Of course his virgin wave would act like they never met before.
Warding an approaching smile off his face, Shizuo served the most stoic act he could muster as he looked up and down at his guest's new attire.
He seemed to be in a good mood. Dressed like it too.
Just like the day before he had only chosen clothes that accentuated the best parts of his body and chosen jewelry that elevated his air of importance only.
And yet, his character seemed awfully easy to approach despite these obvious precautions that ensured a slightly intimidating aura.
"You again," Shizuo spoke, giving his best performance of the day as he hid his joy of meeting this guy again with indifference.
Of course his virgin wave had picked up on the challenge of who served the better act and a provoking smile spread across his lips as he hummed.
"Is that the best greeting you can manage, bartender?" Elbows were brought to the counter and fingers intertwined at the question.
Looking at how his guest's chin rested upon his hands more relaxed than challenged, Shizuo couldn't help but wonder what the rules of this new game were.
All he could tell was that they were both acting to their best ability and he bit back a chuckle as he brought his voice to an even more professional level.
"It's lovely to see you return, my dear guest."
The reaction he got was quite pleasing as his guest couldn't quite hide a quick snort and glance to the side.
Shizuo had won. He didn't exactly know at what, but he did.
"Oh my god, I feel like you are vomiting flowers, please stop." Izaya could practically hear the violins in the background and see the baroque frills turning up on this bartender's chest as the ancient flair of old aristocracy aged his words like fine wine.
"As you wish," the bartender replied with the softest hint of a bow and Izaya swore at that moment he impersonated old etiquette to perfection.
What was this conversation even about? He didn't know.
All he knew was the smile that spread across his lips in undeniable amusement as he shook his head softly.
"Now you are a butler," Izaya announced while slipping his elbows off the counter and the bartender reverted to his usual performance.
Slight misschief paired with his question as he raised a brow. "Aren't bartenders and butlers alike?"
Except for their standing regarding the people they served, they struck Shizuo as fairly similar. Both were wearing a suit of profession, a smile at all times and serving everything their counterpart desired to the best of their ability. But of course he knew they were not the same and his guest's amusement seemed to double as he shook his head softly.
"Not quite. Butlers are lower, try again."
It was fun.
To talk to this one.
Shizuo was sure it would be wiser to not talk to his virgin wave at all, but something about this guy struck him as awfully sympathetic. Of course Shizuo realized that most bartenders probably avoided any interactions with their guests. Evelyn didn't even know this guy's name despite serving inside this club for years and even bothering to memorize his quirks.
It told a lot about how dangerous this man was.
And yet, looking at the smile this guy flashed so unlike any of the other guests Shizuo couldn't really find himself caring about this alleged danger surrounding him.
"What can I bring you?"
Reversing their acts to those of two ordinary people acting as they were supposed as a bartender and a guest, his virgin wave nodded towards the shelf filled with Martini glasses.
"A cosmopolitan," he announced as Shizuo reached for the finely crafted vessel of drinks.
Avoiding the bottle of vodka and orange liqueur usually needed for this drink he opted for a broader number of fruits and syrups instead.
"No alcohol?" he asked, despite already knowing the answer, but as a bartender it was a question he wanted to ask nonetheless before wasting any materials.
"I see you truly remember me." A very well pleased smirk drew upon his guest's features and Shizuo found himself mimicking the same as he returned with a heap of cranberries and citrus fruits. "You thought I faked my recognition?"
It was a trick question, of course they had recognized each other upon sight, he was as much aware of that fact as his guest was but he enjoyed the play of pretense too much to cut it short.
"Lies are part of a good bartender won't you agree?" his virgin wave shrugged with a humored glint in his eyes, but this time Shizuo had a valid argument to show as he smiled. "But a good memory serves more favors."
Putting the now chilled glass down onto the table Shizuo started pouring the detoxified drink his guest had suggested. Following the various liquids, ice and fruits Izaya watched with mild fascination as he admitted defeat.
"I agree," he announced shortly, while taking a sip of the virgin drink he had been given. It was good- just like the day before this bartender almost seemed to specialize in creating cocktails that did not feature their most used components.
Stirring the glass just lightly with a piece of lemon stacked onto the rim of the glass Izaya nipped at the treat once more.
Better than anything he had ever been served at a bar, really.
Eyes trailing back up to his bartender's gaze he quickly met a pair of pleased eyes. This man knew he had done a good job and it showed on his face, and somehow that unexpected show of joy forced Izaya's own lips to curl into a smile.
"Then you would do well to remember that I never drink alcohol, nor do I smoke or harm my body in any other substantial way."
