Title – The next one
Pairing – Izuo
Rating – MA
Warnings – language, violence, drugs, rape, psychological etc
Disclaimer – I don't own Durarara
It was a sex club made famous for its artistic performances. Everything was consensual. The men were slim things dressed in lace and corsets. They gathered around a chain dangling from the ceiling. The first loop was hooked on and then there was a four way dildo sliding into place. The men twirled, got on their knees and pressed back onto each end. Three more groups copied and the next part followed.
Sixteen sex kittens strutted onto stage and stood in front of each of the first. They whipped their cocks out like a dance number and stuffed them in their mouths. Like a pyramid of contortionists playing Tetris, the men slotted together around their chains until the pyramid got thinner, with only one naked man on top being eaten out by the two beneath him.
The music continued to play and everyone watched in awe, most of the VIPs stayed in the dark with their hands on their cocks or deciding which lucky member of the act to take for a private session. Then there was a smash of glass, the bartender hurrying over to the nearest staff bouncer and pointing towards the act.
The video paused. "That's you."
Shizuo sighed and nodded. "Yes."
"You were the only one to say anything. To see anything. Do you know what we found at the scene?"
"Yes. The act was pulled apart."
Shizuo flinched as a photo of the crime scene was slammed down. A mutilated body hung up over a St. Andrew's Cross dressed in a long blonde wig and a red corset and matching panties.
"How did you know there was a body there?" The cop asked. "Did you do it?"
"I smelt blood."
"You smelt blood? All the way from the bar?"
"Yes. I have a strong sense of smell."
"I'm sure other people have as well." The cop ranted hitting the desk. "But in a club stinking of sweat and sex, only you 'smelt' blood. Did you do it?"
"No."
"We'll find out the truth. Did you do it?"
Shizuo cringed as the cop's voice got louder, more insistent. "You're guilty, a murderer, you killed the victim and hung their body up! Admit it!"
The door slammed open and in walked Mikado Ryugamine holding a briefcase. Shizuo frowned but relaxed as much as he could, he needed to remain calm. "Questioning my client without a lawyer and trying to coerce a confession. You're lucky you aren't in the hot seat. On what grounds have you arrested my client?"
"He's a suspect in a homicide."
"Do you have evidence that links my client to the crime?"
"He was the only one aware of the body."
"Yet my client was behind the bar all night. His alibi is right there on the security camera."
"You expect us to believe he has a strong sense of smell?" The cop sneered.
Mikado sat on the table. "Shizuo, one finger above your head."
Shizuo did so lifting the table and Mikado with it above his head. He waited a couple of seconds and then gently put them down. "Not only does my client have a strong sense of smell, he has abnormal strength, which is documented in his medical file and signed off by his doctors. You have nothing and you're victimising an innocent civilian. Tread lightly or I will be pressing charges."
Shizuo flinched as Mikado lightly touched his shoulder. "I'll drive you home, come on Shizuo." Shizuo stood, still seeing the image in his mind's eye. He felt sick. "Shizuo, look at me." He did so, focusing on the deep blue of Mikado's eyes.
x-x-x
"So what do you think?"
"I think you need to fire your bully there." Izaya murmured watching the interrogation room. "He's not a suspect. He's showing victim markers, quite a few of them. He relaxed when the lawyer came in and panicked at the photo."
"What's your opinion then? Do we let him go?"
Izaya watched the lawyer ground the supposed suspect. It looked like the two had history. "Have someone watch him. He knows more than he's saying."
"You think he's a suspect after all?"
Izaya looked at the chief. "No. I think he's the next victim and the crime scene was a message."
x-x-x
Shizuo tore his room apart looking for the outfit he already knew was missing. Someone had broken into his home and stolen it. Grabbing his phone and a bag he left the apartment, heading for the nearest hotel. He didn't care what room, as long as it was locked and no one could see him.
Fuck work, fuck everything. Message received. He was next.
x-x-x
"We found something."
