~Orihara Izaya~
Izaya stood up when the door buzzed. It had been three hours since he'd left Mikado in Ikebukuro and he been starting to worry. Mikado was only meant to go to the doctors and return back to him, that didn't take three hours.
Unless there were a hundred of people at the clinic. Izaya wondered if the teen had gotten his test back, if it had been positive and had ran off somewhere unable to handle the news. Mikado had been on the edge since the whole incident and the man was sure another blow would push him off the edge.
He looked at his intercom and blinked in surprised. As he hoped it was Mikado but the teen was not alone. Kyohei, Erika and Walker were by his side. Izaya frowned noticing the teen's face seemed swollen and bloody.
He opened the door. "Well what a pleasant surprise, I was expecting one person but I get four!" he smirked crossing his arms. Mikado looked at the ground either in shame or anger the man wasn't sure.
"They insisted on taking me home." Mikado muttered under his breath looking up at the man. Izaya's eyes widened, Mikado had been beaten up quite horribly. His face was covered his bruises and cuts on his lip and forehead were crusted with dried blood.
"What happened to you face?" Izaya asked moving so the boy could come inside but much to his annoyance the three others followed him in too. Mikado glanced at the others with conflicted expression. Izaya stepped closer to the teen as he whispered.
"I ran into the Blue Squares."
Izaya narrowed his eyes. He wanted to know more but it was far too risky to speak about it in front of others. "I see. Say, be a dear and go get the first aid kit from upstairs." Izaya said with another smirk and the teen nodded before trotting up the stairs and out of sight.
"So what do I owe the pleasure of having you three visit my apartment?" he turned to Kyohei and the two otakus.
"We're taking Ryugamine-san home once his done here." Kyohei said casually.
"We wanted to take him home right away but he insisted he had to see you." Walker piped up and Erika narrowed her eyes at him.
"Well, I sorry to disappoint you but Mikado won't be leaving here." Izaya smirked leaning against his desk.
"What do you mean!?" Erika demanded and Izaya snickered at her needless anger.
"Because I'm taking care of him for the moment." Izaya picked at his nail slightly as if he were bored.
"What do you mean taking care of him?" Kyohei asked suspiciously and Izaya smirked once again, this time to cover up his irritation.
"Exactly as it sounds." Izaya kicked off his desk and walked around to sit in his chair. "I don't see why it's any of your business honestly."
"It's my business because I wouldn't let you mess with kids anymore. Do you honestly think we could just sit by and watch it happen all over again?" Kyohei snapped glaring at the informant who rolled his eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Izaya said as if he were bored, he glanced towards the stairs wondering if Mikado was listening.
"We're talking about Kida-kun!"
"What happened to Kida was his own fault." Izaya shrugged. He never said he was on the blond's side, he didn't force Saki to give herself to the Blue Squares. He didn't do anything wrong.
Kyohei stalked towards Izaya clenching his fists and Izaya wondered if the man was going to try and hit him. Hurried footsteps filled the apartment
"W-what are you doing!?" Mikado exclaimed breathlessly sliding between the two men. Izaya blinked in shock. The teen had literally bolted down the stairs as fast as he could to…protect Izaya?
Everyone in the room was stunned. "Mikado…" Izaya murmured feeling pretty touched. No one had ever tried to protect him before. But there he was, that short, slightly broken teen standing between him and Kyohei, hands spread wide with a furious expression on his face.
Kyohei looked stunned at the teen as did the two otakus. "I'm only trying to help Ryugamine-kun." The large man said sternly and Mikado bristled with anger.
"Who asked you to!?" he yelled and Izaya sighed. He touched the teen's shoulder comfortingly and Mikado looked at him, surprised. "Izaya…?" he tilted his head and the informant shook his head before turning to Kyohei and the otakus.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to leave." He said sternly his expression hard.
"Fine, we'll leave but I swear if you hurt him in any way I'll tear your balls off and make you eat them" Erika hissed. Izaya watched as all three of his unwanted guests turned their heel and left.
Mikado let out a rather lengthy sigh and relaxed. "My, that was quite the heroic act Mikado." Izaya smirked turning the teen to look at him. He looked exhausted, along with the injuries to his face Izaya could see a dullness to his blue eyes.
"Thank you." Izaya smiled pulling the teen into a hug. Mikado hugged him back and they stayed like that for some time before the man pulled back.
"So, tell me what happened." Izaya said separating from the teen to retrieve the first aid kit. Mikado must have dropped it when rushing down the stairs because the plastic case was now broken on the floor, it's contents spilled everywhere.
"Well I got tested." The teen took out a piece of paper from his pocket as they sat down on the sofa. Izaya stiffened a bit as he waited for the results. "Everything is negative."
Izaya sighed in relief as he poured some rubbing alcohol onto a small towel, soaking it. "That's wonderful news." He smiled happily as he started wiping blood off the teens face.
"Yeah." Mikado flinched as the alcohol reached the cut on his forehead.
"And what happened with the Blue Squares?" Izaya asked after a moment of silence. Mikado's eyes looked down and Izaya's eyes softened. He just looked so downhearted, so sad. So fragile.
"They came up to asking where I had been the last two days and I said I was sick." The teen sad quietly as Izaya finished wiping the rest of the blood of his face, the wounds were fresh and starting to bleed again.
