Title: Blood Contract
Rating: M
Pairing: Shizuo x Izaya
Prompt : HALLOWEEN SPECIAL. Vampire Izaya and Priest Shizuo story! This is an AU story!
Author's Note: Technically this is AU. Please consider this taking place several hundred years back. It also doesn't quite take place in Japan (Probably… lol) but if I changed their names to non-Japanese and took out the entire –san, -chan, the entire fanfic would be just an original story… I also understand that their names should be a saint's name etc… but again, I'm not going to change that due to fanfic sake.
so please understand why I had kept the Japanese names and the honorifics even if this doesn't really take place in Japan.
Thank you.
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters!
THIS STORY CONTAINS MALExMALE RELATIONSHIPS. You have been warned.
It was early evening. The sun had just set when Kadota got up to check on Izaya and the hunter. The vampires were waking up from their sleep and the castle was bustling again with activity. Kadota stood still while the human servants dressed him in his clean doublet pants. Two servants took their time lacing him up around the wings in the back and then they moved around him as the lace traveled to the front of his vest. Lastly, they held up his long embroidered coat to finish the dressing.
After a quick drink from the decanter that had been replenished with renewed blood wine, Kadota made his way to his liege's wing. He didn't particularly like the fact that Izaya was given a smaller living quarters than him, definitely clarifying the lower status to the other vampires but Izaya didn't seem to particularly care, which worried him. Regardless, it was a secure place like all other parts of the castle and at least Kadota took refuge in that thought.
When he arrived to the passageway, Kadota quickly saw a predicament at the front door. The human maids were standing by the door with their carts and had not entered, whispering to each other instead.
"Is there any problem?" Kadota approached the maids respectfully.
"Well… Lord Orihara did not answer when we rang the bell…" One of the younger maids spoke up before one of the matrons hushed her. The girl blushed for speaking out of turn.
"Lord Orihara has not given us the permission to enter." The eldest spoke to Kadota while bowing. The other women followed.
Kadota held in a frustrated sigh. There were already rumors that Izaya was spending long private times with his human, a Nebula vampire hunter, and this would only solidify that rumor even more.
He pushed past the maids and decided to knock on the door loudly and listen. The door was thick, too thick for humans but his sensitive vampire ears could already hear whisperings within the room.
"S-Shizu-chan, we can't… nngh… They're waiting, we need to..."
"Just a bit more…."
Kadota's ears burned when he heard a moan. Normally he'd be happy that Izaya was finally drinking but he did not like the image of the hunter taking advantage of his liege when Izaya did not want 'more.'
He then firmly turned the knob and slowly opened the door, making sure that the heavy door creaked open loudly. The maids then ushered inside quickly to prepare the morning table and air the room. Kadota had noted that the maids did not bring any breakfast for vampires as Izaya specifically had said no blood wine near his vicinity but there was a fruit basket for the human. Kadota had suggested that to quell any rumors from spreading further, to at least have them bring the wine and that he didn't have to drink it, just pour it down the drain, but Izaya refused. Apparently, the smell made him sick. Already there were so many rumors being spread about Izaya but what really worried Kadota the most was that Izaya did not seem to care. Granted, he was a vampire who always looked ahead but this was very unlike him. At least, not like the old Izaya that he knew who cared about his public image. Kadota did wonder what it was that Izaya was more focused on since his liege didn't seem to care too much about the politics of Dollars or specifically, his position and status, but Izaya had not shared his thoughts with him.
"Good evening." Kadota stood in the middle of the room where the waiting room was, calling out to Izaya who was still in the bedroom. He sat down and waited as the curtains were drawn to the bedroom and Izaya stepped out. He was already fully clothed, not at all mussed or flush-cheeked. By now Kadota had gotten used to the fact that Izaya no longer liked having maids dress him, which was such a drastic change from the Izaya he knew a decade ago. In fact, there were a lot of subtle things about Izaya that had been so drastically changed, only someone who had known him for a hundred years like him would even know. At least Izaya still liked to maintain his perfect appearance even if Kadota had a feeling something was up just a few minutes ago. That had not changed.
Izaya frowned as he came to sit down.
"You drank before you came." Izaya said disapprovingly.