Izaya watched the security footage almost two months back. One of the acts stepped onto the stage in the victim's outfit. "Not the victim."
"No. All acts are logged in, everything is transparent, except the VIP rooms." The replacement cop said. "Shizuo Heiwajima. I asked around, apparently all staff may have to fill in at one point. They all have a costume."
"How many times has Shizu-chan been on stage?"
"Twice. Once two months ago and before that almost a year ago. I did some digging. The VIP rooms have permission to ask any of the performers for a private showing."
"He refused?"
"Maybe. No one is saying. Got a report in though. Your supposed vic just fled his apartment and booked into a hotel."
"He realised his costume was missing. Someone was in his apartment."
"Poor guy."
x-x-x
Shizuo peeled back the blind feeling someone watching him. His heart thumped painfully at the knock on the door. "I didn't order room service!" He called out.
"Shizu-chan, we need to talk. My name is Izaya Orihara. I'm a criminal profiler."
Shizuo frowned and moved closer to the door. "You're not here to arrest me?"
"No. I believe that scene was a message for you. I'd rather not see you like that."
Shizuo unlocked the door and poked his head out so he could see through the gap. One guy. "You were behind the glass."
"Yes. I watched the interrogation. I told the chief to fire him. I don't like bullies."
Shizuo stepped back and opened the door. Izaya stepped in watching him as he closed and flicked the lock. "I'm being watched."
"For your protection. I believe you're intended as the next victim. The costume the victim was wearing, that was yours. What happened?"
Shizuo dragged a hand through his hair. "I said no." Izaya said nothing so he continued to fill the silence. "Performing was fine, says I may have to do it in my contract. The first time, I got called up to one of the VIP booths. He requested a private session. I said no. He laughed and let me go. The same thing happened on my second performance. I said no. He laughed and said third time is a charm. I put the costume in a box and shoved it to the bottom of my closet. Boss wanted me to perform last week. I said no."
"The victim, did you know them?" Izaya asked.
"Not their name. I'm not good with names or faces. Smells stick."
"So you don't remember who propositioned you?"
"I was blindfolded. Both times. Rules, the VIPs pay for their privacy."
"What about smell?"
Shizuo flinched surprised someone believed him. "Cigarettes, leather, sex and blood."
"That narrows it down." Izaya murmured.
"Chocolate." Shizuo added. "And whiskey."
"You'd be able to recognise him by scent?" Izaya leaned forward and studied him.
"Yes."
And he did.
x-x-x
It wasn't just the cops following him. Shizuo had barely made it to work, before a car pulled up beside him and he found a gloved hand over his mouth and nose. Chloroform. Chemical scents affected him quicker. His eyes rolled back and his body went limp, pulled into the back seat. Shizuo recognised the scent of the lap he was shoved into.
x-x-x
"They lost him." Izaya heard. He was studying the criminals, narrowing it down based on Shizuo's sensory abilities.
"Shizu-chan ran?"
"No, he was kidnapped in broad daylight. I thought he was strong." The chief commented.
"They likely used a drug. It's highly likely Shizu-chan's ability is a double edged blade. Given the timing of the message, I'd say the killer knew and will use it to keep him docile."
"Tell me you have a suspect."
"You're not going to like it." Izaya pulled up the screen.
"Fuck."
x-x-x
Shizuo woke standing. He woke in a silk and lace matching lingerie with stockings and little heels, all in red. He was in a white room, pressed against the wall. In chains. That smell was there.
Shizuo flinched as the smell of bloodied leather came quick and fast, followed by sharp pain across his back. The second strike came quickly, followed by the third, forth and fifth, that split his skin and left a blood trail and pain in its wake.
He was going to die. Shizuo swished his tongue over his teeth, careful not to dislodge the capsule Izaya had given him. He could end it all quickly. One swallow and it would all be over, or he could fight. Izaya had said to trust him, that if anything happened he would find him. But how far would he have to go down the victim route until that happened?
