Killua worked his way up the first flight of stairs, not once minding that he would have to climb up another three whole floors to make it to his destination. At that time, he didn't want to get home early, despite that most teens his age would be overjoyed with the fact that they were released early from school. Yet, it was that one hour extra he got to himself that was the reason he hadn't taken the elevator like any sane person would have done so.

Never mind, that his legs had stung and ached a bit with each step he took that whole day. The pain was just a reminder in why he didn't wish to get home immediately. A part of him was desperate for his part-time job to call him in as a replacement for someone who couldn't make it into work. However, all these thoughts only caused the pale male to recall all the excuses that he created in his head to keep things going with the man he convinced himself that he loved.

With two more flights to go, Killua continued upward, backpack on his back, heavy with his school books and materials. He had been falling behind on his schoolwork, and his teacher had noticed all too soon. While Killua could have easily blamed it on his part-time job that he had after school, he knew that wouldn't be wise. One of the reasons being that he needed the school's permission to be working. Another being that more often than not, Killua did provide money to help his boyfriend pay rent. With those two factors playing in, he knew he couldn't blame it on that.

Although, at the same time, he couldn't admit what was really going on. His teachers wouldn't believe him, and overall it would only cause more trouble into the relationship that Killua had with his partner. Sometimes, Killua just wanted to disappear. It would be a good way to bring everything that was hectic in his life to an end.

Taking note that he had gone up all four flights, and was already nearing his home's front door, Killua pulled out the key from his pocket. The golden key hung next to a small keychain with the goofy image of his sister Alluka trying to lick her fluffy white cat Lua on it. The picture always brought up the fact that Alluka partly named her cat after Killua. Well, more like she took the last three letter of his name for her cat, but the white, fluffy beast was still named after Killua nonetheless. Reason? Simple, it was white and fuzzy like Killua's cotton ball of hair. The oversized critter also happened to have blue eyes that were only a few shades off from Killua's own blue orbs.

It was silly, but Killua couldn't help but think of such events as he finally opened the door. Sadly, happy thoughts didn't last too long with Killua as he threw his backpack to the floor while he entered his home. It was while he worked off the stupid green tie from his school uniform that muffled gasping and moaning entered Killua's hearing. Each sound of pleasure only appearing louder the closer he got to the bedroom that he was meant to share with his partner and only his partner. Despite the fact that Killua had been sleeping on the living room couch for well over three months.

Standing by the door, loud noises of sex and desire filled the air, making it seem like there wasn't a door in the way at all. Killua could have easily allowed himself to feel angry, taken that rage and used it to match right into the room and put an end to what was happening behind the locked room. Yet, what the pale male found himself doing was turning around. The tie in his hand being crumpled with a force that made Killua's hand red as he made his way out of the small home. His body taking him to the balcony, and not out of the front door.

He didn't want to fight with his partner or whoever it was he was having a pleasuring time within the place that they once slept. Still, all at the same time, he didn't want his partner to think that Killua didn't know. Killua was done with pretending, done with turning a blind eye to this. He'd know about what's been happening since it started, they had fought about it many times before. In spite of all this, Killua stayed and his partner continued, even if it's been a little over ten months since the cheating started.

Pathetic, that was a good way of putting how Killua thought of himself. He should be able to march right out of that apartment door and never come back! He couldn't, even if his mind screamed at him to do so. He could leave, but by the end of the day, he would be back. He would accept each and every justification his boyfriend gave him, and the next day, they would be back to square one. All because, in Killua's mind, he was to blame. If he were a better lover, his partner wouldn't do or treat him the way that he was. It was Killua who needed to clean up his act, not the other way around.

With his body sitting on the floor and head resting on his knees, Killua shut his eyes to keep himself calm and from breaking down. His heart pumped in a slow pace, feeling heavy with unwanted pressure. If this was what heartbreak felt like, Killua didn't know. He just knew that it hurt more than every bruise upon his body. It caused him to feel drained and tired without making any movements whatsoever. It shortened his breath and made him want to cry, to release the pain he felt when he really wasn't in any physical pain at all.

Killua was pretty pitiful, which was why he allowed himself to slowly shut down. Perhaps if he fell to sleep, he'd wake up and realize that it was all just a dream he was having. However, dreams didn't come with opening balcony doors from above or with awful singing that could make someone's ears tear up and bleed. Most of all, they didn't come with a small sense of uplifting hope.

It had been a week since Killua had spoken to the man who lived right above. And although, he had said they would never speak again. At that very moment, Killua wanted nothing more than to be taken away by off-track conversations that came from a deep, yet heartfelt voice. Despite this, Killua kept hushed a little longer, listening to each word of the song that was sung terribly off key, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips.


