Clack. Clack.

Illumi whipped around.

"Hisoka Morow, shut the fuck up for once in your life," he snapped. Hisoka stopped drumming his bright purple nails on the counter.

"My father is going to arrive any moment, how can you simply sit here?" Illumi had tears streaming down his cheeks, and he was shaking.

Hisoka stood from his seat and slowly, cautiously, wrapped his arms around Illumi.

"I know we're just getting married for all this with the phantom troupe, or whatnot, but- Father always believes I have some... I don't know. He thinks I have a terrible reason behind everything. And-" Illumi broke off into a loud sob.

Hisoka remained silent, slowly stroking Illumi's hair as he cried into his chest.

"I know we're not really- you know- gay but- how could someone say those things to their son? Disown them. And-"

"Sh..." Hisoka whispered softly. Illumi gripped Hisoka's shirt hem and gasped for air.

"Breathe." He calmly instructed Illumi, grasping his hand and lightly squeezing.

Illumi mumbled into his chest, still shivering slightly. Hisoka continued to run his fingers through Illumi's hair.

"It's all going to be alright."

Illumi hated Hisoka. He was confusing.

One second, Hisoka was some flirty moron. The next an actual dumbass. Or a literal sex god (which of course, Illumi would never admit to. It would make Hisoka's ego even bigger).

But he was also the sweetest, most kindhearted man he'd ever known.

It sounded stupid. But... Hisoka was his friend. He knew that, despite claiming he wasn't. Hisoka was his best friend.

And it made Illumi feel like shit, for not understanding Killua and Gon. Because if it was anything as close to his relationship with Hisoka... they were each other's world. And he had tried to take that from them. If something ever happened to Hisoka, Illumi would kill everyone surrounding him and then himself. Not to be dramatic.

In all honestly, he felt terrible for the way he treated Hisoka. Cold hearted. "Assassins don't have friends." But... There were moments at night- flurries. Them gasping for air. Sweating bodies. Heads being hit against doors, headboards, the ground, and hands everywhere. Hips, waist, lips. Marks on necks.

Alright, fuck it. So what. He had a sexual relationship with his best friend. But.. Hisoka never took advantage. He was there when Illumi needed him, and backed off immediately if Illumi said otherwise. And then there were quiet moments. Like when Hisoka would wake up before Illumi, leaving a note. It would usually be some shitty pun, or a flirtation. And if they'd fought, Hisoka would leave a simple, "I'm sorry. Please talk with me when I'm home." It was sweet.

But Illumi's family was the worst of this.

Hundreds of times, Illumi had screamed at Hisoka. Sobs wracking his body, shaking. Afraid. Upset. It would end in Illumi crying into Hisoka's shoulder, with Hisoka crying softly too. He would whisper, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Even if he hadn't done a thing. Which was the case, mostly.

Like now.