Shizuo had everything he could've asked for. From enemies to lovers, they'd graduated as high school sweethearts. There was no one else, so as far as Shizuo knew, he was gay. None of that mattered though because he had Izaya. That's what the ring on his finger said. Till death do them part.
After they'd graduated and married, Shizuo had gone through a series of jobs, struggling because of his strength. Izaya had become and information broker and apparently that paid heavily, judging by their penthouse.
Izaya had chosen the decor and his husband had gone minimalistic. Everything was either chrome, black or white. His husband also had his own office and was a firm believer in keeping the two parts of his life separate.
Their home looked like a showroom. The living space was well...spacious and looked unlived in. The kitchen likewise. The two ends were almost identical, leading into individual bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Anything he asked for, Shizuo got. Materialistic wise.
Shizuo sighed turning off the heating and looking over his shoulder, where a generous view lay before him, the sun already set, the sky inky with flecks of light. With another press of a button, the blind started lowering.
His phone lit up again reminding him of an unread message. Shizuo had seen it, expected it really. Izaya had work stuff, he'd be late, if home at all. Shizuo left the phone where it was, on the cold glass table. The leather creaked as he pushed himself up and headed for the bedroom.
His bedroom. Shizuo couldn't remember the last time they'd slept in the same room, let alone the same bed. Izaya had never seen his room, not the one he'd claimed for himself, the only place in the penthouse he felt comfortable.
The heated flooring was the same, soft under his toes just like the rest of their home. Shizuo had the walls painted a mix of chocolate and cream. It was warm, with soft little half moon lights on the wall. Behind the queen size bed was a smaller window, adorned with fake roses he'd been given from his last job. Lowering the blind, Shizuo flicked another button for the sound system, playing soft classical music in his room. Thanks to the soundproofing, it really was just him in his own space.
The bathroom was different in the fact there were fishes in the floor. Real fish that swam under his feet. It was as close to a real pet as he could get. The shower was big enough for two, with a suctioned dildo pressed against the wall. Then there was the bath, also big enough for two but Shizuo had already come to terms he'd have all that space to himself.
For now, he'd already completed his nightly routine and all that was left was sleep. With a sigh Shizuo dimmed the lights further, trusting the timer to shut everything off. Taking off his sleepwear, Shizuo slipped under the covers, turning on his side. For a moment he thought about touching himself, slipping his hand between his thighs and give himself pleasure. The moment died as soon as the thought popped up. His thoughts would only turn to Izaya and that was a waste of time. Shizuo sighed, closing his eyes and letting the soft strings ease him into slumber.
Shizuo woke to his alarm going off. Switching it off, he sat up and looked around the room. He'd miss it if he went through what was going around his head. He'd lose all luxury in his life but maybe he'd find someone to love him. Maybe Izaya could find someone to warm his bed. They'd been together seven years. It was enough.
Shizuo let his mind drift as he showered and dressed. The heating wasn't on, so he turned it on and opened the blinds. That was before unlocking his bedroom door. Shizuo shivered stepping from his warm sanctuary, into the cold unlived penthouse. Izaya's door was open but he already knew his husband hadn't come home. As he'd expected.
His phone held no new messages. That too was expected. Shizuo sighed, wondering what steps he'd have to take to get a divorce. Was there a special lawyer for that?
Kasuka gave him the contact for a divorce lawyer. His little brother also offered a place to stay, should he need it. Shizuo didn't think he did. Not just yet anyway. With a groan he crumbled the card and shoved it in his pocket, turning sharply into the coffee shop.
"Ow."
Shizuo looked down seeing the teen he'd bumped into. "Sorry."
"That's okay." The teen smiled.
Shizuo's breath hitched staring into sharp blue eyes. "Uh, you want a hot chocolate?"
The boy smiled. "Sure. I'm just waiting on my sister. You mind if we join you?"
Shizuo shrugged, surprised anyone wanted to join him. "Go ahead."
"I'm Mikado Ryugamine."
"Shizuo Heiwajima."
The teen smiled again, standing behind him in the queue. "You don't look like the hot chocolate type."
Shizuo frowned. "What do I look like?"
"The black coffee type. You can't judge a book by its cover." Mikado murmured.