It wasn't every day that Gon woke up early on a day off. If anything, days off made Gon stay in bed longer than he should. His thoughts forgetting all about important things, like eating, using the bathroom when he needed to, taking a shower and most of all, just get the fuck out of bed like a normal and not at all lazy human. However, days he didn't need to work made Gon sluggish, to the max. Today oddly enough had a different effect on him.

With the sun out and up high, the microwave's clock marked a little after two in the afternoon while Gon was out on the balcony. His phone loudly played out music that he sang to badly and terribly off key. Not that Gon felt that he was at all bad at singing. It didn't matter how many times his friends had told him before to keep his lips shut, Gon liked singing his heart out. Even if it killed a bird or two.

"Well someone said I made a mistake! Kept looking forward on paths sideways!" Gon sang into the broom in his hands, piling up all the leaves and dirt that had gathered upon the small balcony. The music that played and words that the singer sang were being slightly drowned out by how powerful the dark-haired male's volume was as he continued, "It's everything that is connected and beautiful, and now I know just where I stand!"

"Seasons always shift too late—" A small laughter cut Gon right off, his amber eyes growing wide. The sound seemed different, yet all too familiar, the voice that came right after being one that had been haunting his dreams for the past week. The tan male's heart leaped right out of his chest, but the feeling went unknown. It was too soon for Gon to understand what he was feeling. Too soon for it to honestly have developed.

"You're going to make the sky cry if you keep with that singing," Killua finally spoke after a small fit of laughter left him, head now on his crossed arms as looking up at the ceiling of the balcony. Another small laugh leaving him from the strangled way that the man above had cut off the last syllable that he had been singing. Well, more like screeching.

"Ah! It's you," Gon's words were filled with an upbeat tone. He put aside the broom, resting it against the wall, before leaning over the balcony a bit. However, like before, he was unable to see who was living in the apartment under. Yet, it didn't bother Gon as much as it should have. If anything, it just reminded Gon that they were not really friends yet, and simply strangers. Take a seat on his lawn chair, Gon allowed his frame to relax. Maybe when the time was right, he'll see the other. For now, he'll just begin what he hoped would be a long talk between them with a question, "What are you doing?"

Why was it that they fell into place so easily? Like a couple of friends who knew each other, and were just trying to catch up after spending some time away? Killua shook his head, his bangs tickling his arms. They were not friends. They would never be. Killua shouldn't even have opened his mouth. He should never talk to the guy again, it made him feel funny. Yet, there he was, talking. No, more like throwing out lies, "Um… I'm watering my plants,"

Like a week before, Gon made a face, catching the lie so quickly, it could have caused the other whiplash. Unlike, before Gon didn't call out the male from downstairs so bluntly, he just stated a fact and nothing more, "You don't have any plants," Gon answered, hand taking his phone and lowering the volume of the music by a bit, his thoughts growing dark as he recalled back to the night they first spoke, 'You tore them apart the last time we spoke…'

This time, Killua held back his shock and the way his heart paced quickly, that odd sensation right back in his chest. He didn't get it, but knowing that the man he was speaking too could so easily tell he was lying did a number on his emotions. Most of the stuff he was feeling being negative because for the first time there was someone who could read him. They could read him like his sister, which was something his boyfriend had never been able to do.

Fear. The other made him feel fear, but it wasn't anything like the one that coursed through him when his partner would suddenly strike him. It was different but fear nevertheless.

"Heh…" Killua shrugged, not thinking about how he couldn't be seen. He wanted to be open. Especially when he knew that his lies could be caught so quickly. Another part of him wanting to just come right out with what was the matter, because he was tired of keeping it all in. Killua was exhausted of being unable to speak about his situation. All because he felt it didn't mean a thing. It did mean something, and before he really knew it, he was confessing what he couldn't openly. Not even to his few friends at school, "My boyfriend is fucking someone in our room."

At the words, Gon's sat ramrod straight, amber eyes wider than they normally were. Words were caught midway at his neck as if a noose was preventing them from escaping. What does one say to that? Gon was so unsure as two words finally slipped, his mind trying to hide how disoriented he was when it came to giving proper support, "I- I'm sorry,"

Yet, all at the same time anger seemed to trigger and bubble deep in the pit of his form. An anger that Gon didn't know he could feel, especially for a man he never met face to face. Cheating had always been something that his Aunt Mito taught him wasn't right, and one should never do, no matter the situation. It also didn't help that Gon knew that the other was getting beat. Gon didn't have to see to know that simply moving was hard for the man who lived downstairs. The way the male's breath seemed to labor and released whines of discomfort was enough to give a hint. It might have been that knowledge that caused Gon's feelings to flare in such a way. However, it only picked up its fumes as the other spoke.