"Just because you don't like blood anymore doesn't mean I have to abstain as well." Kadota shrugged. Kadota noted the irritation from Izaya as his liege's upper right eyebrow twitched but he ignored that. Izaya's nose had become extremely sharp and sensitive to the smell of blood or rather the 'stench' of it. Kadota wasn't even sure if it was a curse or a restriction yet but from Izaya's yesterday's reaction, he wouldn't 'die' from drinking another's blood. Which meant it was quite possible that it was Izaya's own decision to abstain. Kadota wondered if there was some curse placed on his tongue but… he seemed to be drinking the hunter's blood fine. Either the curse or the restriction made Izaya to drink only a certain type of blood… or only that hunter's. If that was the case, Kadota was very upset with Shizuo who probably had placed such a restriction or the curse. Without much information however, Kadota was forced to keep an open mind, for now.
Izaya rolled his eyes as he leaned back and watched the maids clean the already clean waiting room for any dust. The maids were not allowed in the bedchambers while Izaya or Shizuo were in their quarters, they were to 'clean' after the two left the rooms. With the sun down and the night just beginning, the stars slowly appeared one by one. The maids drew the curtains to the windows before Izaya waved for them to be closed. Nodding the maids drew them closed again, covering up the night sky. Instead, they pulled the cart that carried new sets of clothes even if Izaya had his own wardrobe he could select from in his bedroom chambers.
"That looks more formal than normal. Is there a ball?" Izaya eyed them briefly before focusing on his previous war general.
"Yes." Kadota nodded as one of the maids brought a sealed envelope in a silver platter along with a small letter opening knife. Izaya took it and ripped it open. As Izaya read the invitation carefully, Kadota took a good look at his liege. He had a healthier glow, much less pale than last night. Good. He had finally drunk blood. Kadota had already opened his invitation and he was relieved to know that Izaya had gotten one. That was one of the reasons why he had come to see him after all.
That and…
"Where's the hunter?" He asked as casually as possible
"Shizuo? He's…"
"Here," was the unceremonious grunt as the hunter appeared through the bedroom doorway and made his way down the steps to the lounge area. Kadota was a tiny bit surprised to see that Shizuo was in fact dressed properly. The laces were all properly tied, although his clothes were much more wrinkled than Izaya's for some reason. The most mismatched image of it all was that, despite being fully dressed, his hair was like a bird's nest.
Kadota briefly wondered if Izaya had dressed the hunter and the idea of a vampire and his liege doing such a servant-like chore for a human and a 'hunter' at that rankled his pride.
Then Kadota felt Izaya's 'death glare' and quickly averted away his disapproving gaze from the blond who slumped down on the sofa next to his liege. Kadota coughed awkwardly.
"Anyways, it looks like both of you are invited to the ball tonight."
"..." Izaya kept staring coldly at him, which spoke volumes compared to his silence, and Kadota did his best not to avert his eyes only to look away eventually. He wasn't very good at dealing with Izaya's angry glares even back then. Kadota still disapproved of the way the vampire hunter sat next to the young vampire lord without a care in the world, as if ignorant of the need to respect his status. He looked like he thought he belonged there, unaware of all the etiquette rules he was breaking with his position alone. Furthermore, Izaya did not seem to want Kadota to address the obvious to the hunter so he sighed and changed the subject instead.
"Do you think it's a…"
Kadota paused decisively and waited. Shizuo looked perplexed until one of the maids came with a small platter of fruit and the blond happily picked an apple to munch on. Izaya then waved at the maids to leave. The humans bowed and closed the door behind them.
"Of course it's a trap." Izaya finished for Kadota as he sat up. Shizuo's ears perked up at this as he paused from biting into the apple.
"Trap?" Shizuo spoke with his mouth full and Kadota couldn't help but notice the lack of manners in this human in particular. Izaya didn't seem to care or perhaps he had gotten used to him, both of which were things also different from the vampire Kadota once knew.
Izaya shrugged. "Most likely a trap. It's a bit early but Mikado usually likes to move fast. He always makes sure to only make a move once he knows he has a good plan, though. Which means…"
"It's possibly a plan he set into motion years ago. That or he had already prepared everything for this to happen." Kadota finished for Izaya. Then he scowled. "This is really bad. We aren't prepared for anything."
"I've already said there's no way for us to prepare for his plans. We just have to be ready to react properly." Izaya shrugged.
"I don't like it." Then Kadota added darkly, "this isn't how you used to operate." Izaya always was one step ahead. Always had several backup plans for every situation.
"...Dotachin," Izaya said, using the more friendly and personal epithet. "What is the worst case scenario?"
