Chapter Text
nagi thinks 'serial killer' might be an exaggerated way to describe it.
It wasn't like he intentionally planned to kill... a handful of people... it was just that he kept coming across people who deserved it.
it was a pain to watch the same brand of narcissistic influential cowards use others like cattle.
in nagi's opinion, the world was a lot easier to live in without them.
sure, the police were on the look out and the family would dab their tears with their dirty paper money, but it felt like honest work. he didn't fail to notice the relief from people who had to put up with his victim's abusive habits.
if anything, he was a serial... vigilante?
anyways... he knows he's cutting the line of serial vigilante and serial killer a little too thin. lately, it's been people who annoy him that he can justify any reason for killing.
sometimes they cheat on a partner, pressure people, or yell in people's faces. sometimes... it's a rolling stop through a four-way intersection.
but to be fair he only tortures the assholes.
it was starting to get a bit tiring though. going out into the wild to hunt for his next prey means going out in public to hunting grounds he's unfamiliar with. it means going out after classes and fucking up his sleeping schedule to notice patterns. It means fighting when they resist. It means trying to drag their body around town to find a place to properly dispose of it.
So he decides that this time, it will be someone well within his comfort zone that he can easily lure to his place and won't resist - until it's too late.
that's how he decides his next victim will be reo mikage. they aren't exactly classmates, but they're in the same department and their schedules are similar. he's even overheard reo in the hallway bragging about something related to his family's business.
his narcissism is palpable. he excels in everything he does: studies, sports, singing, acting, student council- you name it. he is always at the top of whatever he does, and he's always caught nagi's eye.
the purple hair and cute shaped eyebrows are a striking combination with his height. It definitely has to be intentional so he can suit a variety of tastes. no way in hell that any of it is natural... and all the more proof nagi needs to determine reo is self absorbed.
over the past couple of weeks, nagi has been discretely monitoring him around school. It's obvious from his interactions with classmates that they're all shallow surface level relationships. reo probably sees himself as too good to develop any real connections with them.
he also uses his money and identity to get his way. one of the most egregious incidents is when reo pays off the school to allow the students to use the auditorium for watching movies unsupervised.
the student council knew full and well that it was against the rules... yet reo advertised the event as a "student's social" and went ahead with planning before even getting approval. When the teachers found out, nagi was annoyed with how little pushback reo got. the department head just pulled him to the side asking, "reo - what would make you think to do this without permission?"
nagi rolls his eyes. the phrasing makes it sound like reo is a victim of some outside influence. already kneeling to the prince of hakuho before the confrontation even begins.
his irritation only grows when reo flashes a blinding smile, brightly explaining, "the mikage motto is to always go after the best! And this is the event thst the students were interested in the most-"
reo pouts and it's sickeningly cute - definitely manipulative.
"don't you want the student body to develop deeper connections for academic collaborations?"
the department head sighs with a fond smile, "your intentions are great, per usual, but you already know the auditorium is for ceremonial purposes and can't house that many people at once without five different city codes being broken."
reo smiles with a quick reply, "no worries! I already donated the cost of the auditorium and paid off the city counsel to reconsider their ruling!"
nagi watches in disbelief as reo beams like he just said the most logical and normal solution to the situation. the department head just blinks stupidly.
"o-oh well I guess in that case-"
nagi turns and leaves, not wanting to hear another word of it.
he ends up going to the movie screening. it would be a great opportunity to provide more valuable proof of reo's entitlement and abuse of power.
when he enters the auditorium, reo is already flouncing around the stage and speaking like he owned the place.
well... maybe he does now.
he bragged about the variety of concessions provided by the ~mikage corporation~ and that students were welcome to take whatever they wanted. nagi quietly groaned at the obvious bid for influence.
reo even provided blankets and pillows for christ's sake.
nagi pocketed the bottled lemon tea and honey bread. he also grabbed a blanket, surprised but also not surprised to find it was a cashmere blend. leave it to reo to flaunt his wealth with every detail.
he sat at the very back and tuned into the final portion of reo's boastful intro.
"-so yeah! luckily, my dad was able to pull some strings and hired a team that renovated all of the seats into electric recliners so go ahead and get comfy! I'm going to start the movie soon!"
nagi looked down at the recliner chair... who the hell installs these in a student auditorium for one event?
he tries to figure out the controls as the movie begins, finally getting it to recline with a slight bend in the footrest and... okay yeah this was comfy.
he's startled when he hears a noise to his right. he specifically chose this row so he could be back far enough from others and spy on reo in peace. he turns to tell the other person to fuck off, but stops himself when he sees that it's none other than reo himself - settling in just 2 seats away.
reo notices his gaze, and smiles, "looks like it's only us with taste. the back is always the best view, right?"
nagi gives a bland "mn" in response before turning back to 'watch' the screen.
how was he supposed to monitor reo now?
he pretends to be invested in movie, annoyed when he notices that's it's a cinematic exclusive... not even released from theaters yet... so reo likely pulled strings to get it.
he hears reo fidgeting and peeks at him. he watches as the other boy fiddles with the recliner controls.