The victim in his place had been whipped, he'd been raped and he'd been mutilated. His nose hadn't been able to tell in what order. He knew what would happen if he swallowed the pill. He knew what would happen if he didn't. Izaya had said to trust him, had given him a way out.
The whip tore across his back again. How much could he take before he took the escape anyway. Shizuo rested his head against the wall. His family was indifferent, he had one or two friends but they wouldn't miss him. He had a track record of violence and job hopping. He was a loser with a trigger temper and a smoking habit.
Izaya had said to trust him. He didn't know how. But…he wanted to. He had the psychical strength to heal, as for his mentality… that was an unknown. Shizuo winced as his head was yanked back and a new smell was shoved under his nose. Then he didn't have a choice at all.
x-x-x
That time was a flash of blurs, a headache threatening to crack his skull, pain and red eyes. There were too many scents to pick out. But he remembered Izaya and the whispered words. "Some things are better to forget." The scent was strong and sweet.
He woke up in a hospital, on his stomach. That was uncomfortable. He couldn't move with the damn tubes in him. He was alive. He frowned trying to remember anything past the whipping and drew a blank.
"Good morning, Shizu-chan." Izaya stepped into the room. "Case closed, you're safe but it would be best if you quit your job."
Shizuo sighed. "Probably."
"Good, then I'd like to offer you a job."
Shizuo frowned trying to twist around. Not a good idea. "As what?"
"My apprentice and then my partner. You have the means to protect yourself and anyone around you. You also have resources I don't."
"Sounds like you want a guard dog." Shizuo grumbled.
"Call it what you will. I'll be in touch."
Shizuo closed his eyes. He couldn't see but he could smell Izaya still standing at the door. "Thank you for finding me."
"Get some rest, Shizu-chan."
x-x-x
It was almost a month before Shizuo had recovered enough to make a decision. There were scars on his back and anything else had been buried under a mountain of painkillers. The police didn't bother him and Izaya had left him a card. He called the number.
Shizuo left the door open. He wasn't one to bother with the illusion of safety. "Hey, Izaya." He called out nose twitching. No point in formalities to his saviour. He poked his head out behind the kitchen wall to see the man close the door. "You want anything to drink?"
"Water or coffee. You left your door open. Aren't you worried about thieves?"
Shizuo took a bottled water and a strawberry milk carton from the fridge and joined Izaya on the opposite sofa chair. There was a round table between them. He set them both down and sat back. "My body still seems to be in survival mode. I can smell everything around me, even if I don't want to. The apartment across the hall. Her husband is on a business trip, it smells worse than when he's there."
"Cheating then?" Izaya asked and nodded as if that was the end of it.
Shizuo watched the profiler check over the bottle before opening it. Shizuo twisted the lid on the carton and left it to get a glass. Neither of them spoke until he was seated and pouring milkshake into the glass. "So how would it work?"
"I need someone I can entrust my back to." Izaya said. "If you choose to take the position, you'd be living with me and your life would be transparent."
Shizuo shrugged. "Sounds good."
Izaya's brow furrowed. "No questions? Why?"
Shizuo stared into his glass watching the milk swish around. "You believed me. You gave me a choice and you were there when I needed you. I can count on one hand how many times that's happened."
"Fair enough." Izaya nodded when he finally looked up. The water remained untouched. "One rule Shizu-chan, don't fall in love with me."
Shizuo blinked. "Is this reverse psychology or do you mean it?"
"I mean it." Izaya said staring him in the eye.
Shizuo shrugged. "No problem there. I don't touch what I can break. I might've worked in a sex club but I'm still a virgin." Shizuo frowned. "I think." Shaking his head he drained the glass and set it down. "Let me know the other rules and the address."