"..." Kadota thought about it. "Humiliating you in public and excommunication? No… Torturing and killing you… and then us?" He thought about it. He would be devastated if Erika, Walker and Togusa were tortured and killed. But no, there was probably something a lot worse Izaya had in mind that Mikado could do.
Izaya shook his head. "Close but no. The worst case scenario I could think of is, he kills you, me, and commits genocide of everyone affiliated with the Orihara clan."
Shizuo had paused from eating and was listening intently now as Izaya's gaze grew somber.
"Death is the ultimate silencer. He is sadistic enough to kill us in the cruelest method possible. And you and I both know that."
Kadota didn't need to be told that. Him and Izaya… the gang and everyone in the Orihara clan had experienced that at first hand. That was… if they could prove that Mikado was the one that had done the deed, back a few decades ago. They had high suspicions since Mikado had the motive but nothing to link him to the crime.
"Then don't walk into the trap." Shizuo growled finally, breaking the silence.
"Not that easy, Shizu-chan." Izaya turned to face him with a wry smile. "Rejecting the invitation would not be highly recommended in this case. The subject of the ball is about you after all."
"W-wait, what?!" The hunter sat up confused and snatched the invitation rudely. Then he frowned because he couldn't read the vampire language which looked like scribbles and doodles to him. "What does it say?"
"That I'm invited to the ball in the honor of our highly respected guest Saint Mikaela. So the ball is in your honor. You have to go." Izaya smirked. "I guess I can pretend to be sick and stay but I am guessing you'd rather have me by your side?"
The blond human grumbled and tossed the letter, rolling his eyes. "Why do I have to go?" Kadota wasn't sure if this human was asking because he didn't understand the consequences or if he really thought it was a sound advice not to go.
"Well. It's your ball in your honor." Izaya repeated, trying to explain in plain words even if that meant repeating himself again. "It'd be subjecting the king of vampires to great shame if you don't make an appearance." Izaya's eyes twinkled in amusement, "which I admit will be highly amusing but no. Mikado, I'm sure has several plans ready in case you do not attend. He will make sure that this will be a public display and a sign that my 'hold' on you, which I've proclaimed to the court that I have clearly 'tamed' you, is false. And he'll then be able to take you away from me. Currently, you're under my protection. He will have the legal-"
"Okay, I get it. I still think this is all ridiculous." Shizuo stomped his boot on the floor and growled. "So I have to go even though we know it's a trap?! And you have to go with me even though we all know this is a trap? And we all might die?"
"Yes." Izaya answered simply. "Although it is highly unlikely that Mikado will massacre us all at the ball. The consequences of not going are rather obvious. Mikado will have a legitimate reason to use force. If we do go to the ball however, then we will find out more of what Mikado wants from us."
And from there, follow the maze of traps after traps. Kadota already had a headache. He could already see the labyrinth that Mikado had imprisoned them in. He felt as if there was no exit to freedom. Just dead ends that led to their doom. It was either dying now or later. He kept hoping Izaya had some plan but it seemed like Izaya was carefully avoiding the dead ends as they continued down the maze lanes, even if he knew all they were doing was prolonging the inevitable end game.
"You don't know what he wants?" The hunter huffed, interrupting Kadota's chain of thought.
"We already know what he wants. The question is why… I guess." Izaya calmly replied.
"Okay, what does he want then?" Shizuo glared angrily and Kadota did not like how this man was talking back to his lord in such a manner.
"You. Obviously." Izaya replied, again undisturbed by Shizuo's anger.
"Me? Why me? " Shizuo blinked, confused at the unexpected answer.
"Exactly. Other than that you're a reborn saint. Although I have a hunch or two." Izaya leaned back again. Although Izaya looked relaxed, Kadota knew from years of knowing him that he was actually trying to 'look' relaxed to exude confidence. Kadota wondered if Izaya too was apprehensive but he just couldn't let the hunter know that. Did Izaya not trust him or… perhaps he needed this hunter to not doubt him. Kadota wasn't sure. But he had a feeling…
Shizuo was tapping his foot impatiently. "And what are those ideas?"
Kadota watched Izaya carefully, wondering how he planned to maneuver around this question.
Izaya simply shrugged. "You're a reborn saint. Why wouldn't anyone want you?"
No matter how much Kadota tried to analyze, he couldn't tell if Izaya was being honest with Shizuo or if he was trying to cover it up with false bravado.