"No need, it's not the first time nor the last time." Killua looked at his fingers, the markings on them already fading and painted in yellow and tones of green, unlike the blue they once were. It was no longer painful to pick things up; items that were small like a pen or pencil.

He wanted to keep talking, to let everything out. In spite of this, Killua's mind made a jumbled mess of what he wanted and what was the right thing to do. As the white-haired male fought with himself, time passed. The air between him and the male who was above had begun to grow empty, drawn out by the long pause, neither of them speaking. Killua was still so unsure of where to take their conversation. Gon allowing for the other to decide if he wanted to throw out more confessions that Gon would keep to himself or not.

What felt like an hour must have passed, but before Killua really knew it, he was talking again, whatever walls he once had up, brought down, "This happens a lot. If he's not fucking someone in our room, he's out having sex with his so-called friends at their place or some hotel." Killua said, voice seeming to hold no emotions whatsoever. It was because of this, that words kept leaving his light pink lips, "I don't know why I get mad or even fight about it anymore. After half a year of arguing over this shit, you'd think I'd get used to it…"

'Or leave him…' Gon thought to himself, feeling strange at how the male's tone was so casual as if nothing was wrong. It was like nothing Gon had ever heard before. It was so different from Mito's voice when she stated she didn't give a shit about the fact that Ging left them time after time. She did, and Gon could easily tell how much it hurt her each time that his father took a step out the door, not to return for months, at times years. However, with this person, Gon was left unsure if he was really feeling pain or if he had become numb to it all. A numbness that caused an out of place shiver to run down Gon's spine.

Even if that sensation took over Gon's emotions, it didn't stop himself from listening. It didn't make him want to get up and go back into his home, leave the other there with their issues for them to solve alone. Though, the fact was Gon had nothing to say or any advice to give. He hadn't experienced what the other was day to day. Gon was also sure the male wouldn't take his only advice anyway. After all, it was one thing and one thing only… to leave. That very thing being something that was easier said than done. Gon, however, didn't understand that it was.

Hand going into his hair, Killua sighed. He was starting to feel like he had said a little too much to guy who lived on the floor above. His mind screamed at him to stop talking and to bring a change to the topic. To make it something light and would flow so easily, much like the one that they had shared the first time they spoke to each other, a little over a week ago. "Sorry, I'm saying too much aren't I?" Killua apologized while he tugged at his hair.

The moment the apology came, Gon's eyebrows furrowed. There was no need for the other to be sorry, Gon had told him that he would be there to listen to whatever he had on his mind. It wasn't like Gon was going to tell everyone what he learned and discovered, it wasn't his place to do so. He also didn't have much time to go around and gossip, anyway.

Knowing this, Gon spoke out, "I don't mind at all." Fingers running along the glass of the table, millions of words forming in his head, but none seemed right to say. There was a small pause, before he opened his chapped lips once again, letting out a deep tone, "What I said last time still counts for today,"

Despite hearing the other's words, Killua stayed hushed. The thoughts in his head were running miles per hour, each getting more negative as they came. He was drowning, not only in the lies that he was told, but the ones that he on his own had formed. He'd spoken too much, and he knew at some point in life it was going to cost him. Much like each time he spoke his mind to his boyfriend.

Killua needed to stop being so selfish and needy. He needed to give more, instead of take, take, take. At least, that's what the man he had to remind himself that he truly loved told him, engraved into him. Eyes closing, Killua's pale hands began to yank at his hair, trying to remove the long, wavy, white locks. For years, it was the only way Killua knew how to punish himself, that wasn't as harmful like the bad scratching habit he had been free from for a good month or two. Times like these, when he didn't feel like he was enough was when he struggled the most not to relapse into old, dirty habits.

"Would you like to play twenty-one questions?" The very question was enough to bring Killua to the surface. The water he had been drowning in quickly being drained away, as if the plug had been pulled to empty out the area. Killua didn't know if he was grateful or not, but his eyes found his hands laying on his lap, and not latched on to his hair that was pulled up in a now very mess and falling part high ponytail.

"Sure," It had taken the white-haired male a bit to answer as he quickly put himself together, not wanting the other to know he wasn't all there moments ago. Leaning his head down to his drawn up knees, he spoke again, this time, a small request, "Please, don't make the questions too personal."