Izaya just watched him.
x-x-x
Kasuka had a mansion when he was home but stayed in hotels. Izaya had a penthouse that had a bedroom either side with its own bathroom. They'd literally be on opposite sides. "You like sushi." Shizuo commented taking the left side that didn't smell like Izaya and instead smelt of lavender. Supposedly a relaxant. The walls were white, the bed was white and Shizuo appreciated there not being a window. It was the perfect hotel room or therapy room. Shizuo dropped his bag down. "Any plans for today?"
"No. Take the day to get settled."
Shizuo smothered a yawn. "Sure. Thanks."
x-x-x
Shizuo cooked his own meal and took care of his own dishes and laundry. They may live together but they were indifferent room-mates. He didn't set foot past the invisible line on the floor. Izaya was a private person and everyone around him was just data. Izaya didn't trust him. Shizuo wasn't bothered by that. If the profiler started feeling unsafe around him, he'd leave.
Shizuo had agreed to the cameras around the apartment. He'd agreed to having his devices bugged and his phone cloned. He didn't really use it anyway. He'd agreed there was no one else in the apartment but dating and sex wasn't on his mind. At least it shouldn't be. His dreams were a little troublesome.
[Question.] he text Mikado. [Would becoming personally involved conflict with you being my lawyer?]
{What do you mean by personal?}
[I'm not sleeping well. I think more happened than I can remember. I need to face my demons.]
{Have you tried a therapist?}
Shizuo sighed. [I don't trust therapists. I trust you.]
It took a while for Mikado to respond. {Let's think it through. If you're right, it's going to get worse before it gets better. Wait until you're fully healed and then we'll talk.}
[Thanks.]
{Try and get some sleep Shizuo.}
[I'll try.]
Ten minutes later a text pinged through.
{If you're free tomorrow we can look into aromatherapy. Good night Shizuo.}
Shizuo set the phone down and closed his eyes. His back twinged with phantom pain.
x-x-x
Shizuo didn't leave his room until his alarm went off. He'd already showered and was just waiting so he didn't spook Izaya. A shame given he really had wanted a midnight snack. He'd buy a mini fridge so he didn't ruin the space between them.
Leaving his room he found Izaya in the kitchen cooking for himself. "Morning."
"Morning, Shizu-chan. You're out today?"
Shizuo took the milk from the fridge and grabbed a glass. "Yeah, meeting up with my lawyer. You need anything?"
"No."
Shizuo nodded as he poured, returning the carton. He drained the glass, washed up and returned it to the rack.
"That's all you're having?" Izaya asked as he walked away.
"I'll get something when I'm out."
x-x-x
Thank god for his strength. Shizuo opened the door and let himself inside. In one hand was his fridge, bigger than what he had assumed. In the other was a large bag of delicate glass bottles amongst other things.
Izaya looked up from where he was on the sofa, laptop in hand, files spread over the glass table. Glass was a thing. Shizuo wouldn't touch what he could break. "You brought a fridge?"
"So I don't sleepwalk." Shizuo shrugged. "Won't have far to go. You need me for anything?"
"Not at the moment."
Shizuo nodded and carried everything to his room.
The fridge went in the corner of the room on the dresser. He left it unplugged for now. Gently lowering the bag down, he surveyed the room. So much white. The bed was fine, although Mikado had suggested adding colour. So he would.
The beside tables were fine, but the dresser and the little shelf on the wall were really the only place to put the bottles. Maybe he needed another shelf of something. Shizuo set to work trying to cover the white. He didn't think Izaya meant to remind him of that damn room, but it did. He worked until he was ready to drop. He changed the bedding to a nice soft lilac. He pinned the starry fabric to the wall covering the white. He set up the light on the bed that spread soothing, almost hypnotic patterns over the ceiling. He couldn't do anything about the dresser or the tables.
Shizuo was trembling when he finished. Collapsing on the bed and realising just how much the white affected him. He wasn't done yet, still had the fridge to wash and plug in. Still had to set his little glass jars out. They hadn't tried any of the scents, given how susceptible he was to them. Better to do that when he was in his own space.
