It feels as though the air is carrying him through the last of his routine for the evening. His body remembers each step and the energy flows out his fingertips and toes so freely he doesn't feel like he's been working for the past eight hours. With how good he's feeling he'd normally spend at least another two hours in the studio - but not tonight. Tonight, Izaya has a hot date.
In the solitude of the empty studio, Izaya has no need to try and pretend he's not excited. He practically flies out of his last spin and into his coat. He almost forgets to change out of his point shoes in his rush for the door. It's been two weeks since he's seen Shizuo because Izaya couldn't put off rehearsal anymore. Izaya's show is next week and he needs to be certain he's ready. Taking a couple days off must have done Izaya more good than he thought it would because his routine is better than ever. Not that Izaya will ever admit to Shinra's face that he was right about Izaya needing a break.
He's been texting Shizuo a little during their time apart but not much. Izaya doesn't want to appear too eager and Shizuo doesn't ever text him unless Izaya texts first, unfortunately. But this morning Shizuo did text first. Izaya remembers the message exactly, right down to Shizuo's lack of grammar.
[not working tonight are you free]
It wasn't exactly the message of Izaya's fantasies but it's also not too far off. Quite a few of the fantasies that Izaya has about them hooking-up start with a text. To Izaya's disappointment, this text did not come with an attached image of Shizuo's dick but, oh well, it's a good enough start. Of course, Izaya waited a full fifteen minutes before he responded.
[A little late notice but I think I can pencil you in.]
Despite his aloof act he ended up inviting Shizuo to his apartment, completely casually, of course. He also had everything they would need for a small hot-pot delivered. But, y'know. Casually.
They agreed to meet outside of Izaya's studio since he lives so close to it. When Izaya steps out into the cold, grey evening and sees Shizuo waiting out on the street corner the man doesn't look nearly as uncomfortable as Izaya expected he would be in this part of town. Perhaps Shizuo has some hidden experience in high-end places after all?
Shizuo turns his head at the sound of Izaya exiting the building with a cigarette hanging off his lips. He puffs out a bit of smoke and nods in acknowledgment as Izaya approaches him. The giddy excitement in Izaya's chest winds tighter with every step he takes closer to Shizuo.
"Nice place," Shizuo comments but he's not looking at the building. He… he probably had plenty of time to appreciate the architecture.
Izaya hums and unconsciously fiddles with the fur on the inside of one of the cuffs on his jacket. "Do you want to look around inside?"
"Hm…" Shizuo considers it, looking at the grey sky while Izaya appreciates the bludge of his Adam's apple. "Yeah, alright."
Izaya steps aside and opens the door with a flourish for Shizuo.
Inside the studio, Shizuo looks around with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He takes in the large, empty space with slow steps. First, he looks at the floor-to-ceiling windows. The studio isn't at the top of the building but Izaya still loves the big windows and he's sure Shizuo will be impressed.
Then Shizuo meanders closer to the mirrors that line the wall adjacent to the windows. They're spotless and make the space appear even bigger than it actually is. Izaya follows a few paces behind Shizuo, paying more attention to the soft footsteps than the studio he knows far too well already.
Shizuo stops in the center of the room and is considering himself in the mirror. It doesn't appear to be out of vanity as Izaya eyes Shizuo's body language and his thoughtful expression.
"It's nice," Shizuo says, still looking into the mirror. "Do you like it here?"
Izaya almost says 'of course' automatically but he presses his lips together tightly before the words come out. There's something in Shizuo's face that he just can't figure out. Something that demands more thought to it than that.
He walks forward until he's standing right next to Shizuo and looks at himself in the mirror too.
Do you like it here?
The exhaustion that clings just beneath Izaya's skin, even on days when he really does feel happy, suggest that it's not as simple as 'of course I like it.'
"... It's a beautiful studio." Izaya decides to say finally. The shape of sincerity his lips looks foreign in this mirror. "The best I've ever been in."
Shizuo nods. "It is," he agrees easily. "... maybe that's why I can't see myself in it."
