Roppi went with the second option, Psyche would be doing most of his dirty work from there. Roppi isn't dumb; and neither is Izaya. Psyche is totally and completely in love with Delic. He can see it in the way the android looks at Delic and follows him around and even in the way he clings to Delic. It's disgustingly cute. And kind of pathetic. If Psyche were to get the idea that Delic was "leaving" him, who knows how the little android would react? He'd probably get desperate, and may even confess his feelings for Delic. All Roppi would have to do from there is make sure Izaya saw it all.~
Either option proved to be an exciting route. Roppi felt so confident in both that he hadn't felt the need to choose one just yet. He decided he would choose one on the way to Psyche's place. He strolled down the hallway, stopping in the living room once again and cleared his throat, breaking the couple apart. "I'm going out, you digusting creatures," Roppi said, letting his lip curl up in disgust. "Please, don't defile the couch. I'll be back in a few hours." He eyed Izaya, then tucked his hands into his coat pockets and exited the apartment.
He really couldn't wait to tear the two apart.