Shizuo raised a brow. "What does that mean?"
Mikado stared at him, so familiar it made his heart jump. "That depends. Married?"
Shizuo glanced down at the ring on his finger. "Something like that."
"Ah. Not going well?" Mikado asked.
Shizuo shrugged, thankful it was his turn to be served. "Three hot chocolates please."
Paid and served, Shizuo kept one and handed the other two to Mikado. "Where's your sister?"
"Likely on the phone." Mikado said softly.
Shizuo grimaced as his phone vibrated. He didn't even want to look at it.
"Your wife?" The teen asked.
"Husband." Shizuo muttered. "Probably won't be home tonight or some shit."
"Sorry." Mikado murmured.
"Izaya is a workaholic." Shizuo defended. Everyone thought late night meant cheating.
"Of course." Mikado murmured. "A shame he'd leave you alone."
Shizuo sighed hoping his phone would say otherwise. It didn't. Izaya wouldn't be home today either.
Shizuo frowned staring at his new contact. He felt weird for taking the teen's number. Mikado's sister had never shown up, so Shizuo had drank the remaining hot chocolate.
Shizuo's fingers trembled a little as he typed on the delicate screen. "I met someone today that reminded me of you."
There was no reply. Shizuo sat in the penthouse, keeping himself busy until it was late enough to sleep.
Shizuo booked a consultation with the divorce lawyer. His appointment was 2:00pm the following day. Moments later his phone popped up with a reminder for it. Shizuo checked his finances and started looking for a new place to live.
Shizuo took his wedding ring off, feeling around the indent it had left behind. He'd never taken it off. But he did so now, placing the slim band on the table. Staring at the ring with forever inside, really felt like everything was over.
Shizuo didn't both texting Izaya. He hadn't done since the one he'd had no response. The only messages he had were more of Izaya not coming home. Now it was an hour until his appointment and he felt sick.
Shizuo sat in the waiting room staring at his ring free hand. The indent hadn't faded yet. His knee twitched and bounced. Hearing a familiar voice he looked up seeing Mikado behind the desk with a folder in his hand.
Mikado looked up and saw him, mouth dropping open. "Shizuo-san."
"Mikado-kun." Shizuo said. "Why are you here?"
"Interning. I'm hoping to become a lawyer." Mikado smiled. "Why are you here?"
"...consultation." Shizuo murmured.
"Oh."
Shizuo nodded.
"You want some company?"
Shizuo nodded.
Shizuo wondered what Izaya would think when he eventually came home. Would his husband even notice the divorce papers and his ring sitting on the table?
Shizuo sighed and retreated to his bedroom. He'd lose everything but he could find something new.
The only text he'd received was from Mikado. Shizuo sighed turning the teen down. Mikado had told him he was 20 but the kid reminded him too much of Izaya. The appearance was similar, the eyes too sharp and full of ambition. Shizuo neither wanted a rebound or to find himself in a similar situation.
Shizuo packed what was his and by midday, he was meeting Kasuka for lunch, ready to take what was offered.
Shizuo groaned lifting his head. He'd turned into a comfort snob and Kasuka's spare room was nothing like his own. On the pillow beside him, his phone rang. The screen lit up with Izaya's name splashed across the screen. With a sigh he reached out and accepted the call.
"Morning, flea." Shizuo grumbled smothering a yawn. Damn it was 4:00 in the morning. "Ugh, it's early."
"Shizu-chan, what are you doing?" Izaya's voice came through clear. It looked like his husband had finally come home.
"I was sleeping. You woke me. Can this wait?" Shizuo groaned.
"A divorce?" Izaya asked. "You want a divorce, why?"
Shizuo wasn't awake enough for this conversation. "It's time. We've been together seven years. We're not the same as back then. Just sign the papers flea and let's move on."
"Is there someone else?"
"No. It's just...hah...we're strangers to each other in that penthouse." Shizuo dropped his head against his knees. "We both have needs, we're just no longer the right ones to fulfil them. Sign the papers, flea. Goodbye."
Shizuo cut the call and turned his phone off when Izaya tried ringing him again. He didn't cry, even if he felt sad. He'd lost Izaya a long time ago.