He glances up at Shizuo's reflection again but he can't see any of the sadness that he feared would be there. Izaya thinks that he looks melancholy or maybe… he's struggling for something. Izaya looks back at his own face and takes a cold breath when he sees the same thing.
The clean lines of the room, everything pristine from floor to ceiling, the wood floors pressed and stained and polished until their gnarly, yet strong origins were erased, the only thing organic in the room being the desperate scuffs on the floor from ballerinas struggling for perfection. Scuffs that will too be erased soon.
Izaya wonders if maybe, just maybe, he's borrowed Shizuo's eyes for a moment.
"But I bet you look beautiful dancing in here," Shizuo whispers.
That strikes something in Izaya. It feels firey like what spurred him into asking his mother about modern dance, but more jaded. Without thinking, he kicks at the floor. His boot lands with a thud that demands Shizuo's attention. It causes the floor to let out a panicked screech and leaves behinds a thick, black scuff against the pale wood.
"I look beautiful everywhere." He says haughtily, tossing his bangs. "Both when I'm matching and contrasting with the place." He looks at Shizuo out of his eye, trying to see if he understands.
Shizuo looks down at the scuff Izaya made on the floor and barks out a laugh.
"Yeah, you're right."
Izaya steps closer and loops his arm through Shizuo's. Shizuo probably doesn't completely understand what Izaya meant, but Izaya doesn't mind. He thinks that there might just be a hundred or more opportunities just like this for them to try and understand each other.
"Of course I'm right. Now let's get out of here, the whole point of hot pot is that it doesn't make itself!"
Shizuo laughs again and lets himself be lead out of the studio by their linked arms. "I thought the point of hot pot was to be social."
Izaya scoff and waves Shizuo off. "You can have hot pot alone and it's still hot pot. But if you don't make it, it's not hot pot."
Pressed against Shizuo's side Izaya doesn't feel the chill of the evening at all as they step outside.
"Couldn't you make that argument for like… anything? Like 'if you don't make a bike, it's not a bike'?"
"That's not the same thing," Izaya has a little spring in his step and he keeps colliding with Shizuo's stable pace with how close they are. "You can have someone else make a bike for you and it's still a bike, but if you don't make the hot pot yourself it isn't hot pot. It's just a meal."
Shizuo hums and seems to consider this point for a little while. They pass ritzy boutiques and overpriced restaurants but Shizuo doesn't so much as glance at any of it.
"What if you're with somebody and they do the cooking and feed it to you? Is that not hot pot?"
Izaya sputters. "Well, I… that's just completely beside the point."
He doesn't have to look to know Shizuo is grinning to himself triumphantly. Leaving Izaya more flustered with hot ears from the idea that was just described than Shizuo's counterpoint itself.
Streetlight and store windows light the sidewalk as the sun sets completely. It doesn't take Izaya nearly this long to walk home alone, surely. Not that he minds the time.
Suddenly, Shizuo laughs and stops, bringing Izaya to a halt with him. Izaya looks over at him curiously to see Shizuo pointing into a boutique window.
"I could totally picture you wearing that." He teases.
Izaya follows his finger to see what Shizuo is talking about. It's a royal blue skirt that looks like it would land just above the knee.
"Excuse me?" Izaya can't help the laugh that's pulled out of him from the absurdity of the notion.
"I saw it out of the corner of my eye and I just got this image of it perfectly."
Embarrassment floods Izaya's face. "Why? Because I do ballet?" He demands.
"No, no," Shizuo denies easily. "Just seemed like it would fit suit you."
"I'm not wearing a skirt." Izaya hisses, giving Shizuo a shove.
The shove makes Shizuo stumble away from Izaya. "I didn't ask you to" Shizuo laughs, rocking back into Izaya's side.
Izaya starts to walk away from Shizuo with a huff but his flaming cheeks aren't warm enough to make up for the loss of Shizuo at his side. Fortunately, it only takes Shizuo two strides to press against him again.
"Not that I wouldn't like it if you did."