"Anyways, we are attending the ball. There aren't many ways for us to outmaneuver Mikado if we don't. Hopefully he might slip if we continue to go along with his plans for a bit longer." He turned to face Kadota again. "Do you know who has been invited?"
Kadota nodded. "Most of the upper elites have been invited."
"Most… but not all?"
Kadota shook his head no. Izaya pondered for a bit.
"Any correlations to a group?"
"The Amphisbaena in which Lady Earthworm is part of, as well as Toramaru's Chikage Rokujo and…." Kadota made a list of those who he knew were attending. Izaya listened quietly, making a list in his head. He started to ask a few questions as to which houses and clans had not been invited.
"So literally all the 'heads' of each clan are invited." Izaya laughed ruefully. "Glad to know I'm still considered a leader of my own clan."
That was the part that Kadota was worried about. They were 'both' invited. It was true that once Izaya had gone missing for a decade, the Dollar's council committee had to appoint Kadota as the 'head'. But Kadota had continued to delay as much as possible taking up that mantle just in case Izaya returned. Now that Izaya had returned…
Kadota let out a sigh. He wanted to talk to Izaya alone. Not with this… human and a vampire hunter and… now a reborn saint? How much had Izaya hidden from him? Exactly what were his 'real' plans? The Dollars had swallowed up more than 80% of the vampire clans and at this rate... There were so many things he wanted to talk to Izaya about but this hunter won't leave his liege's side!
"There's something I want to discuss." Kadota started, his eyes getting serious. Then he looked over at Shizuo and then back at Izaya, giving him the hint.
"Go ahead. I figured that's why you were here." Izaya sat back and eased into the couch's arm, his head resting on his palm.
"Alone." Kadota finally forced himself to say the obvious since Izaya kept ignoring his more subtle signals.
"No," Izaya dismissed him easily, so easily that it stabbed Kadota in the heart. "Shizu-chan stays. He hears anything you have to say to me."
Kadota's eyes narrowed. Did that mean, this Shizuo had his lord bound by some contract? Did this vampire hunter not completely trust Izaya? Or was it the other way around, did Izaya trust this man? But to be commanded and to have his request rejected in front of the newcomer hurt.
"I've been worried for a while," Kadota decided to continue after all since the matter concerned him too much. The fact that Izaya didn't seem to care about his status anymore meant a few things but his main worry was…
"Are you planning to step down?" Kadota worded it carefully. Not specifically saying that he thought Izaya might leave but the 'unspoken words' were there.
His lord considered him for a bit silently while Kadot waited with bated breath.
"Not in the way you're thinking." Izaya also answered vaguely and incompletely. Kadota felt a deep growl building inside him from the unsatisfactory answer which he knew that knowing Izaya, was a 'yes'.
"Izaya, I…!"
"No, hear me out."
"No. I won't. Why the hell did you even bother coming back if you plan to step down?!"
"Dotachin, please." Izaya raised his hand and gestured him to calm down but Kadota was seethingly angry. He had wait for more than a decade, almost two. He had prolonged and delayed everything he could so that when Izaya did come back, he could come back in full power. But no, Mikado and the Blue Squares had been doing everything to diminish Izaya's reputation and ridicule him in every aspect ever since the Orihara clan joined them. Now that Izaya had finally came back, Kadota wanted the clan restored to its full glory and of course that included Izaya in the picture. But it seemed something had changed Izaya between these few years. Fifteen or so years wasn't a short period for a vampire but not a particularly long one. Even so, Kadota felt a distance between them he had never felt before. Izaya had always included him in his plans. They always shared the same vision together. He was his second-in-command. And now…!
Kadota glared at the blond sitting next to his lord who looked extremely confused at the change of tone and direction of their conversation.
"Is it because of him?" Kadota's animosity was no longer hidden, both in his glare or his words.
"No, Dotachin." Izaya replied complacently, even using their childhood names. "Our plan still hasn't changed. We will restore the clan. But it can't be through me anymore."
"Why?!" There was anguish in Kadota's voice at such a final tone from Izaya. "You're back now. And you know your sisters aren't of age yet."
"Yet. But they will be. Mikado is probably going to get rid of me if I stay. That's his main plan probably so he could take over. It's best if you are my sisters' guardian until they become of age and can take up the mantle. You know it yourself." Izaya answered in earnest. "In the end, we need to… consider the clan as our main objective. Like we said previously, the worst outcome is if we're all killed. This is so most of us will survive. Even if that means, cutting me out."