Shizuo kept himself busy. With Kasuka's help he moved into his own apartment. Immediately he missed his bed and the bathroom. He missed the soundproofing too, as well as his fish. Maybe he could take them back.
Shizuo let himself into the penthouse carrying a fishing tank. He didn't think Izaya would be in and hopefully it wouldn't take long. Shizuo went through his bedroom and into the bathroom, where the hatch opened for feeding and then further to take them out.
Shizuo carefully scooped each fish into the tank, watching as it swam around its new smaller space. For a start he'd need another tank to carry them. "Fuck."
Moving to stand he jumped as the door opened and the tank shattered under his momentary grip. Shizuo cursed ignoring Izaya and quickly tossing the fish back in the floor. "I'll be back once I get a new tank."
"Shizu-chan, we need to talk." Izaya sounded like he hadn't slept. He looked like it too.
"Did you sign the papers?" Shizuo asked staring at the glass shards.
"No. I'm not going to."
Shizuo frowned. "I'm only taking the stuff I've brought with my own money. Everything else always belonged to you."
"You belong to me, Shizu-chan."
Shizuo sighed and stood, stepping over the glass and into his bedroom. His old bedroom. "Flea-"
"What don't you like?" Izaya interrupted him. "You didn't even talk to me about this."
Shizuo clenched his fists. "You weren't here to. You're never here."
"I've been busy with work."
Shizuo nodded. "You own the company. I've already made up my mind. I'm just here for my fish."
"I'm not signing." Izaya couldn't move towards him because of the glass. Shizuo was staying where he was. "You're mine. Till death do us part, remember."
Shizuo snorted bitterly. "You've been a ghost for a while. Just sign the papers. You can work yourself into an early grave and I'll…"
"You'll what, Shizu-chan? We've been together years. What will you do without me?" Izaya snapped.
"I guess I'll find out." Shizuo finally stepped back over the glass and left. He arranged for the fish to be professionally removed and delivered to him.
He blocked Izaya's number.
The first day after Izaya's adamant refusal, Shizuo had flowers and chocolates delivered to his door. For lunch he had a bakery platter and dinner was from his favourite restaurant. Shizuo turned them all away. He tossed his phone away seeing the unknown number contacting him.
The second day was the same. Shizuo brought a new phone and shortly after it was activated, more messages from an unknown number. Izaya. It was the most his husband had contacted him in a long time. He didn't read them, he couldn't bring himself to do so. So he destroyed the phone and didn't get a new one. If his brother needed him he could email. His friends could come and see him. If he had friends.
Shizuo sighed. An empty apartment with just him, but smaller. Maybe he would've been better staying where he was. Nothing had changed except his conditions were worse and he had no phone to contact anyone.
It didn't stop his emails being bombarded to the point Izaya's name gave him a migraine, nor all the gifts sent to his door. He was isolated, alone and being harassed. His bank account being frozen was the last straw.
He got a new phone and went back to the penthouse. Izaya predictably wasn't there. That made him laugh. His fish hadn't been touched but the automatic feeder was still working fine. Nothing had changed. But everything had.
Shizuo was surprised Izaya was sitting at the table. They ate in silence but he could feel Izaya's gaze on him. Shizuo refused to crack first.
"Your lawyer called chasing up the divorce papers." Izaya said. "You haven't told him yet?"
Shizuo frowned. "I still want a divorce."
"We're not getting a divorce." Izaya said calmly.
"We are." Shizuo snapped. "The only reason I'm back here is because you left me no choice."
"You're mine. No divorce."
"What if I've met someone else?" Shizuo asked. He hadn't but he needed Izaya to throw him away.
"Perhaps as a one off third but nothing more than that." Izaya remained calm, almost indifferent. A sociopath with a toy. "Why are you so eager to escape me?"
Shizuo sighed pushing his plate away, no longer hungry. His stomach churned and he felt sick. "It's time, flea. You're never here. The apartment is cold and empty. I can't even remember the last time we slept in the same room. We're strangers. We should call it quits before things turn hostile."
Izaya stared at him without blinking, a robot processing the information given. "We started off as enemies Shizu-chan. You still love me."
Shizuo sighed long, drawn and resigned. "You don't get it. You're not listening." Pushing back his chair he turned from his hopefully soon to be ex husband and went to his room, closing the door behind him.