Izaya's shoulders hunch on tension and he didn't even know the back of his neck could blush.
"I didn't take you for a pervert." So much for trying to attract Shizuo with cool seduction tonight. Why am I blushing so much?
"I'm not," Just as Shizuo's about to make some kind of defense he's cut of by a fat drop of water on the tip of his nose. It doesn't take more than a few seconds for that single drop to turn into a full-on rainstorm.
They're only two blocks away from Izaya's apartment so they break apart to rush the rest of the way. They track puddles inside the lobby and their shoes squeak all the way to the elevator. As the elevator rises they both take the time to catch their breath, leaning against opposing walls. Despite their efforts, they're both completely soaked.
"Nice place," Shizuo says again. Izaya laughs because Shizuo's only really had the time to look at the inside of this completely average elevator.
The inside of Izaya's apartment catches Shizuo by surprise. He knew Izaya would be living better than himself but not this much better. There's not only a separate space for the bathroom and the kitchen. There's also a separation between where he has a bed and a couch. Shizuo's even willing to be he doesn't sleep on a futon.
They both fumble out of their heavy shoes and coats and Izaya leads the way into the house, visibly shivering from head to toe. Shizuo had thought that it might rain today. It was the way the breeze smelled and the feeling in the air. Perhaps if they didn't take so long in the studio they could have gotten to Izaya's apartment just in time, but Shizuo was too curious.
The place where Izaya danced had been nowhere near as spectacular as he and Vorona joked about it being over dinner last night. They turned it into a game, dreaming up more and more ridiculous things about living big.
But the studio was definitely more beautiful than Shizuo had thought it might actually be. Not fancy, if you don't count the view, but it was just so… pristine. Too pristine. Shizuo had felt like he was staining the place with his presence alone.
Then Izaya put a real stain on the floor and reminded him that contrast could be beautiful too. That made him feel better.
"I'm going t-to change clothes. I don't think I have anything in your size but feel free to try."
"Thanks." Shizuo grunts and follows Izaya towards what must be the bedroom.
He's inside now, not stuck on the street, but Shizuo still associates wet and cold with a death sentence. So, he'd prefer to get out of these clothes.
The first thing that strikes him about the bedroom, besides how dark it is, is that he was right about the bed.
Before he has time to look around Izaya is turning sharply to open the second drawer of a dresser that comes all the way up to his narrow shoulders.
"Maybe some of my workout clothes could stretch to fit you," he says before bending down to pull something out of a lower drawer before scurrying off towards what appears to be another bathroom attached to the bedroom. "Just take your pick."
Shizuo turns back to the dresser to take a look at what Izaya has. He has every intention of searching for something simple that just maybe has a chance of fitting him. But then something more interesting catches his eye.
He dresses quickly and leaves the bedroom to sit on the couch and wait while he tries to force the grin off his face. He's never worn this sort of thing before but there's no time like the present.
He doesn't have to wait long for the sound of Izaya coming out of the bathroom. He manages to flatten his expression as Izaya's footsteps draw closer and round the couch.
"Let's get started on the hot pot. I-."
Izaya pauses as his eyes land on Shizuo, who keeps his expression very neutral.
Then, Izaya bursts out laughing.
"What?" Shizuo asks very seriously and frowns as if he doesn't see what's funny. But he can't help the way the corner of his mouth twitches.
"Wh-what are you- ha- what are you wearing?" Izaya manages to choke out between laughs.
"Clothes?" Shizuo says, keeping up with his confused and slightly offended act. He stands up so Izaya can see it all more clearly. "I don't see what's so funny. I think it looks good."
Izaya laughs even harder and puts his hand over his mouth as if he's trying to contain himself. "No, no it ah- it looks great on you." He giggles with his eyes locked on Shizuo's midriff. "I just wasn't expecting it."
Izaya's lipstick red crop top is stretched across Shizuo's chest, landing much higher up on his long torso than on Izaya's. Shizuo looks down and finally barks out a laugh.