Shizuo looked around the room, feeling himself relax. Closing his eyes he listened to the soft twinkling tones that came with the light.
x-x-x
He woke to banging on his door. Shizuo's nose twitched, knowing it was Izaya. Freshly out of a shower and snacking on sushi. Shizuo pushed himself up and opened the door. He'd probably accidentally covered a camera or something.
"Everything alright?" Shizuo asked.
Izaya looked past him and into his room. "Time to get to work."
"Alright." Shizuo left his door open and headed for the sofa.
"Have you eaten today?" Izaya asked following behind.
"I had breakfast with my lawyer."
"So nothing since breakfast?"
Shizuo flinched catching a glance at the clock. "I lost track of time. What do you need me for?"
"We'll start easy." Izaya handed him sealed evidence bags. He didn't look inside, just opened them enough to smell what was inside. "What do you smell?"
"Beer. Perfume. Sex." He sealed the bag and set it down.
"This one?"
"Blood. Anger. Cigarettes. Beer."
"Anger?" Izaya asked curiously. "You can smell that?"
"Yes." Shizuo shrugged. "I learned that if you associate a smell with a feeling, it helped me know who to avoid. Anger smells like something burnt."
"Interesting. Was that something you figured out on your own?"
"Mostly."
"What does fear smell like?" Izaya asked.
"Sweat and piss. Mouldy rain."
Izaya nodded. "The sex, was it consensual?"
Shizuo sighed and picked up the first bag. "No fear. Chlorine."
"Which means?"
Shizuo set the bag down. "Resignation. Not the first time but there's no breaking the cycle. Abusive husband?"
"Yeah. Thank you, Shizu-chan."
Shizuo nodded and returned to his room.
x-x-x
Shizuo couldn't sleep. The fridge was plugged in but nothing was in it. The bottles were unopened. The alarm clock said it was almost midnight. Shizuo called Mikado leaving the phone on speaker so he could relax.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"No."
"The scents didn't work?"
"Haven't opened them yet." Shizuo sighed. "I was thinking."
"Good or bad things?"
"About Masaomi."
"Oh. Why?"
"I remembered something." Shizuo admitted eyes closed. "I was blindfolded and gagged. I think they knew about me. All about me."
Mikado hissed a breath. "Could've been an experiment?"
"They had everything there and ready. They knew." Shizuo sighed curling onto his side. "The only ones that knew everything was you and Masaomi."
"What about the police or the profiler?"
"Only what you told them. I didn't say anything apart from sense of smell."
"Then you need to find out how they found you, so we can prepare." Mikado paused. "Have you eaten?"
"Yes."
"Let me rephrase. Have you eaten since you threw up breakfast?"
Shizuo winced. "No."
"Eat something."
"I can't." Shizuo admitted. "Everything tastes of ash."
"You need a therapist."
"I'm coping. I'll be fine. Goodnight Mikado." Shizuo ended the call realising the subject of Masaomi had been skipped.
x-x-x
"Morning." Shizuo yawned, bee lining for the fridge.
"Morning Shizu-chan." Izaya took his coffee over to the table. "Something wrong?"
Shizuo frowned taking his glass of milk to the sofa. Apparently he was more agitated that he'd thought. "How was I found? In the last case I mean."
Izaya looked at him over the rim of his mug. Shizuo couldn't hold his gaze. "You were blindfolded, on your knees with headphones blasting a high pitched noise, you were tied up with a gag in your mouth and you had plugs in your nostrils."
Shizuo nodded, draining the glass and staring into its depths. He should set it down before he broke it. He could taste ash in his mouth. Closing his eyes he wondered if he should ask Izaya the damage that had been done. He'd find out anyway. It was just the choice of whether he wanted to know what to expect or if he was fine with the nasty surprises in store.
"Everything okay?" Izaya asked.
One of Izaya's rules was not to lie. "I don't know yet."