Shizuo wasn't used to having his space invaded. Back when they were first together Izaya would steal him away, pinning him to any and every surface to have his wicked way. But with Izaya's absence, the sex had stopped as well leaving him to his own toys and hand to find pleasure. Izaya hadn't bothered stepping across the threshold of his room. There was no lock on the door, in case his husband had wanted to try and bridge the growing rift. Izaya hadn't. Until now.
Shizuo was still bogged down with sleep, his mind stirring but his body lax. A whimper fell from his lips, feeling a cool breeze across his torso and a wet heat on his cock. Shizuo moaned twitching as slick fingers probed at his hole, pressing inside. His head tipped back as they brushed across his sweet spot.
His sleep crusted eyes remained shut as his nerves lit up waking his body from its paralysed state. His eyelids flew open as Izaya thrust his cock into his ass. Shizuo frowned. There was something wrong about that, but Izaya was inside him, slamming against his sweet spot in the rough way he liked. His husband pulled out and flipped him over, pulling him to his knees and slamming back inside him.
Shizuo cried out trembling against the bed sheets, ass raised and ruined for anyone else. Izaya raised him back up, sucking and nibbling at his neck. Shizuo stiffened as he shot his load over the covers and Izaya came inside him, riding his own orgasm out.
Shizuo winced as his husband pulled out. Shame and confusion filled him at what they'd done. Without a word he fled to the bathroom, curling up inside the shower, hating how his fish judged him. Izaya had finally crossed the threshold into his room. But it was too late. It was supposed to be too late.
Shizuo had thought Izaya would've left. Instead the smell of coffee permeated their home. Izaya sat at the table with his laptop in front of him. "Good morning, Shizu-chan. I made you breakfast."
Shizuo glowered at the man. "I thought you left."
Izaya gave him a cynical look. "I can't can I, because you might not be here when I get back."
Shizuo shook his head. "What will it take for you to sign the damn papers?"
"I'm not signing for anything, Shizu-chan."
As expected the assistant lawyer was like Izaya. Shizuo leaned against the door blocking anyone from coming in. His arms were crossed and he tried not to look at the crime they were committing. He knew Izaya would never sign the divorce papers, his husband would never let him go.
Which is why he'd dug out a copy of their marriage license for Mikado to copy Izaya's signature. His head pounded loudly in his chest, the sound reverberating in his ears. "It's done." Mikado spoke up. "Once processed you'll have one hundred days before you can marry again."
"Can Izaya say it's a forgery?" Shizuo whispered.
"He could but I don't believe he will. If he's as possessive as you say he won't do anything that will separate you."
Shizuo walked to the desk and snatched the marriage license up. "Thank you."
"Shizuo-san." Mikado grabbed his wrist to stop him fleeing. "The best thing you can do is find someone to marry straight away after the one hundred days pass. That's how you separate once and for all."
Shizuo retreated to his room biting out a curse seeing his now ex husband laying sprawled across his bed laptop sitting open on the bedside table. Shizuo scowled at him. "What are you doing in here?" He snapped. "This isn't your room."
Izaya looked up at him, coffee in one hand, a small plate of sushi on the bed. "You're here. Given we're married, we should be sharing a bed."
Shizuo snorted in disbelief, shaking his head. "Then you should've made that decision years ago. This is my room. My space. Go back to your own."
Izaya took a sip of his coffee, lifting a piece of fatty tuna to his lips. "You did a good job. It's nice and warm in here. It feels like you. The fish were a surprise. I thought you'd go for a puppy. Maybe a rescue."
"I don't want you here." Shizuo sighed.
"If I'm not here, how are we going to fix your problems?"
"My problems?" Shizuo questioned slowly.
"You wanting a divorce." Izaya took another bite, another sip.
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Izaya it was done. Shizuo turned away. Izaya's bedroom door had all manner of locks and security.
"You keep calling." Shizuo said in greeting.
Mikado gave him a small smile. "If we don't chase the divorce, he'll grow suspicious."
"Makes sense." Shizuo murmured. He wasn't a fan of lies and tricks, but Izaya was a trickster trying to wheedle his way out of everything. He'd have to play the game.