"That can be done," Gon answered, feeling glad to hear the other's voice again. It sounded off, and he could tell the other wasn't all there. Yet, he hoped that bring the once dark conversation to an end and starting up a much brighter and even lighter one would cause a good and warm effect. Most of all, Gon hoped that maybe, just maybe it would bring about a beginning to their friendship, "Would you like to start?"

"Why not," Killua shrugged, feeling really drained as his fingers began to tap at his knees, the fabric of his school uniform feeling funny as the skin came into contact with it. Thinking of a moment, mostly debating if he should solidify whatever bond he had with the man upstairs or not, Killua let the words slip from his lips. He could no longer deny that although it wasn't right for them to get any closer or speak, Killua wanted nothing more than that. "What's your name?"

Taken aback, it was Gon's turn to freeze up. Unlike with Killua, it didn't take long to answer. Grinning brightly, the male answered loudly, more than happy to share his name. A name was the start of a friendship, after all. Once a name is known, people are no longer truly strangers, "Gon!"

Simple, that was Killua's first thoughts when he heard the other's name. No, not the others… Gon… Gon's name. Smiling faintly, the pale male allowed his own name to slip his lips. His real name, not the one he used to keep others from getting too close. "Killua. My name is Killua." He said, just as loudly, but he left out his last name much like Gon had. It wasn't really important.

Feeling excited to get a name, Gon hummed in reply. He didn't take notice that Killua hadn't heard it, but it didn't matter. After all, as soon as the sound had been made and vanished, Gon spoke again, bring an actual start to their game of twenty-one questions. "That question doesn't count, go again, Killua."

Gon couldn't see an introduction as a good question. It was only given that in time their names would come up and be said. If they were going to talk, it was best to know at least that little thing of each other. Gon preferred a name, rather than going 'Hey you!' each time he wanted to get Killua's attention.

Killua. The name had such a nice ring to it. Gon definitely enjoying the way it came out of his lips and filled the air. If it wasn't creepy, the tan male was sure he could have said the six-letter name again, and again. With the thought quickly shaken away, Gon came to realize that he needed to slow down. He couldn't say he knew where all these ideas were coming from, but they were causing a new tune in his chest. One he was sure wasn't right, and with haste got rid of, shoving it to the very bottom where it wouldn't be allowed to make its way up again.

Biting his lip, Killua then made a face. He wasn't really good with asking questions in order to get to know someone. Then again, he didn't have many friends since he moved to Yorknew a little over a year ago. While Killua could easily make more friends, it was his boyfriend who kept him from getting too close to others. He didn't approve of the people Killua knew, and many times reminded him that he should leave them.

Even so, Killua didn't listen. It was the one thing he didn't feel guilty about when it came to disobeying what his partner felt was best for him. For them. After all, if his lover could have his so-called 'friends', then the white-haired male didn't see why he couldn't too. Unlike his boyfriend, Killua didn't bring them into bedrooms and having sexual interactions with them.

Taking a little longer than he had hoped, Killua lit up as a question formed in his head. Perking up, he fixed himself on the floor, a bit excited to listen to what Gon had to say. Maybe, just maybe not listening to his gut's warning had been a good idea. Perhaps making another new friend was what Killua really needed. "What is one thing you will never do again?" He finally asked, waiting for an answer.

Making a face, and hand rubbing against his chin, Gon thought about it. His answer was crossed between never talking back to his aunt Mito or taking math classes. "Take a math class!" Gon answered loudly, a faint horror in his tone, as well as a childish whining as he kept going. "Math makes no sense to me! All the numbers and letters! I don't know where the hell you got X from, but if you want it solved so badly, you can do it!"

Rich laughter escaped Killua. Gon's reaction had been one of the most sincere that he had heard in a long while. Trying to calm down, the pale teen covered his mouth to muffle the sound. However, it was hard when he heard Gon gasp loudly, and then with a fake anger tell him to keep his mouth shut, because Killua would never understand the pain of math. Which wasn't true at all. Killua's best subject wasn't math, but he could do it pretty well. Breathing in, his fit finally went down a notch, "Heh, you know that you can't avoid math, right? It's a part of life."

"I know! I still got like fifty more classes to go if I want to get my degree once I go back to school!" Gon groaned loudly, hand going into his hair. Of all things, Killua had to bring that up! Yet, it didn't bug Gon too much, not with the way his words and actions seemed to make Killua burst into more laughter. A laughter that stabbed Gon with a feeling he couldn't put a name to. Along with that, it made Gon feel that he and Killua would continue to get along, their starting friendship to develop further more, "And you, Killua?"