"I've never worn one of these before but it's pretty comfortable." He has the shirt paired with some far less exciting black joggers that only go down to his calves. Despite the pants being much tighter than he'd normally wear they are comfortable as well.
They set up the hot pot on Izaya's coffee table and Shizuo tells stories from his work over the week.
"-and this girl was so drunk she actually started taking off her shirt in the audience. Luckily her friends were there and I mean they were obviously drunk too but they kept her under control for the most part."
"Are there rules against the audience taking their clothes off?" Izaya laughs while they wait for the broth to start boiling. "Seems a bit unfair if only you get to do it."
Shizuo chuckles a bit at that. This is hardly a unique story but when it's so novel to Izaya it's more fun to tell. "I mean, you can up to a certain point. We're not a full nudity club. But as long as she drew the line at topless it would be fine with the club. Still wouldn't advise it though."
"I'll take your word for it," Izaya says with a smile, shaking his head at the ridiculousness of it.
"You don't get to judge," Shizuo scoffs, elbowing Izaya in the side gently. "I haven't even known you that long and I've seen you messy drunk. I'm sure you've done embarrassing stuff like that too."
Izaya flushes a red even prettier than the crop top as he sputters from Shizuo's teasing.
"Well- I-!... I haven't ever… taken my clothes off in public. " Izaya voice tilts up the slightest bit on the end with an uncertainty that makes Shizuo raise his eyebrow.
To Shizuo's knowledge, Izaya hasn't done anything like that. But just because Shizuo didn't see it doesn't mean it hasn't ever happened.
"Right, of course. You just get really clingy."
Shizuo lets himself be shoved off balance by a cherry-red ballerina who can't refute that. Especially when he apparently doesn't remember some of his drunken nights. Shizuo may have regretted it when Izaya got in that taxi alone that night at Celty's but he certainly doesn't regret it now. He would hate it if he fucked someone so gorgeous and they totally forgot about him.
"I can't believe I invited you over just to get bullied." Izaya pouts.
"That's not all you invited me over for. You're also feeding me."
Izaya puffs his cheeks out and adds some cabbage to the now boiling broth. "I think I actually hate you after all."
Shizuo laughs and plucks the cabbage from Izaya's chopsticks and swirls it around in the pot before Izaya can take it.
"Hey-!"
He cuts off Izaya's protest by grabbing his pink, puffy cheeks. "I'm not taking it, I'm just going to feed you. Then you can tell me for sure whether or not it's hot pot."
The color which was fading from Izaya's face come back with a vengeance and Shizuo just can't stop smiling. "Open up, primadonna."
:::
Izaya's long since stopped eating while Shizuo is still shoveling food in his mouth, already on his second bowl of rice too.
"It's better the longer you eat it!"
"It is," Izaya agrees from his slump on Shizuo's shoulder. "But not all of us are bottomless pits." He groans.
"You're just too tiny," Shizuo says with his mouth full of the last of the beef.
"I better be," Izaya chuckles. "My show is next week. But I feel like I just gained five pounds and it's all your fault for stuffing my face."
"You did not," Shizuo scoffs. "And you're not even close to getting fat. You-"
*knock knock knock*
Three slow, polite knocks interrupt Shizuo's next compliment and they both turn towards the noise.
With a petulant groan, Izaya rolls off of Shizuo's shoulder and onto his feet to answer the door. Shizuo turns back to the soup to spoon the flavorful broth over the remainder of his rice. Whatever it is, it's not my business.
But Shizuo can hear Izaya speak in a hushed tone behind him. He can't hear what is said, but he can hear how it is said, and that is enough to have Shizuo on edge. Izaya's low hissing in met with a deep, measured voice. A man who doesn't bother to lower his voice as Izaya does but speaks with a casual softness.
Despite it not being his business, Shizuo manages to catch a few of the man's words
"... now let me in."
"No," comes Izaya's desperate whisper. "Now go home."
The strained plea has Shizuo setting his bowl down and getting up. Shizuo has heard that plea before, from one of his fellow dancers spoken to an entitled audience member who got too close. Vorona took care of it then, but Vorona's not here.