Kadota did not like that. He couldn't imagine his life without Izaya as his lord. Yes, his twin sisters were already being groomed but…
It was Izaya who was raised to be their leader. He, Kadota Kyohei, was raised specifically to be Izaya's second-in-command and his confidant. He believed he would one day die protecting him. Now, he was to replace Izaya, throw him out and be Izaya's heirs' guardian. He did not like this.. This wasn't what he believed his future would be or what he was raised to become.
"I'm not… worthy. I can't do it, Izaya." Kadota looked up at his lord, pleading him.
"You can. And you will. Because I command it." Izaya replied simply but with the firm voice of a ruler. "And you'll obey if you still consider yourself my subject."
"That's cruel, you know I won't disobey you." Kadota sighed as he finally got up, not enjoying the fact that Izaya had just challenged his devotion of over a hundred years. But he finally understood why Izaya had been so unconcerned with the politics of the Dollars.
"You're planning to leave."
Izaya nodded in reply, not denying it. He looked as if he was going to say more but stopped himself. Kadota caught that and realized, it was something Izaya probably didn't want to say in front of Shizuo. He wasn't quite certain if he was supposed to catch that or not but it seemed the vampire hunter didn't know of Izaya's quirks to notice the half-breath that Izaya took before he bit his cheek.
...So there was more than meets the eye. If only Kadota could have a moment alone with Izaya, he would try to get more hints about what it was that Izaya couldn't say in front of Shizuo but for now, it would do.
It had to do with leaving. Something about it that Izaya couldn't say in front of this vampire hunter but wanted to say it to him. That was good enough.
Kadota took his leave.
Shizuo was completely befuddled by the entire conversation that took place between the two. There was so much to take in. The fact that they both thought that it was totally common sense that the leader of all the vampires, Mikado, would want him somehow. And that Izaya truly was a ranking lord, his commanding presence in front of Kadota was a side of Izaya he had never seen before. And the plan? To save the Orihara clan? And somehow Izaya was planning to leave?
Well, that part Shizuo understood. It was because of the contract probably. Because Izaya was bound to him now and had to follow whatever order Shizuo told him to do so he couldn't stay as the leader of the clan. He felt guilty about that. About a lot of things, such as stealing Izaya away from his natural place in the vampire world.
He watched as Izaya slumped back to the couch once Kadota took his leave. He looked tired, the calm and composed facade gone instantly. Shizuo wanted to console him but he couldn't. He was the cause of all this and yet he couldn't let Izaya 'go.' Even if Shizuo knew how to break the contract, he knew the church would not accept it if Shizuo told them he freed their most valuable asset to this war.
War. They were in the middle of many wars. Wars with different facets and sides. War with vampires and men. War amongst the vampire clans. War inside the Dollars. There were so many complicated politics going on, Shizuo almost wished he could just somehow end it all with a punch. Or take Izaya with him and live in some quiet forest, far far away from everyone if the world of men and vampires loved their war so much.
As much as Shizuo almost wanted to do that, he knew he couldn't. Besides…
"So. You have sisters?" Shizuo asked quietly, breaking the silence.
"Yeah…" Izaya replied, his voice sounding very tired. He massaged his temples with his forefinger and thumb.
"More than one? I think I heard him use plural..."
"Twins actually." Izaya looked across and finally faced Shizuo with a faint smile.
"How would that work? Isn't there supposed to be only one ruler?"
"Well they'll probably rule jointly. Actually, they would like doing that, knowing them."
Shizuo remembered Izaya laughing at him during their first mission together. That one time that Shizuo was worried that they might have killed one of Izaya's family members.
"Pfff, no worries. My mother's already dead." Izaya giggled. "And my father too. So no worries there. "
But Izaya had not mentioned anything about his sisters then, Shizuo realized now. Izaya had purposefully said those words that made Shizuo angry and forced him to change the subject so he wouldn't even consider that Izaya might have other family members.
Shizuo regarded this quietly as he watched Izaya stand up groggily, his wings drooping. His shoulders looked heavy with an invisible burden, Shizuo almost wanted to reach out and give him a massage.
Especially after last night.
Shizuo had panicked once he realized Izaya was crying. He still didn't quite understand what had caused it, even worse, he feared that he himself had triggered something. No, he was almost certain he had triggered it. Somehow. Possibly a painful memory? Shinra had mentioned that Izaya could be hiding a lot of scars from the torture. Shizuo just wasn't sure exactly what that scar was if that was the case.