Izaya studied him and nodded. "Your room wasn't deliberate."
Shizuo blinked. "I know. Anything you need?"
"Not at the moment."
Shizuo stood and walked back towards the kitchen. "Alright, I'm going shopping."
x-x-x
Under Izaya's watchful eye and Mikado's nagging, Shizuo ate what he could manage. He stuck with miso soup. It tasted awful but he stomached it until he got to the bathroom and threw it back up.
x-x-x
Sleep paralysis sucked. Shizuo couldn't move. He closed his eyes trying not to think about the fingers dragging down his scars. He bit into his pillow, feeling a large hand hold him around the front of his throat. Tears leaked from his eyes as he felt fingers dig into the whip wounds and rake down his back. He wouldn't scream. He had no memory of screaming.
x-x-x
Shizuo woke up shaky with his head in his hands. One nasty surprise down, god knows how many more to go. He showered on auto pilot, got dressed and made his usual route to the fridge. Izaya was already there with his coffee.
"We've been called to a crime scene."
Shizuo nodded closing his eyes as he drained his glass. "Murder?"
"Don't know yet. But I'd skip breakfast."
A bitter laugh slipped out.
x-x-x
Shizuo's instructions was simple. Follow along and text Izaya a breakdown of everything he smelt. The cops looked at him more than once.
[Blood
Sweat
Ash
Burnt ]
Shizuo pinched his nose feeling a sharp stabbing sensation. Betrayal. He didn't text Izaya that. The profiler would work it out.
Shizuo felt a large hand on the back of his neck. He felt the push down and his knees buckled.
"Hey! Watch the crime scene!"
Shizuo stood and looked at Izaya. "I'll wait outside."
He could still smell blood. Shizuo made himself useful following the scent, as he got towards the garden shed the smell spiked. Shizuo sighed and send Izaya a text.
[There's something in the shed.]
He backed away from the secondary crime scene.
x-x-x
Shizuo sat in the passenger seat, whilst Izaya drove. "Good work today. It was a dog in the shed."
Shizuo nodded trying not to flinch as he felt a wet tongue swipe behind his ear. "What are you thinking?"
"There's a dead woman in the house and a dead dog in the shed. The husband was out drinking. The dog tried to protect the victim and was killed. The killer dragged the dog to the shed. It'll be easier to find the killer if they were bitten. The woman was stabbed to death. At this point it could be anyone."
Shizuo chewed his lip.
"What does ash mean? You said sweat was fear and burnt was anger. What's ash?"
"Despair." Shizuo answered moving his head down because that was what the hand wanted.
"It's not just sense of smell, is it?" Izaya asked eyes on the road.
"No." Shizuo answered quietly.
"What else did you get?"
"Betrayal."
"Makes sense. Tomorrow we're at the station to see the suspects."
x-x-x
Shizuo had once again thrown up his soup and smashed the dish on the laminated flooring. He'd known it was bad but the hand running up and down his thigh in warning had still been a shock. "Shit! Sorry!"
Shizuo picked up the broken pieces and tossed them in the bin. He came back with a wet cloth and scrubbed the floor.
"It's not over for you, is it?" Izaya asked watching him.
"No."
"You asked how you were found. I take it a blocked sense heightens another one?"
Shizuo grit his teeth, slumping on the sofa, bone tired. "Yes."
"So although you have no memory of what happened…you can feel it, can't you?"
"Yeah. Not fun."
"It was personal." Izaya pointed out. "Any way to stop it?"
Shizuo sighed. "No. I'll know everything that happened."
Izaya stared at him. "You were raped. If it's any consolation it wasn't flesh. Your attacker had a strap on. He'd been mutilated."
Shizuo sighed. "Slightly better. Think that means I'm still technically a virgin. It's the touching that's the problem. The fucker gouged the whip wounds and he kept bloody touching."
"I'm sorry."
