Chapter Text
Izaya didn’t know how it happened. On a regular Saturday morning he woke up as usual at 8pm, stomped to the bathroom and honest to god almost broke the mirror. Because the face that was staring back at him was not his. Instead of his own crimson red, slanted eyes, he was looking through… at the eyes of light purple with blonde lashes that were slowly closing and opening in shock. His hair was also blonde and straight cascading messily around his shoulders. At first he turned around thinking the Russian assassin somehow ended up in his bathroom and it was her reflection in the mirror. But he was alone and it was his thin, pale fingers grappling the sink, touching his face, his body. Once he made sure that all of him was transformed, his brain finally caught up to reality, and he started thinking hurriedly how the hell that happened and what could be done now.
They did have a brief contact yesterday. Izaya was in Ikebukuro for a business meeting, and when he was leaving the building he bumped into Vorona when going out of a revolving door. Just a brief touch of shoulders and she disappeared behind a shining glass. They didn’t interact, didn’t speak. And now he is in this paranormal conundrum. Izaya sighed and went back to his room trying to cook up a plan. At least his brain is still his.
First, he will need to contact Shinra, the only person he knows besides Shingen who would have some knowledge about this sort of supernatural thing. Oh, but before that…
***
Vorona knocked on his door when he was about to leave. Of course it was his face staring back at him. So his theory was right and they somehow switched bodies. She moved past him and stood in the corridor, hands crossed. Looking at himself as a separate being was eerie. Absently he noted with disapproval that he looked quite thin, maybe he needs to gain some weight.
“Orihara-san, please explain.”
Izaya smirked and said nonchalantly, “I am as in the dark about this as you are.”
She huffed and rolled her eyes…his eyes.
“It seems like we have switched bodies,” she stated. “I haven’t found a plausible explanation for this yet.”
Izaya shrugged.
“Me neither. And it’s not like I want to deal with this headache on top of other things. I think we should work this out together. What do you think?”
“Affirmative. Seems like the most logical course of action to take.”
“Right. So how about I make us some tea and we can decide on what to do next.”
They settled in the kitchen and Izaya brewed them oolong tea. While he was making the tea he was looking at her from the corner of his eye trying to be discreet. Anyone who knew him would immediately sense that something was off, he thought. Her facial expressions, the slight but telling mannerisms would definitely raise suspicion. Izaya disliked the way his body moved guided by her habits, the way she sat upright and rigid where he would be relaxed and casual. But he imagined she felt the same way watching him, which was much less discreet.
He brought the cups and set them on the table. She took a sip.
“So,” he began, “I was thinking of contacting Shinra and maybe employ the expertise of his father. They are the more immediate option. But I have some other contacts, not in Japan, who also research the supernatural.”
She nodded. “Kishitani-san and Celty-san might have some information that will shed some light on this issue. But I can also employ my contacts in Russia.” She took another sip.
“Of course, we might need to cast a bigger network. Have you had any suspicious or bizarre things happen to you recently?”
She thought about this for a moment gripping the teacup tightly. “Nothing out of ordinary. My routine proceeded as usual as far as I can recall,” she said taking another sip. “What about you?”
Izaya smiled and shook his head. “Nothing that would stand out.”
She nodded again and started bringing the cup to her lips, but before that happened she jolted and it dropped her from her hand. There was a brief flash of understanding in her eyes before she started falling to the side, already unconscious. Izaya caught her before she could fall and injure his body.
It worked. Izaya dosed the tea with a strong sedative even before she came. He figured she would find him first considering he knew she woke up considerably earlier than him. Being an information broker he had information on all the people he considered dangerous — their habits, their routine, their schedule, their secret hideouts, their favorites places to eat. And Vorona was dangerous, and even more so when she had control over his body. He couldn’t possibly allow her to walk around freely like this, it was too much risk. He was glad the sedative worked. Of course her body, as a trained assassin’s, was probably much more resilient to poisons and such, but his body on the other hand…he knew all his limits, the exact dosage, everything. She would be out for two days now. He placed her gently on the couch and headed out.
***
When he reached Shinra’s house and explained his situation, the four eyed doctor was fascinated. At first he didn’t believe him and barraged him with questions. Only after he told him about his fear of dogs, which nobody knew aside from him and the doctor, Shinra finally believed him and settled down to think.