All of Izaya's weight is braced against the front door as he continues to hiss at the man on the other side through the wavering crack in it, like the man on the other side is trying to force his way in. Shizuo approaches Izaya from behind quietly. First, he places a steady hand on Izaya's back between his shoulders to leg Izaya know that he is there. Then, he places the same hand on the door above Izaya's and peers over Izaya's head to take a look at the man that's bothering Swan Lake so much.
"Shizu-!" Izaya gasps and turns towards him, accidentally allowing the man on the other side to push the door a few centimeters before he's stopped by the force of Shizuo's arm.
Shizuo tilts his head as he considers the man who was just trying to force his way into Izaya's house. The man's most striking feature is his pristine, white suit. Closely followed by his pinched face that could rival Shizuo's own in terms of being uninviting.
"Is there a problem here?" Shizuo asks calmly, staring down at the older man. The man has stopped pushing on the door but Shizuo remains firm like a statue.
The man sizes Shizuo up in kind as Izaya whips around to face him again.
"No," The man says, equally calm and using the same measured tone that he used with Izaya. Shizuo clenches his jaw as that voice starts to grate on Shizuo's ears as condescending. "I'm simply here to talk to Izaya in private."
Shizuo takes note of the first-name basis. He continues to stare at the man as he feels for Izaya's response beneath him. Even if he didn't just witness Izaya trying to make the man leave Shizuo is quite sure he would know Izaya doesn't want to talk to this man at all, let alone in private. It's clear in the subtle change of Izaya's breathing, the tension that seems to radiate off of him and vibrate into Shizuo, and the way the subtle contact of the back of Izaya's head to Shizuo's chest as he tries to physically distance himself from the man.
"Hm," Shizuo grunts as he leans forward towards the man, bracing his other hand against the doorframe. "I see. Well, the thing is, I'm not so sure Izaya wants to talk to you."
"My decision was final, Shiki." Izaya's says more strongly than Shizuo was expecting. "There is nothing for us to discuss."
"I want to be certain you have considered all the factors." The man has stopped his stare-down with Shizuo to talk to Izaya again. "Your decision was too impulsive."
The back of Izaya's shoulders touch Shizuo's chest in response to those words before they bunch together. Shizuo doesn't need any more than that to make his choice.
"Maybe you didn't get Izaya's all polite and educated talk, but even I know he told you to fuck off." Shizuo snaps and slams the door before the man can respond with something else that sets them on edge.
Before he can ask Izaya if he overstepped his bounds by getting involved Izaya is reaching out to fumble the lock closed.
"Sorry," Izaya whispers as he steps under Shizuo's still locked arm to walk back into the apartment. "He's never… I really wasn't expecting that. I'm sorry you were here for it."
"I'm not," He follows Izaya back over to the couch. It's possible Izaya could have very well handled that on his own but Shizuo didn't want to wait around to find out. "I wouldn't want you to have to deal with that alone."
Izaya sits on the couch quietly, curling his knees into his chest, and Shizuo sits next to him with his shoulders tilted towards Izaya. "I'm sorry if I overstepped there. I know this is your house and I don't really have the right to-"
"No, you didn't. That was… thanks.
"Anytime."
Shizuo is burning with curiosity over who that was. Ex-lover seems the most obvious but it could always be a crazed fan. Shizuo doesn't actually know how famous Izaya might be, after all. Either way, he shouldn't pry. Even if he's dying to know.
"You want to know who that was, I'm sure."
Shizuo shifts uncomfortably as Izaya reads his mind. But there's no point in denying it so he nods.
"Ex-boyfriend," Izaya sighs. "So cliche, right?"
"... yeah, I guess that was pretty cliche of him." Shizuo grumbles, crossing his arms.
Izaya's laugh has a bit of a bitter edge to it but it's not so bad.
"Yeah, it was. What a mood-killer."
"Well, what do you normally do when you're in a bad mood?"
"... I don't want to tell you, it's embarrassing."