Or maybe it was happy tears? That felt too good to be true.
Shizuo couldn't sleep well that night as he held the vampire. Izaya on the other hand, once he stopped crying fell asleep rather easily. Kadota had mentioned that Izaya had nightmares but not once did Shizuo see Izaya's face contort in terror. He remembered holding him close and softly petting his head for hours until he too finally fell asleep.
The morning after, Shizuo woke up to Izaya already getting dressed. He watched as Izaya stood in front of several large mirrors, using magic to move the strings through the eyelets that tied the back of vest and around his wings in such an intricate manner. The strings themselves made a criss-cross design like art around the back. Vampires really liked ornate things with unnecessary complexity, it seemed.
"Did you… sleep okay?" Shizuo asked quietly then, wondering if Izaya had a nightmare after all in the morning.
"Y-yeah." Izaya avoided his gaze as he finished fixing the front of his coat. "Although it would have been better if you didn't have to light that disgusting tobacco." Shizuo could hear the pout on Izaya's lips even when his face was turned away.
Ah, so he was embarrassed about last night. That was adorable. Shizuo smiled as he sat up and reached out, grabbing Izaya by the waist, twisting him to face him and pulled him close. Izaya used the opportunity to finish tying up all the loose laces on Shizuo's shirt. The blond loved the soft touches of Izaya's hands that started to lace his strings, helping him dress in this nonsensical vampire outfit.
"Then you need breakfast before you leave this chamber." Shizuo reminded him as he buried his face in Izaya's chest like a pillow. It felt good. Izaya's scent. Izaya's body. The caress of those long fingers that softly touched him. The way Izaya's waist curved and fit around his hands when he held him. Everything felt perfect.
Except he knew, somewhere, deep inside… Izaya was hurting.
And the only thing he could provide was his own blood.
"S-Shizu… we shouldn't, they'll be here soon."
When Izaya flushed like that, it strangely made Shizuo's heart pound. He didn't even know why but he wanted to pull him down and kiss him. Keep him safe, take him far away from here and back to the wooden cabin he made for them. Or perhaps not even in the church grounds, just somewhere far, far away with just the two of them.
"It'll be quick. Besides, since when do you not want to drink my blood?" Shizuo teased, grabbing Izaya's hand to pause him from fixing the ties. His other free hand was quick with his knife as he cut his own tongue so he could kiss Izaya once more.
He knew it was cheating because Shizuo could see already Izaya's eyes dilate as the scent of blood hit the air briefly before the hunter closed his mouth. Izaya was already leaning forward, hungry. Despite his shyness, he couldn't help the hunger. Still, playing fair or not, Shizuo wanted to provide for Izaya. The vampire had been hungry for too many years.
Their kiss was just as sweet. Izaya's lips were supple and his tongue so pliable. Shizuo couldn't help but push his own tongue into that hot mouth, their heated breath intoxicating.
It was in the midst of enjoying each other's kisses when the bell rang, signaling that the maids were here, followed by the knock on the door moments later.
"S-Shizu-chan, we can't… nngh… They're waiting, we need to..."
"Just a bit more…."
Shizuo groaned inwardly as he remembered this morning, not even a few hours ago. It was just getting to the good part when Kadota had interrupted them. And now the mood was completely ruined.
The blond watched as Izaya started to untangle the front lace of his shirt to change into the ball gown provided to him.
"You shouldn't go." Shizuo chided. He didn't like the fact that Izaya was walking into a trap.
"Weren't you listening?" Izaya sighed as he untied a lace and let it fall to the floor.
"Is there really no other way?" Shizuo sighed as he leaned his chin on one of the armrests of the sofa and watched Izaya undress in front of him. Izaya's body was so thin but well proportioned. Shizuo was once again reminded how perfectly that body fit next to his when the blond hugged him last night.
"If you want to find out what the trap is, you have to trigger it. I don't plan to walk in there like some sacrificial lamb, mind you. But we still need to-"
"Izaya!" Shizuo gasped, interrupting him when Izaya took off his shirt. There was a huge bruise on his hips in the shape of a hand print, specifically about Shizuo's size.
"Yeah?" Izaya turned around, confused by Shizuo's loud outburst. Then he looked down as he followed Shizuo's gaze. "Oh those. I had forgotten about it." And automatically, Izaya healed himself.
