After an exciting day for the entire group, dinner provided a great opportunity for everyone to relax. After much quarreling as they walked around town, they settled on eating at a seemingly new BBQ place. Having little desire to head home, the hunters continued to explore the town after dinner. By the time they neared the other side of town, Leorio noted that it was past 11:00 and, based on the facial expressions and apparent energy levels of his friends, suggested going home.
By the time they finally got back up to the apartment, Gon could barely keep his eyes open as he dragged his feet towards his room, with Killua following closely behind.
"Goodnight guys," Gon mumbled as he turned into his room and plopped on his bed. As a boy raised under a relatively early curfew, Gon was not used to staying up much later than 9:30 and as they spent time together, Killua got acquainted with his friend's sleeping schedule, adopting it.
After entering their room, the group's older members prepared to sleep. Noticing the nervous aura his friend was still carrying, Leorio joked to the blond, being careful to keep his voice down for his friends in the other room:
"Promise not to break my face?"
The joke worked, as Kurapika rebuttled shortly after.
"Promise to wear actual sleepwear?"
"Don't worry. I bought pajamas." He looked to his luggage and pulled out some clothes. "Speaking of which, I'll be back momentarily." Leorio said as he left the room with the bundle of clothes at hand, obviously heading for the bathroom. Using this opportunity to change as well, the Kurata put on a comfortable white top and light blue cotton pants. Leorio returned moments after his friend finished.
Familiar shivers returned up the Kurata's spine. Leorio walked in wearing a black short sleeved shirt and black pants. Shuddering unnoticed by his friend, Kurapika thought, why do I get chills up my back every time I share a room with this guy? This is Leorio for cripes sake! I gotta relax myself.
Yawning, Leorio walked towards his side of the bed. He headed for the side where his bags were closer to, which much to Kurapika's dismay, was closer side to the door. Kurapika wanted to stay awake for a bit, but his tiredness took control of him and forced him to lie down in the bed.
"Goodnight Kurapika," Leorio released as he tuned off the lamp by his side.
"Goodnight Leorio," the blond said as he turned off his light and drifted off to sleep.
After a surprisingly comfortable sleep, all things considered, Kurapika awoke the next morning, less than 10 seconds before his roommate. Not feeling any skin connection to the doctor beside him initially, he had a sigh of relief. That feeling however, was quickly altered when his friend moved his right hand and moved the Kurata's left finger in the process. Kurapika didn't worry though, only flinching and ignoring the incident emtirely else wise. It wasn't either of their faults anyways, Kurapika knew. People naturally move in their sleep, he heard himself say. It vaguely reminded him of something Gon or Senritsu would say in this situation.
After about 10 or so days went by, the pair basically had adopted a similar routine when it came to their nightly sleep preparations, each night getting more and more comfortable around each other.
One afternoon, Kurapika walked into the kitchen to see Leorio looking in a familiar book.
"Wasn't that the catalogue the manager gave us to order beds?" Not seeing his friend enter the room, Leorio flinched as he saw his friend enter the room.
"Oh…I guess it is," the doctor said, scrutinizing the book and reminding himself of its origins.
"You never ordered them, did you?"
"No. Sorry, I guess it slipped my mind. I've been preparing for my job for the past few days." Leorio looked at his friend slightly worried at what he was going to say in response.
"It's no big deal. I mean, they'd be a lot of money and we're already used to it by now, right?" Leorio looked at his friend, very surprised by his response. He had felt like he was preparing for a blizzard, and in the end, only got a light snowfall from the boy. "So what are you looking for in the book anyways," he had asked, as if ignoring the amazed face Leorio was giving him.
"Oh. I was looking for some furniture for our room. My cousin's going to give me his old computer, and I need a desk for it. Not to mention, we also both need drawers and stuff."
"Can I help you look through it?" the Kurata boy offered.
Leorio smiled. "Sure." They looked through the book together, removing the final layer of their wall of awkwardness. Much like Gon and Killua, Kurapika understood their innocence and logic. He's my friend and we share a bed. End of story.
Now that small story line is officially done. From this point on, the story will mainly be one shots, or so I've planned. What I intended to do with these first few chapters was to grasp the setting of the new town and some of the character relationships that I will be focusing on in this story and the side fics. Speaking of which, make sure to read the side fics (Separate fics that relate to this central one), as they'll offer more developed storylines within The Apartment's continuity. I'll post them in chronological order and everything so that no one's confused.
I hope you enjoyed the first few chapters! Please review in the comments! Next time, be prepared for some other Hunter X Hunter characters to make an appearance!