"Give Alluka's cat a bath!" Killua answered without second thought, hands being thrown up into the air in frustration. His very tone expressing it as he went on, ignoring the way Gon seemed to be the one laughing this time around. "Fuck that, that beast is wild and gives no shits. My sister and I still have scars from the first time we tried to take it a bath. My mother suggested we got him declawed, but we never did. It didn't feel right to do that to him."

Killua's pale hand began to play with his tie, thinking back to the cat his sister and he once owned. Sighing softly, he reached for his shirt, lifting up the fabric that made up the long sleeve of his right arm. Right on his wrist was a light pink scar from the incident he had just been talking about. It had been over three years ago, but the marking was still there. He for a moment found himself wondering if Alluka's matching one was still etched into her light colored skin or if it had faded.

Taking in Gon's voice, Killua almost missed the fact that it was his turn again to ask the next question. This time, Killua knew what he wanted to ask Gon. It had been running in the back of his mind right after he had asked the first, "What after school activities do or did you do in high school?"

Puffing up his cheeks, Gon had to take a moment to answer. He hadn't been in high school for a while. He wasn't old, and still happened to be a teen. Yet, with work and trying to save up for college, the thoughts of high school and everything he had done disappeared. "I was part of the hiking club and the forest club." He finally said, but in the back of his memories, he knew he had done more than that.

Of course, his next line of words were cut off by Killua, who couldn't help but question if there was even a difference between the hiking club and forest club. Gon quickly went on a rant about how various both were. After all, the hiking club was more about walking trails, some deep within forest areas, other more along empty mountainsides. It all depended on the teacher really, but one thing was for sure, it was mostly walking around.

While the forest club did do a lot of walking, the key difference was that they always explored, stopped and took pictures of wildlife. They also sometimes went out and planted trees, camped out and helped out wildlife. It was more active with nature than the hiking club, which mostly just went up and down trails, never truly stopping to take in the surroundings.

Once explaining this to Killua, Gon snapped his fingers, remembering everything else he had done before he graduated from school and became what people called a 'real adult', "I did math club… the biggest mistake of my life I tell you! There was swimming, track, and fishing. Before you ask, yes fishing was a real club! I also did marching band, and Shake and Bake!"

Blinking, Killua raised a brow, "What's Shake and Bake?" It sounded like a strange club. As far as Killua knew, Shake and Bake was a kind of food? No… more like something to prep food with. Chicken? Killua couldn't really recall since he never used such things to make meals. They were also not used by the butlers who cooked back when he was still living at home.

"It was a cooking club," Gon answered with a grin. He could somewhat remember when the club had been made, and how it had been Leorio who suggested the name. Which was a bit odd, Leorio didn't go to school. He was much too old and in university. He had only been there because he needed to drop off Gon's swimming gear that the tan male had left in his car when Leorio had dropped him off. Softly laughing at the memory, Gon's felt a bit sour as Killua's next words came.

"You were really active."

He was, the more Gon thought about it, the more he came to realize why he did so much. Why he still wishes he could, "I didn't like to be home." He admitted, a laugh to mask the loneliness he felt more often than not. He wanted to be busy like that again. He wanted things to do that were more than just working, sleeping and being home. Yet, his schedule was a mess, making it hard to meet up with friends, and live that active lifestyle he once had. "What did Killua do?"

Killua laid his head on his knees, a puff of air leaving him loudly, "Nothing," Bland and empty was his answer, making Gon brows wrinkle in uneasiness, "I wasn't allowed to leave the house unless I was with a parent, a butler or going to school. Even going to school trips were rare, I had to have one of the butler's chaperone or it was a no go. I went to maybe five in all my years in school. Even now, I don't go on school trips."

Wondering what kind of life Killua lived, Gon sat still. There was something odd about Killua, as if he had been held down all his life and didn't know anything but. Little did Gon know, that was true. However, the situation Killua was now in was much worse, and had developed before he even left home. Killua situation had only started because the teen had been so desperate to leave home, he didn't see the signs of abuse until it was too late, and he had gotten use to them, believing he was at fault.

Breathing out, Gon called out, "Killua," The name came with a hint of hesitation, a slight worry and questioning as if to warn that the speaker was going to do just that, ask something.

"Yeah?" Killua blinked, giving a strange look as he took in the sound of Gon's voice, his clear blue eyes looked intensely at the ceiling above. It seemed off and a little deeper than normal that it made Killua quiver. That strange sensation of fear filled the white-haired again, that Killua could have easily broke out in a cold sweat.