"I…said I had texted Aoba-kun about it…" Mikado's voice got even quieter as Izaya continued working on his wounds. "…then they got angry, aggressive and told me that Aboa-kun's missing and questioned me because I was the last person to see him."
Izaya nodded, putting bandages on the teen's wounds before sitting back. There wasn't much he could do for the bruises. "And then they beat you up?"
"I guess…one said they didn't believe me and started insulting me so I ended up snapping at them…" the teen touched his cheek lightly with his uninjured hand.
"And then they beat you up?" Izaya inquired wanting to make sure he had the facts right. Mikado gave a curt nod and touched his chest. Izaya's brow furrowed at the action. "How's the rest of your body?" he asked and Mikado shrugged.
"Take your shirt off." The man requested and Mikado stared at him for a second before compiling.
Bruises. So many bruises all over his ribs and stomach. Izaya swallowed heavily and closed his eyes. Why did this happen? What had Mikado to deserve this? He killed someone out of self-defence and it's like the universe is punishing him. He doesn't deserve this…any of this.
"Does it hurt?" he murmured gently tracing the bruises with his fingertips. The teen shrugged, averting his eyes.
"Not really." He mumbled. Izaya pressed down on each of the ribs gently watching the teen's reaction but it seemed none of them were broken. That was something at least.
Izaya traced the teen's shoulder, it wasn't marred in anyway. It was smooth like marble and a creamy peach colour like it was meant to be. Izaya couldn't help but lean down and press his lips affectionately into the smooth skin.
"Izaya?" Mikado questioned sounding slightly nervous and for good reason – Without warning the teen in the slightest, Izaya bit down with all his strength. His teeth broke the skin and sunk into the flesh.
"O-ow!" Mikado exclaimed in shock. When Izaya pulled back there was a deep bite mark in the teen's skin and blood all over Izaya's mouth.
"A mark." Izaya murmured and Mikado looked at him in confusion. He looked into the teen's blue eyes. "Your life is mine isn't it? You should have a mark for proof." The man said, he knew he sounded possessive but it was true.
Aboa had marked the teen's hand, the Blue Squares' attack would probably leave scars on his face so it was only right that he gave the teen something better, a scar of loyalty and…what were they?
There was a warmth between them, it wasn't romantic but rather like two people who had been good friends for a long time. Izaya had seen people before be such good friends with each other that they were like two sides of the same coin…was it wrong that he felt it described the two of them?
The informant smiled to himself. He'd never been close to someone like that before. He felt as if he could trust Mikado not because he knew his darkest secret but rather…it was like the teen was content by his side. He wouldn't have jumped between him and Kyohei if he didn't care for Izaya.
Mikado didn't seem upset at the bite mark, he just looked at peace and gave a small nod before settling back down in Izaya's arms despite the now bleeding wound on his shoulder. Ah, Izaya would have to patch that up too.
Izaya's hold around the teen tightened and he pulled Mikado as close as he could without hurting him.
Being cared about…it was a surprisingly warm feeling. Izaya didn't know what he'd call Mikado, his friend? No, he felt as if it was something more…lover? No, they held no romantic feelings for each other. It couldn't be family either because family surely didn't have sex with each other. Perhaps it was a mixture of all three, it sounded messed up but it was true.
"Ne, why did you jump between me and Dotachin?" Izaya asked suddenly and Mikado looked at him surprised. The teen thought for a moment before answering.
"I couldn't let him hurt you. I owe you everything Izaya." The teen looked deep into his eyes and Izaya felt a lump his throat.
"What do you mean?" he asked tilting his head curiously.
"Well, you said I owed you my life. So if my life ends protecting you so be it." Mikado said his eyes determined and Izaya stared at the teen in shock. Was…was he saying he would die to protect him? That's not what Izaya wanted at all!
"I won't lie, I'm touched but I didn't ask you to become my shield." Izaya brushed the teen's hair from his forehead, mindful of the cut. Mikado gave a glimpse of a smile and nodded.
"I know but I would protect you even if you didn't want me too." The teen's eyes were focused but soft. Izaya chuckled and pulled Mikado close once again, against his chest.
"If that's what you want to do but I have to say I would be quite sad." The man admitted though the smirk on his face made it seem more like a joke. "But I will request something of you."
"What is it?" Mikado asked his eyes studying Izaya's stern expression.
"Never, ever interfere in my fights with Shizu-chan. I don't care what happens, how injured I am or what, you are not allowed to interfere."
Mikado looked almost sad as he rested his head on the man's chest for a moment as if he was thinking about it. Perhaps he was coming to terms with it. The teen looked up again and nodded, his eyes hardened.
"Yes, Izaya."
Izaya chuckled, it seemed the teen has taken a liking to that particular phrase. It was cute, the teen said with absolute obedience. The man couldn't deny that the fact the teen was seemingly so loyal was nice.
Sure, he'd have loyal followers before but Mikado was different, Mikado had his own mind and could make his own decisions, he didn't need Izaya to instruct him like a mindless puppet.
Izaya was becoming even more grateful that the teen had rung him that night. Not only had it brought them much closer but now Izaya had someone by his side, someone that actually liked and cared about him.