“That’s quite a fascinating phenomenon! My father would be happy to research this. But we need Vorona here too, she might shed some light on this. I mean there must be a reason why it was her body you switched with.”
“Only if it's absolutely necessary,” Izaya said. “I can’t let her compromise me. I deal with a lot of dangerous people who would be more than happy to… exploit this situation,” he added ambiguously.
Shinra nodded impatiently. “Fine, but we will definitely need her side of the story. Now tell me everything that happened to you in the past few days and don’t let any details, even seemingly insignificant ones out! Wait… let me grab my notebook. Oh, and I think there was a book in my dad’s library on astral projections and travels of the spirit, let me grab it as well!” He hurried to another room and left Izaya in some relative quiet.
Izaya found his friend’s enthusiasm a little annoying, if not downright offensive. Shinra, as he was, treated this as some interesting puzzle to figure out, as if Izaya’s whole life wasn’t just flipped upside down. He was uncomfortable in this body and he hated the way it was so much different from his. Having breasts was unpleasant, he found that to be the most disturbing aspect. But also height was different even if slightly. At least Vorona’s body was strong and agile, but he was sure it was used to different fighting habits than his, which made him anxious. He needed to figure this out fast.
Shinra came back carrying three books and a notebook pad when they heard a knock on the door. Izaya looked at him questioningly, and he just shrugged his shoulders and moved towards the door dropping the books beside him on the table.
Before Izaya could stop him he opened the door and…no that was the last thing that needed to happen. Of course. Shizuo, and it was him, just had a knack for showing up at the most inconvenient of moments. It’s like the monster sensed it, and appeared exactly when he would cause the most trouble for Izaya. It was almost like it was intentional.
“Oh, Shizuo-kun what a surprise!” Shinra yelped.
Shizuo looked past him at Izaya in surprise. This in itself felt weird, usually Shizuo became furious the moment he laid his eyes on the information broker.
“Vorona? What are you doing here?” he asked entering the house.
“Oh, actually it’s not exactly the right timing Shizuo-kun,” Shinra said sensing how Izaya tensed. “Vorona had some trouble with…her health and needed my advice. Why are you here?”
“Celty had something for me and said I could pick it up.”
“Isn’t she a courier?” Izaya asked annoyed, “Couldn’t she, I don’t know, just deliver it to you?” Only after he blurted it out he realized the mistake he made. Vorona probably didn’t talk in sarcasm.
Shizuo, however, an oblivious fool that he was, just looked at him in surprise again. “I mean she isn’t my personal delivery person,” he said slowly. “I am sorry, did I interrupt something? I will be out fast.”
Izaya just shook his head and turned his face away. Damn it.
“Vorona-san just had some… sensitive health issues to discuss and didn’t want any outsiders, you know?” Shinra said quickly.
“Oh, are you okay? Is something wrong?”
Does he not know the meaning of privacy? Izaya thought frustrated.
“Everything is fine, Shizuo-senpai, there no need to be worried. Thank for your concern,” Izaya said in a neutral tone hoping he managed to imitate Vorona’s speech pattern. He was quite good at disguises so it shouldn’t be too difficult for a short conversation.
Shizuo nodded slowly looking a little suspicious.
“There was a box for me,” he said to Shinra. “With a blue label on it I believe.”
“I think I know what are you talking about, just give me a minute.”
Shinra left the room and they remained alone in the guest room. Shizuo shuffled awkwardly,
“Are you sure you’re fine? You look a little off.”
“I am in top shape, Shizuo-senpai,” Izaya said assertively, “No need for worry.”
“Oh, that’s great.” He smiled sheepishly. “We really needed you today. Tom-san had an emergency, so he can’t join and I don’t want to deal with these low lives by myself.”
“Wait, today?” Izaya exclaimed as Shinra entered with a package.
“Here you go,” he said breathing heavily and handing the big box to Shizuo.
“Thanks. Hey is Vorona clear for today? We needed her at work, but if you think she needs to rest…”
Shinra looked at Izaya who tried his best not to panic.
“I feel fine,” Izaya started a little strained, “But if Kishitani-san thinks I should rest,” he stressed hoping that even though his tone was flat it carried the weight of all the horrible things he would do to the doctor if he answered wrong.
Shinra looked at him contemplatively for a moment. Then he turned to Shizuo with the most mischievous smile,
“She is totally good to go!”