"you have to press both at the same time"
nagi mentally facepalms. he was supposed to keep a distance before beginning his infiltration into reo's life... not carelessly make reo familiar to him.
reo looks annoyed, "yeah... it's just this stupid chair won't work. I guess that's what you get when you hire a 24/7 unlisted installation company."
nagi mentally notes reo's lack of gratitude.
after a few more attempts to get it working, reo sighs and turns to nagi with a mild huff.
"do you mind if I sit beside you? I know you were probably looking forward to having the row to yourself, but if I move the other way the sound quality is imbalanced."
nagi mentally notes the bratty expectations.
"uhh...I guess? I wouldn't think it would be that much of a difference...
but before he finishes, reo has already plopped himself down next to him.
"there definitely is, and thanks."
nagi mentally notes the impatience.
reo settles in quickly and reclines with an annoyed expression.
reo goes silent, the movie drones on, and nagi thinks that's the end of their interaction, until he hears a whisper,
"sorry if I seemed frustrated, I'm just really excited for this movie and kinda wanted it to be perfect"
nagi peers at reo - he looks particularly more vulnerable bundled up in blankets and looking at him with a contemplative expression.
"no biggie"
nagi watches the movie, more intrigued at what makes it so special to reo. the movie seems to follow along a "king" who is compelled to perform for others. his power is just a facade. he sits on a throne but is just a puppet to his advisor's whims. he isn't even aware of his lack of autonomy until he wanders outside the bounds of his kingdom and finds himself suddenly capable of making his own choices. unfortunately for him, the only way he can break the spell is if he kills the enchantress who claims to love him.
nagi can't say he exactly gets it, but he's also been a bit distracted by reo's presence next to him. his cologne is gentle but distinct. a woody peppery floral that is unlike how any of his other victims smelled. It would be easy to remember if he ever need to chase down reo in the dark.
reo loudly sniffles beside him, making nagi jump in surprise. he glances at him and finds reo resisting a pool of tears forming in his eyes. he glances at the screen to understand the cause... but it's just a scene of the enchantress leaving in hopes of freeing the king.
nagi assumes it must be because reo can't stand the idea of a rich high status person losing something. no matter the reason, reo is obviously affected.
his lip trembles and his eyes shine like wet marbles. the liquid magnifying them to look even more doe-like than normally.
'prey' nagi's mind supplies.
he feels the urge to pin reo down and choke him. he normally stabs his victims, but reo seems like he'd be more fun to be more... hands on with. at least that way, he'd be able to watch reo's big wet eyes and purpling face as he steals his life. reo might even claw at his hands and struggle to speak with desperate gasps and coughs. probably some pathetic attempt to reason with nagi and convince him reo is worth more to him alive than dead.
he's shocked out of his fantasies when a girl sits on the other side of reo. she leans close to him and offers tissues.
"aww reo... you're so sensitive and kind. let me help you out."
reo looks at her uncomfortably but accepts the tissue, "haha thanks..." he turns his attention back to the movie while dabbing his eyes. but the girl lingers.
nagi can sense the tension forming as reo tries to ignore her for the movie and she remains laser focused on him. firey intent in her eyes.
maybe nagi has competition.
"you know reo," she interrupts reo's immersion, "now that your family made this auditorium much more... cozy" she bats her eyelashes on the last word.
her hand comes up to reo's shoulder and she trails a finger up to his neck before whispering, "we could use it more for... extracurriculars"
reo stares at her for a moment. he looks so stunned by the proposal that, at first, nagi wonders if he'll accept. maybe he's basking in the attention.
reo continues staring but surprisingly... judgement and disgust begin to morph his expression, "you offered me tissues and interrupted the movie... to try to convince me to sleep with you?
thr girl's eyes widen, and she can sense she fucked up.
"not at all!" she nervously laughs and makes space between her and reo. "I just meant if you ever need help with setting up another event"
reo's lip curls. "ok good... because I wouldn't want you to think that... that... is ever possible."
the delivery is cold, and the girl's face crumples into embarrassment as she makes a rushed excuse to exit.
nagi mentally notes - unnecessarily cruel during rejections. he might even have a sexual fetish for embarrassing others.
after the girl leaves, the tension still remains. nagi catches the way reo's muscles stay rigid and the way he swallows. reo sighs through his nose with a frustrated noise. he glances toward nagi, and nagi realizes he got caught staring.
reo's eyebrows crease and he looks back at the screen. his voice is soft, "sorry"
nagi frowns, confused. "....for?"
reo looks down at his hands with a guilty expression - nagi anticipates more evidence. confession of his humiliation and sadism fetish would be ideal.
"that was awkward... and I got you dragged into it as a bystander."
nagi shrugs, trying to appear neutral. "it happens"
he pretends to get invested back into the movie, waiting until reo's lingering gaze turns away before quickly making an exit.
he had enough evidence. no need to think any deeper into that last interaction. reo was confusing, yeah, but still overwhelming narcissistic.
he decides to move forward with phase 2.