And he did, the second Gon's question was asked, bringing an end to their game, but also keeping it running. Even if the order was no longer being followed, "How old are you?"

There was silence. The white-haired male didn't know what to say or how to answer such a question. It was like a hand had taken hold of his neck and was pressing tightly, keeping anything he wished to stay down. With an exhale and trying to keep calm, Killua thought for a moment longer before deciding to answer to Gon's question honestly, "I'll be seventeen in July." Killua played with his hands, teeth chewing on his bottom lip. When they let go, he added to his statement, before the other could ask about such a thing as well, "I got one year of high school…"

Shocked was a good way to put how Gon felt when he heard the answer. It hadn't been what he expected. If anything, he had been pretty sure that Killua was at least his age, if not a year or two older. Knowing that Killua was still technically a child caused the anger Gon had felt earlier to rise once again. He couldn't understand why Killua was going through such a thing, but all at the same time things began to make a little more sense to Gon. About to say something, Gon's words never came out. Killua had been the first to speak, tone snappy.

"You're weird out now, aren't you?" The annoyance and anger expressed on Killua's face was clear in his tone. It was like this anytime he spoke with someone who was older than him. It was his age that seemed to lead most to believe that he was lying about how he lived and what he deal with. A fear growing on Killua's heart that Gon was going to turn out like such, and leave him because a kid, a teenager could no way in hell be dealing with abuse, especially from their partner.

However, abuse doesn't factor age into whether it is occurring or not. Abuse doesn't care, and Killua was still learning this. To him, he was living the fine line of abuse, because he too hit, screamed and acted out. It wasn't one sided. Although, in a way it was, Killua still didn't see it. He didn't get that what he called acting out was really just a way to protect himself. Then again, that was all because his boyfriend played the victim.

"Don't like the fact that you're talking to a kid?" Killua barked out, hands gripping tightly to his pants. A part of him wishing he had lied and given out a fake age. Then again, he was speaking to Gon. Gon, the male who lived upstairs and could so easily sort out the lies from the truth that Killua spoke. It was that very reason that Killua found the truth leaving his lips, much like it had been since they started to talk that day.

He didn't mean to, but before Gon know it, there was his laughter echoing. Shaking his head, Gon placed his head on the table, trying to hush his little fit up, "No, it's not like that!" Gon reassured loudly, a fond grin forming on his face, "I thought you were older than me. I recently turned nineteen." He informed, thinking it was only right for Killua to know his age in return.

Gon really didn't care how old Killua was. It was perfectly fine. What did bug Gon, was the situation of it all. If Killua was sixteen, and living in an apartment, it could only mean that his partner was older than him. How much older, Gon was starting to wonder. Yet, something didn't sit right in his stomach. Something told Gon there was a lot more to all of this, and by the end of it, he would really wish he hadn't known. Taking in the warning, Gon didn't venture further and went back to keeping their talk of getting to know each other light once again. "So, what's your most listened to song?"

"Twice…" Killua didn't have to think about it. There was one stupid song that he listened to all the time. Either it be on his way to school, going to work or coming back. He even listened to it before he went to bed. "Twice by Little Dragon."

Drumming his fingers on the table, Gon couldn't recall ever listening to that song. The band nor the title ringed a bell to him. Even so, it must have been a good song if Killua had named it right off the bat. Most people tend to think about what song they listen to most. Gon had to at least, and he honestly couldn't come up with which one it would be. Curious, Gon asked his next question, "Do you mind if I ask why?"

"You already did," Killua said in a cheeky tone, a smile once again coming to his face as he rested his chin on the palm of his left hand. Why was it that one moment, Killua felt so twisted up and depressed, and the next Gon seemed to pull him right out of the runt and make him want to laugh, grin and just feel like a normal teenager who's only issues were school and homework. Killua didn't have the answer, and he didn't look for it. For the most part, he didn't even see his change in moods.

"Pft, you get what I mean." Gon laughed, the sound mixing with Killua's. Reaching for the tree next to him, Gon took an orange and began to peel it. The fruit was ripped now, not slightly sour like it had been about a week ago. With the oils of the orange tainting Gon's digits, he left the peeling sit on the table, the wedges being torn part by his fingers before each would go into his mouth, chewed and then swallowed.

Working off his shoes, to have something to do, Killua puffed his cheeks out, sock covered toes wiggling, "Because it's soothing, despite it being sad." He said as he worked the laces off of his right shoes while thinking of what question he should ask. After all, lately all he had been doing was answering, it was about time Gon fessed up to a few things. It was only correct if he did since it had been Gon who suggested they play twenty-one questions in the first place. "If you were a performing artist, what would you title your first album?"