"Forgotten about it?! What the hell! If I hurt you, say something!" Shizuo quickly got up to inspect it but the bruise was already gone, as if it was never there before. "When was it? Sometime last night?" Shizuo searched his memory but he couldn't really remember…. wait, no. There was one time he thought Izaya had flinched. When Shizuo was trying to hold back his orgasm while Izaya was on top of him…
"Your blood… must taste really exquisite right now…"
Shizuo flushed hard at the imagery he remembered, especially the drag of Izaya's tongue on his neck. Shit, Izaya was so sexy last night. He hated himself for getting aroused at the thought even after hurting this man.
"It's alright. I'm used to the pain after, it's nothing really." Izaya shrugged.
"No, it's not alright, goddammit!" Shizuo cursed, more angry at himself than anything. He took a shaky deep breath, trying to control his anger. He knew better than to direct his anger at Izaya. "Don't… okay. Next time, tell me if I'm hurting you so I can stop."
"It's really not-"
"No buts! I don't care! Stop me if I ever hurt you again. I mean it Izaya." Shizuo's eyes remained stern.
"Is that a command?" Izaya remained calm as he faced him, the question; a challenge.
Shizuo remembered the commands he had given Izaya when they renewed their contract under the holy tree. Protection from any danger. Protection from all vampires and hunters and Izaya included.
"Yeah." Shizuo knew by now how faithfully Izaya had been obedient, even to his own detriment. "I command you to stop me if I ever hurt you again."
"...Alright." Izaya lowered his gaze. Shizuo couldn't see Izaya's expression behind those long lashes. Wishing to see it, Shizuo raised Izaya's chin upward with his hand. Izaya's ruby eyes were so beautiful as he faced him again, their eyes searching each other. Questioning.
The moment stilled. Just the two of them, alone with flickering candles and the moon their only witness. Shizuo leaned in.
Izaya didn't resist as their lips pressed together. It wasn't feeding time. And the hunter wasn't trying to shut Izaya up from speaking. There was no excuse for Shizuo's lips to be kissing Izaya's. But they parted to taste each other's, the sensation tingling and dizzying. Their breaths grew shaky when they parted only to meet once more, uncertain if they should continue or stop.
When Izaya didn't tell him to stop for the first time, Shizuo decided to take the initiative, not wanting to lose this moment. His hands carefully slid down the nude torso, half afraid to touch him again after bruising him but at the same time, wanting to make certain that this time, he wouldn't hurt him. Shizuo hovered above Izaya's hip, fingers barely touching the skin as he leaned his face forward for more soft kisses he couldn't get enough of. It tugged on his heartstrings as he heard a faint moan from Izaya. He wanted desperately for Izaya to want this as much as he wanted it. For Izaya to kiss him back willingly and without hesitation. Despite their past and despite the fact that it should be a condemnable act for a man to kiss a vampire or to kiss the murderer of his own parents, Shizuo wished that for once, they lived in a world where nothing held them back from what they were currently feeling.
"Izaya…" Shizuo whispered his name and felt a small tremor coming from the smaller frame against his. "Izaya…" He called his name again as their lips connected once more. His reply was a silent shudder, the lips trembling against his as he didn't deny him. Just a total and willing submission.
It hurt Shizuo to hold back, his entire body and soul screaming at him to just take him now.
Shizuo finally placed his hands firmly around Izaya's waist and hugged him, burying his face into the crook of the vampire's neck. He shuddered hard as he forced himself to calm down. At this rate, he would lose all his virtue.
"We should get ready," Izaya said quietly after a while, his hand soothingly stroking the blond's hair.
Shizuo nodded in silence, still unwilling to let the vampire go, wanting the moment to last forever.
But nothing last forever.
Author's note: Hello! Huge thanks to kaede and voissane for putting up with me screaming about my writer's block. Thanks to them, I was able to write this chapter a bit faster sob. For those who had forgotten, "Pfff, no worries. My mother's already dead." Izaya giggled. "And my father too. So no worries there." is in Chapter 7! And huge thanks to my beta, Sollertis! And I quote from my beta, "I was wondering when you'd do it and give us the whole Ruka special lmao. When is this going to go to hell." I laugh how my beta knows my writing style so well, she can already predict it pff... (which means, good luck you guys for the next 5 chapters of suffering ..;;;;; ) Enjoy this last bit of frosting on the cake before I throw it out the window and let Izaya stomp on it like a cellphone~
I hope the next chapter will come out just as fast ;_; Thank you for reading and reviewing!