Shizuo sighed. "Not your fault. It'll pass once it's over. Then everything can get back to normal."
x-x-x
Shizuo crumbled in the shower, smacking his head against the tiles on the way down. He felt grabby hands on his inner thighs spreading them apart. He felt the slickness from his blood all over those hands. He felt the blunt probe at his asshole and he felt the pain as he was stretched, the fucker pushing in to where he could feel skin at the end of plastic.
It hurt. More than the whipping, more than the gouging. It hurt. The pain intensified and a hoarse scream burst from his lips. He wasn't sure how long he screamed. Izaya drew back the curtain and shut the water off. Shizuo closed his eyes. Izaya held a cloth to his nose and he was out.
x-x-x
Shizuo woke up in bed feeling blissfully numb. There were meds open on his bedside table, a glass of water and one of his incense bottles had been opened.
"You have concussion." Shizuo moved his head seeing Izaya on the floor by his dresser, laptop in front of him. "Try not to move."
"Thanks for patching me up." Shizuo mumbled, hating how scratchy his throat was. "It's alright now." He left the I hope unsaid.
"You're off duty until you're up and eating without throwing up." Izaya said. "Until then you're a liability and no use to me."
Shizuo sighed. "You're right. I'll work on it."
"Good. Go back to sleep."
Shizuo did just that.
x-x-x
It took a week for him to get his ass into gear, but he tried. It helped that Izaya set breakfast, lunch and dinner in front of him and Mikado continued to nag him via text. There were no more feeling recordings as he called them. He was finally healing. It was going to be hell when his sweet tooth came back.
"Morning." Shizuo greeted taking the omelette Izaya held out.
"Good morning, Shizu-chan. Sleep well?"
"Like a log." Shizuo shrugged, moving to the sofa with his plate and glass in hand. He didn't ask about Izaya. They were still like neighbours with a large space between them. Izaya didn't want him in his business and Shizuo would respect that.
"Good. We have a case."
Shizuo paused, lowering his mouthful to the plate. "Okay. Do you need just one or all senses?"
Izaya didn't hesitate. The man never did. "Whatever you pick up from the scene. But we're starting with the suspects. I'm not going to tell you anything. You'll be in the room and text me what you get from each one. I'll be watching from behind the glass. Today. I need you to shut off your hearing. Can you do that?"
Shizuo nodded. He would finally be useful. "I can do that."
x-x-x
The cop didn't like it. Shizuo sat in the corner ignoring the eyes on him. He closed his eyes, slipped on his headphones and focused purely on two of his senses. His taste and his smell.
He didn't look up, didn't know who was in the room with him. But his nose told him that anyway.
[perfume
Sweat
Ash
Pain]
He knew when the second one came in. Again, he didn't look up or acknowledge anyone in the room.
[cologne
Aftershave
Hair gel
Guilt
Agitation]
Shizuo felt the switch. He typed only one thing.
[Suicide risk]
He was glad when that one left. There was nothing after that and Shizuo almost looked up to see if they were taking a break.
{Shizu-chan? Anything?}
Shizuo frowned reading the text. There was no one to see. He looked up and saw there was indeed someone sitting in the suspect seat.
[Nothing. They don't feel anything.] His fingers shook as he typed.
{Come here.}
Shizuo stood up and removed his headphones, he left one door and went through the one right next door.
"How is she doing that?" Shizuo shuddered wanting to close all his senses. The woman stared straight at the glass, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"She's a psychopath. She mimics feelings." Izaya finished writing and closed the file. "Good work today."
Shizuo was still staring at the woman. "Shizu-chan, I need you not to panic. Psychopaths don't like when someone sees through them. We don't need you to become a target. Okay?"
Shizuo forced himself to turn away. "Right. Sorry."
"Wait here." Izaya left and went next door handing the file to the cop. He heard enough.
"Go and take that psychic sniffer dog with you!" Shizuo winced as the woman-the psychopath- stared after Izaya before looking back to where he was standing.