"Jajanken!" Gon shouted out, fist pumping into the air before he stood up. Soon the broom was in his hand, and he was signing awfully into it, some really bad lyrics that he was coming up with on the spot. "It'd be a self-titled heavy metal album named after my amazing metal band called Jajanken!"

Before Killua knew it, Gon had started a full on rant, that made him burst into laughter that caused his poor tummy to curl and tighten from lack of air. "Jajanken will be a three person band! Leorio would be on the drums and backup vocals. I can see Kurapika playing the guitar and doing lead vocals. I, on the other hand, can rock out on my bass guitar and do all the screaming and growling!"

Unable to breathe from laughing so hard, Killua had to lay himself out on the floor to take in deep breaths. There were tears in his eyes, and his cheeks were pink. A small fit still covered his voice as he gave Gon his opinion, "With your singing, I'm sure that genre would work well and you'll all be touring worldwide in no time."

Once the fire up feeling was over and done with, Gon put the broom back where it had been and sat down. For a moment, he simply sat there, taking in Killua's laughter that rung out, only to speak once it had died down, "Alright, next question!" Gon's large hands clapped loudly, "What story do your friends still give you crap about?"

Swallowing hard, Killua shook his head rapidly as his eyes shut, his loose ponytail falling out, letting his long, white hair cascade down, ending a little lower than the start of his shoulder, "Ah… nope!" Although no one could see him, Killua's hands were before him, shaking as if to say no, "I'm not going to tell you."

"Aw! Why not? It is that bad?" Gon whined loudly, on the edge of his seat. He was looking forward to what story Killua had to tell. It had to be either the best thing ever or most embarrassing. Perhaps, it was a little bit of both.

Killua threw his hands into the air with a loud and exaggerated huff, "Bad?! It's the worst thing ever!" It was, it really was. Killua just couldn't say it. Why did Gon have to ask such a thing of all the questions that could have possibly formed into his mind?! Killua just couldn't say it! He could lie. Yes… making something up would be a good idea. Wait, no. Not when the person is Gon, the one person who seemed to be able to catch his lies no matter how tiny they were.

"Come on, spill it!" Gon egged on. He wasn't going to let this go until he got what he wanted. Call him selfish, but Gon always got what he wanted. Even if it meant that he would have to bug Killua endlessly for the answer. Maybe the reason for this was because Gon wanted Killua to recall good times. He wanted Killua to feel some sort of happiness, even if he only experienced it when they spoke.

Gon was selfish, and it was sick how he couldn't even tell that he wanted Killua all to himself after only speaking a second time.

"Ugh! Alright… I'll make it short!" Taking the second hair tie that he kept on his thin, and slightly bruised wrist, Killua began to collect his white locks, to tie them up once again into a ponytail. He couldn't believe he let Gon get his way so easy! Yet, there he was, looking back at what happened about three years ago, "When I was fourteen, I was allowed to go to the water park trip my school was having. While I was going down a slide, I somehow lost my swimming trucks! My fucking friends decided it would be funny to play keep away until one of the teachers found out."

Gon couldn't hold back a loud and powerful laugh, "Oh my fucking god, you poor soul!" While he did feel bad for the other, it was still too funny not to burst into a fit. Gon could only imagine how embarrassed Killua must have felt when that had happened. It seemed like torture. Still, all at the same time, Gon understood why Killua's friends would never let such a story go. It was simply too funny to forget.

Breathing out, Killua let out a tiny chuckle. Now that he really looked back at the moment, he could see what of it had been funny enough for his friends to laugh, even Gon. Still, it didn't get rid of the foolishness that he felt or the way that his cheeks painted in a hue of light pink on his freckled cheeks, "Tell me about it! Everyone in my class got to see my ass!" Killua let himself fall to the floor after that statement.

The two continued to talk and ask questions back and forth. Some making Killua laugh until he felt like puking, others leaving the same effect on Gon. While they had passed more than twenty-one questions, it didn't stop them from still asking and learning more about each other. Killua so easily forgot about why he had been out there in the first place and how his boyfriend was having sex with another in their home.

Killua was more interested in small facts about Gon. Like how Gon broke his arm when he was five because he fell off the roof of his aunt's house one night when he was trying to watch the stars. Another being that Gon was home schooled until he was fourteen and began high school due to moving in with his father. Yet, the one that interested Killua the most was the current story that Gon was telling, filled with so much excitement, it made Killua wish he had been there to experience the same moment that Gon had.