Just as expected he faced a mild hint of surprise flashing past his bartender's eyes and a second later he looked up and down Izaya's body.
Shizuo was smart enough to know he was talking about drugs.
Seeing as half of the people's reasons to visit this club was to get their weekly fix and an evening they would most surely not remember his guest's announcement came as quite the surprise.
Seeing how his virgin wave belonged to the no meddle group on top, his statement came as a surprise.
One that actually seemed to be backed with truth.
No sign of drug abuse, no wounds, no scars or even the slightest tinge of shade grazed his skin. His eyes showed a pair of mesmerizing pearls of blood, but his pupils were the size they were supposed to be.
A rarity inside this club if nothing else.
Just glancing around Shizuo could tell who had already consumed various kinds of substances and who had not.
It certainly increased the sympathy he felt for his favorite guest. "Guess I hit the mark with my drink then," he announced with a teasing flair, reminding his guest of his earlier loss.
Izaya was as aware as the bartender that right now their little games showed a counter of two to zero in the new guy's favor and yet somehow Izaya didn't feel the need to correct those stats all too soon.
Leaning onto his palm he watched the bartender as he cleared the back of the bar with rapid efficiency and even faster habit.
He looked like a professional.
Certainly not like he had just started this line of work a mere day ago.
A hint of doubt lingered in Izaya's mind for a second and he glanced towards the lady that usually served him the drinks he ordered at this club.
She was serving another guest at one of the tables without a single care about leaving her new aid alone at the counter.
"You truly were not aware?" Izaya asked, meeting the bartender's gaze shortly and nodded towards the woman. He was talking about his aversion regarding alcohol.
Following his gaze the bartender seemed to be quick on the uptake of the origin of his question and snorted with a quick shake of his head.
"Of course not, it was my first day."
Feeling his body relax in ways he hadn't realized he had tensed, Izaya smiled with genuinity.
"Then you pass."
Pausing shortly in the middle of polishing a glass Evelyn had left behind at the counter Shizuo looked at his virgin wave. He wasn't quite sure why, but he had a feeling he passed more tests than one just now. What kind, he couldn't tell.
"As a bartender?" he asked, and the smile his virgin wave wore only brightened in intensity and mischief as he specified.
"As a good bartender."
Shizuo snorted. Usually he was no fan of false flattery, but somehow he could tell that his guest's words were genuine. And who was he to deny it when he was served a compliment as honest as this?
Watching the virgin wave take a pleased sip of his adjusted cosmopolitan he couldn't quite help but feel the desire to repeat this show of approval. "Any more tips that would improve my performance?"
Izaya couldn't help but snort at the repeated request of advice.
Again questioning his own job? What kind of bartender was he facing here, really now.
He had been about to speak, come up with new battles of wits and games to entertain them both, but he was unexpectedly beat to it.
A sweet smell of ripe cherries and honey crashed into the counter as the silky hair of a young woman brushed past Izaya's elbow.
"Excuse me," she spoke up in a voice made for angels, slipping past a bright set of pink lips and even prettier eyes. Her stature was slim, but curvy and despite wearing a long dress that revealed not too much of her body she obviously carried genes too good to hide her sex appeal with mere layers of fabric.
A set of heels helped her size as she probably met Izaya at even height. She was a bit short, but beautiful, gorgeous, timid and obviously a bit shy.
Having been in the midst of cleaning the counter once again Shizuo turned upon hearing the two words that obviously requested his service.
Leaning onto the counter he showed his most professional smile as he nodded towards the girl.
"What can I bring you?"
Izaya expected an order, maybe two for her boyfriend, friends or siblings as he heavily doubted a woman like her had come alone to this place. But his ears were quickly proven wrong as her words turned awfully quiet.
"...an angel shot?"
Having been in the midst of finishing the rest of his reworked cosmopolitan Izaya paused in the middle of his motion.
It was right then that an individual much louder and boisterous than the girl appeared and encircled her shoulder with enough force needed to mow the lawn.
"What did you stop dancing for, sweetie?" the guy asked the girl and Izaya honestly felt his hope for humanity shrink with every syllable spoken.
Just a glance to the side caused Izaya to cringe as he spotted a few very familiar pieces of emerald decorating this guy's jacket.
He was one of the dealers. Not anyone too important, but the fact alone that he had received these ornaments had probably caused his ego to float high enough to consider all ordinary humans below his status.
His subpar appearance, stench of alcohol and hold on the girl already told Izaya more than he needed to know to understand the situation.
He saw that a lot.
People with a lot of power or money trying to guilt trip young girls into sex.