The door opened and he followed after Izaya. "That cop-"
"I know." Izaya sighed. "I should've just left the file in the room, then they'll complain it's gone missing or I should've waited until they were done. Unprofessional protozoans."
"So all psychopaths are like that?"
"More or less. If you feel like something is missing, don't let on and get out of there."
Shizuo sighed. "Damn your job is complicated."
x-x-x
"You know you don't have to cook for me any more. I'm fine."
"You don't like my cooking?" Izaya asked.
"It's not that. Just feels very one sided. You're doing everything, I'm…not."
"I like how things are." Izaya shrugged.
Shizuo opened his mouth but his phone rang. Given his phone was bugged anyway, he put on speaker.
"Shizuo are you eating?" Mikado asked.
"I've eaten." Shizuo looked pointedly at his empty plate. "I'm fine now."
"Good, you're not-"
"I met a psychopath today." Shizuo wasn't sure why that rushed out.
Mikado cursed. "Why? You're supposed to be avoiding trouble." A pause and then a curious "So what does a psychopath feel like?"
"Nothing. They mimic apparently. I was with one today. It was strange."
Mikado groaned. "Please tell me you didn't provoke another one?"
Izaya arched a brow. Shizuo frowned. "Another one? I haven't met a psychopath before."
"Saki. She confessed to Masaomi that she loved him and you said no she wasn't, she didn't feel anything."
Shizuo frowned. "I don't remember that. I remember Saki."
"You got hit by a car when we were walking home that night. We asked how only you did and you said you must've tripped, since you didn't feel anything." Mikado sighed. "Are you sure you're safe where you are? Since you've been in Shinjuku, you've been in nothing but trouble. Ikebukuro was better for you."
Shizuo scowled. "I'm fine. I'm doing good."
"Alright. You know where I am if you need me, legal help or otherwise. Try and eat something for supper too."
Shizuo ended the call, staring at the device. "Do psychopaths hold grudges?"
"Obsession. Yes." Izaya answered.
"How do I track someone?"
"It's not a good idea." Izaya sighed and reached for his laptop. "You suspect this woman?"
"Only two people knew what I could do. Saki was Masaomi's girlfriend. He told her everything. Something about a no secrets pact. I didn't like her, neither did Mikado."
"So you think she had you assaulted?"
"She pushed me in front of a car."
"I'll see what I can find."
Shizuo smiled. "Thank you."
x-x-x
Izaya wished Shizuo a good night and watched as his apprentice went one way and he went the other. Closing the door he settled on his own bed and got undressed waiting for the phone to be answered.
"Hello." The voice was clipped. "What do you want?" The you sounded like it was being spat.
"He's everything you said he would be."
"Still alive, I assume?" The voice snapped.
"No thanks to your psychopath girlfriend. They mentioned you and her today. Shizu-chan asked me to help him track her down."
"Don't! I can handle her. It's better they stay far away."
"They'll piece it together, Masaomi-kun. What will you do then?"
Izaya sighed as the call cut. He didn't have to lock his door since Shizuo had and would continue to obey his rules. But it made him feel better. Stripping down he tossed his clothes into the laundry basket, smoothing a hand over the picture on the wall. One of many.
Climbing into bed he pulled his laptop onto the small table that sat on his bed. His personal laptop that never left the room. Opening the cctv he had around the penthouse, he clicked into Shizuo's bedroom watching as he slept.
Izaya sighed clutching his custom body pillow to his chest and grinding his hips. Masaomi was such a naive fool for thinking he could protect his friends, so blind believing Izaya wouldn't want Shizuo for his own.
Shizuo was so very special. He'd made the rules and he was eager to see what it would take for Shizuo to break them. Because he would. Izaya had spoken about psychopaths and obsession, he hadn't mentioned sociopaths but the hint was there and Shizuo hadn't seen what was right in front of him. Izaya smirked watching Shizuo roll over in his sleep It was too late now.
End