Mikado set down the files in his hand, crossing the room with nervous steps. His hand was smaller than Izaya's. Colder too. If Izaya was fire, passion and cuddles, Mikado was water. Cool, calm, eyes like an ocean. Shizuo didn't move. Mikado's hand rested on his cheek, thumb smoothing over the bags under his eyes.
"You're not sleeping."
Shizuo moved away. Too much like Izaya this one, when his ex husband had given a damn. Something flashed in Mikado's eyes, a darkness he'd only seen in Izaya. Yeah, definitely too alike.
"Was there anything else?" Shizuo asked smothering a yawn.
"Would you like to have dinner with me?"
"I don't think that's a good idea." Shizuo took another step back. "Thank you for you help with this, Ryugamine-kun."
"It's not over yet." Mikado said. "By law you're free of him. You're still bound. You went back to him."
Izaya was underfoot. He was moving around their state of the art kitchen, making the basics. It was all either of them could do. Shizuo had the time to learn, but he was heavy handed and that meant broken equipment.
Izaya moved from the stove, bounding up to give him a peck on the lips. "Welcome home, Shizu-chan. Did you have a good day?"
"Stop this." Shizuo whispered. "It's too late."
"Dinner won't be done for a while." Izaya continued like he hadn't heard him. "Plenty of time for you to have a soak in the bath."
Izaya kissed his cheek, returning to the stove. He was whistling as he grabbed vegetables to place on the chopping board.
"What if I said there was someone else?"
Izaya grabbed the knife.
Thunk.
The noise cut through the silence, the vegetable splitting in half. "We'll discuss it, Shizu-chan. Til death do us part, remember. Marriage is sacred. Do you know wolves mate for life? They have no concept of divorce, only humans. They think they can pick and choose. They think throwing money at their problems in courts can make them go away. It doesn't work like that, not with us. We got this far, Shizu-chan. We still have a way to go. You've had a long day. Go relax. We'll talk."
Shizuo retreated to the bathroom, closing the door. He pressed a hand to his racing heart, pulsing in his ears. His fish swam upwards bobbing against the clear floor. "I think I made a mistake." Shizuo shuddered. He should've left the country before putting in for divorce.
Shizuo fell asleep in the bath. The stress had gotten to him, and it felt like he hadn't slept in days. His head lolled against the tub. Distantly he heard the splashing of water. The warmth of a body around his own. Fingers smoothing his wet locks to the side of his face.
"Maybe I should've sent you to bed instead, hm?" Izaya said teasingly soft, enough for him to hear but not enough to shock him out of the state he was in. "The stove is off. Dinner can wait."
Shizuo felt like smiling. He liked it when Izaya made time for him. Back then Izaya had always had time for him. They'd been enemies, slowly becoming something more. They'd had to sneak around their families. They'd both been disowned by the time they'd spoken out about their relationship.
They hadn't had a blessing for their marriage. They'd been alone. A small ceremony for two. Shizuo had struggled to find work, with Izaya being their sole money maker. Izaya put everything into making sure they had what they'd needed.
Shizuo shivered in luke warm water, plastered against a hot chest. Droplets dripped from the tips of his hair. He was jostled as the bath drained, hot water topping up, warming his cooling flesh. He settled again, sliding further down to cover his shoulders.
He let himself drift. He didn't need to worry. Izaya had him. Izaya would never let him get hurt.
"…I forged your signature on the divorce papers."
"I know."
"We're not married anymore."
"A piece of paper doesn't mean anything, Shizu-chan." Izaya jostled him. "Come on, your skin is wrinkling."
Shizuo moved on autopilot, letting Izaya guide him from the bath, wrapping him in a large fluffy towel that covered him head to feet. He remained bundled up at the dining table, opening his mouth like a small bird for Izaya to feed him.
"You said there was someone else." Izaya murmured.
Shizuo chewed and swallowed. "I lied."
"You're not trying to trade me in for a younger model?"
He thought about Mikado. "No. There's only you."
"I'll do better, Shizu-chan." Izaya fed him another mouthful. "I wanted to make sure you had everything."
Shizuo forced his eyes open. He needed sleep. He met Izaya's serious gaze. "I only need you."
Izaya cupped his cheek, smoothing a thumb over the bags under his eyes. Shizuo leaned into the touch. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
End