It was all too common, especially in this field. It was easy to threaten them with violence against their family if they even dared to voice a negative opinion or imply that they would never arrive back home if they even dared to leave the club.
Turning around Izaya quickly scanned the lounge for any obvious friends or family in sight. He heavily doubted this girl had come alone, but as chances were whoever did had already bailed.
A really shitty situation.
Discomfort and fear reflected in the girl's eyes as she didn't dare look anywhere but the floor. Her body was tense and her aversion to having this guy touch her, more than visible.
Stepping down from his seat it was surprisingly easy to brush the bastard's arm off her shoulders as Izaya pulled the girl over by circling her wrist.
Bewildered surprise rose to the bastard's eyes as he looked at Izaya, who had moved in front of the female objective he desired.
Of course. He probably didn't expect her to move at all and definitely not this quick.
A glare darker than the shades cast by the flashing lights had settled upon Izaya's expression as he spoke with the most unsettling smile. "I think your sweetie has already grown tired of you."
Izaya was aware of his status inside this club, and so should this person be.
Recognition grazed the bastard's face for a second, but it seemed to have close to no impact as he returned the glare with suicidal force.
"You think you can do anything you want, huh?" he hissed, and Izaya sighed internally at the direction this conversation was heading into.
So he wasn't only trying to assault a woman, but he was wasted too.
What an idiot.
"Actually I can. So do me a favor and piss off, okay?" Izaya warned, but as expected this guy wasn't up to listening to words of reason and instead balled his fist.
Izaya saw it coming before he even acted and with fluid ease mimicking that of a mackerel avoiding a fisher's net he stepped to the side. The arm that had been extended in order to connect with its desired destination was pulled in a moment of genius and without breaking even a sweat the bastard found himself stumbling to the ground with the grace of a dying pig.
A few people dancing not too far had witnessed the short action and stopped in their movement as the mild commotion unfolded.
Worried gazes troubled their faces, but Izaya was quick to show an assuring smile as he grinned at the bastard from above.
"Oh my, are you drunk?"
Glances of amusement and relieved laughter quickly filled the rows, only furthering the degradation the waste of man was served.
"You little bastard-!" the guy hissed as he crawled back up to his feet.
Embarrassment mixed with anger in an explosive cocktail of danger and Izaya's eyes narrowed as he readied himself for a second attack.
But no second attack followed.
Blond hair along with a body built by Adonis himself it seemed, brushed quickly past Izaya's shoulder and the arm that had meant to move to hit Izaya's face was bent backwards faster than the bastard was able to yelp as his face slammed into the edge of the counter.
A hurtful grunt along with the unhealthy sound of a bone cracking added an extra step to the beat traversing the lounge and Izaya blinked in surprise.
It was the bartender that had exerted these quick actions and even stronger might as the bastard tried to struggle, but he didn't even budge.
Curses and grunts flew off his lips like water onto a sinking ship, but no ear was spared and no second wasted as the bartender made it look easy to move a man of over hundred kilograms towards the entrance of the lounge.
One of the doormen stationed down at the stairs had already noticed the forming commotion and the bartender tossed the bastard into his grasp as if he were merely throwing out a meager bag of trash.
"Get lost," he announced with a voice much heavier than he had used with Izaya so far.
A quick nod was given by the doorman as he exerted his strength to remove the unpleasant guest and the bartender turned.
Unfazed.
Fixing his tie on the way back as if nothing had happened at all.
And somehow Izaya couldn't help but feel an uncontrollable smirk crawl to the corner of his lips.
Hell.
Yes.
Now if that show of raw strength wasn't a major turn on then he didn't know what would be.
to be continued~
We are slowly but surely starting to catch some legit interest here, aren't we, Izaya? xDDD I hope you liked this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it haha
On a sidenote, as most of you read in my notes, I am actually publishing my Shizaya stories in a re-worked version on amazon :3 But sadly no one seems to notice the novels xD
Even my original work "Yultesra" is barely getting seen TAT (part 2 is coming dec 2024 btw xD)
To improve that I have started an instagram account where I am posting glimpses of the reworked stories in hope someone will notice me but it's not looking good so far C':
So: HELP WANTED xD
If you ever wanted to support me, please go to my page and share the crap out it xDDDDDD
Like it, follow it or share it with your friends, neighbors, cats and the ghost in your cabinet xD Even just looking at it might convince the algorithm to show my stuff to more than just 4 people C':
I will post the link in my bio :3
Also any tips how I could improve that shit would be very much appreciated TAT I suck at social media lol
Anyway, thank you for reading my stories 3 TAT I love you all xD
See you next Saturday~! xD