"And that's how Kon became my friend," Killua grinned, all his mind would think was just how good with animals Gon happened to be. Maybe the man who lived on the floor above would have a better chance in bathing Alluka's cat. Laughing only loud enough to hear himself, Killua sighed, still paying close attention to each and every word that came from Gon. "Once I moved in with Ging to go to a proper high school, I couldn't see him anymore. However, the last time I went back, I found fish where we use to spend time together."

"He still remembers and misses you," Killua said simply, his voice speaking out what his mind believed without thinking. A tiny part of Killua wondering if there was anyone who missed him, his sister Alluka coming to mind. Yet, Killua didn't think so, which was why he kept that linger thought in and began to push it away. Far away.

"Yeah," Gon smiled at Killua's words, a shimmer of loneliness taint the amber color of his eyes, causing them to look dark. Talking about the past always made Gon happy, but certain things depressed him, most dealing with friends. Friends, he didn't have much time to see because of how busy he was. He hated being an adult, but he couldn't put a pause at the ticking hours of the clock. Still, sometimes, he would dream that he could.

Dark thoughts were undone by the opening sound of the door from under him. There was a loud voice, unknown to Gon, but he could only guess who it was, from the way Killua had left out a loud shocked gasped. The tone sounded kind, that it caused Gon to shiver, especially when he knew what went on when he had heard all the screaming, and yelling. Breathing in slowly, Gon sat still, a little noise in the back of his mind saying that if he spoke, Killua would get into trouble, much worse than he already was in.

Frozen on the floor, Killua could feel his heart beat a scared rhythm, his eyes watching as his boyfriend came out, tone deep as he spoke to who was inside, "I'm just going to have a quick smoke, I'll meet you in the car," Killua's hands gripped tightly at the fabric of his pants, clear blue eyes shutting tightly as a scream came after. "Killua! What are you doing here?!"

Looking down at the floor, before Killua could stop himself, he snarled deeply, each word tainted darkly with venom, "Waiting for you to be done fucking whoever you are," His gaze went up, locking right into his boyfriend's eyes. The white-haired teen almost felt fearless, that was until the man who stood taller began to angrily make his way over.

Putting his arms up, and expecting to be punched, Killua received different, "You know this wouldn't be happening if you weren't so stubborn!" His boyfriend screamed, his hand gripping Killua by the hair, tugging the teen harshly to that the point Killua was shouting as he tried to stand to loosen the pressure on his head.

"Let go of me!" The teen shrieked, his voice panicked while he finally made it possible to stand on his own two feet. Reaching out, he tried to grab at his partner's hand that was in his hair. Yet, he tripped from the rough tugging, falling to his knees painfully. Killua knew he would be fine after all of this. He just needed to get back up on his feet and get his hair free. Still, Killua found it hard to do just that, and it might have been because he knew Gon was listening.

It scared him.

It scared Killua to know that Gon was hearing everything. That Gon was learning what really went on and how the fights normally started and went on. What frightened Killua the most was that Gon might believe that Killua did deserve it. That Gon would see him in a different light and never want to speak to him again. Especially when he decided that maybe, just maybe it was completely fine to make a new friend.

Killua suddenly felt like he wanted to die. His will to fight slipping enough to just let the man he convinced himself endlessly that he loved to drag him into their home. His partner yelling words that Killua heard so many times since the age of twelve and honestly believed, "I'm tired of you always blaming me! Why can't you see that you make me do this! I feel like I'm walking on eggshells each time I'm around you!"

Paralyzed, Gon never once moved from the chair that he sat on. His heart was racing, head empty, not a single idea of what to do or how to help forming in his head. It was really different hearing everything as if he was right there, from how it normally sounded when he was in his home and the walls muffled the words.

Gon didn't know how long he sat there out in the open, trembling in fear and anger he didn't know he could feel. However, when he did stand, all he could think about was how Killua felt in that situation, and how he put up with it. Most of all, Gon wanted to learn how he could put a stop to what was occurring. How someone like him, who had never seen Killua's face could actually lend a hand into bringing it all to an end.

Yet, was there really a way for Gon to be able to help Killua? Gon mind was swarming with questions as he entered his home.


Ah! I have been really busy! But I wanted to post something since it's Killua's bday! Updates are going to be slow. I don't have much time to write, and I recently found out I will be moving. For the people wondering about Four Walls. Yes, I will be still be updating that story. The next chapter is done, I just need to look it over o 3o;; This chapter is for Nikki, who is simply amazing and deals with me from day to day!