Kicking Against the Goad: Chapter 7
Author's Note: Oh, wow, guys. We are so close to the end! For your fun fact (which I am totally not running out of *wink*), originally one of Killua's many extra curricular activities included being president of the LGBT+ club. It was something he and Ikalgo referenced often as Ikalgo tried to convince Killua to seduce Gon (who's sexuality was unclear). I ended up scrapping it since Gon's interest in men came up so early.
Anyway, read on, and please let me know what you think!
"I hate that woman," Killua muttered to Gon under his breath.
"Do you think I've already ruined my chance at making a good impression?" Gon asked, looking overly serious.
Killua couldn't help the gentle smile that snuck onto his face. It was good that Gon cared. Killua could already tell that Gon was going to be good on the field, but that wouldn't mean anything if he wasn't committed. The fact that he was worried about Bisky's opinion and not cursing her punishments meant that he was going to be a committed player.
"You've already made a good impression, Idiot. You had Bisky from the moment you called her Coach Krueger," Killua said as they rounded the corner of the field together. "And even if you hadn't, she'd trust my judgement on you. One of the many benefits of being the captain."
"Oh, is it? " Gon asked in a way that made Killua question if Gon truly believed him. But Gon spoke again before Killua could bring it up. "So that means you'd tell her I had your approval?"
"Oh, I'd tell her more than that about you, babe," Killua said suggestively. "By the way, how do you feel about being called babe?"
Gon laughed, his head falling back and exposing his tan neck to the sun. "It's not the most creative, but I like the way your voice gets kind of low when you say it. It sounds sexy."
Even though Gon's tone was at least partially teasing, Killua's face flushed lightly. Even Gon jokingly calling him sexy was enough to get his heart beating faster.
"Yeah? Well, I'm a pretty sexy guy, especially when someone as cute as you is around," Killua said as nonchalantly as he could manage.
"Mm, so Leorio wasn't lying when he said you knew handle cute boys?" Gon asked, a small smirk on his face that Killua found both mischievous and cute.
"The old man may have been a little too excited about what he was saying, but he wasn't lying. Besides," Killua offered up a smirk of his own. "I'm handling you, aren't I?"
The smile on Gon's face only broadened. "I can't say that yet, but you are doing way better than I expected you to do."
"Trust me, you'll be saying it before practice is over," Killua said stubbornly.
Gon laughed in response before glancing at Killua from the side of his eyes. Their eyes had barely met before Gon took off at a faster speed, silently challenging Killua to keep up. Immediately Killua was running at his side at top speed.
Their race continued for five laps, each of them pumping their legs and arms as fast as they could go. In the end, it was only Bisky's whistle that brought them to a stop, both still in step with each other.
"Okay, that's enough! Take a water break!" Bisky called, taking a moment to look over at Killua and Gon to make sure they were listening.
Killua nodded to Bisky before stretching his arms up behind his head. "Looks like we're about to get to the fun part."
"Mm, you weren't already having fun?" Gon questioned.
"Even more fun, babe," Killua corrected before he took off at a jog, arms still behind his head, toward his water jug.
Once Killua had reached his jug he tipped his head back and took a long drink. He'd been so concerned with Gon that he hadn't even realized that he was thirsty.
Well, he had realized he was thirsty, but it was a totally different kind of thirst. The kind of thirst that was inspired by a golden boy's eyes being on him.
His current thirst was because of sweat. It was a good thing that Bisky was there to remind him to take a drink. Killua was sure that Gon had to power to distract him until he was dehydrated.
Speaking of Gon, the tan boy walked up beside Killua, his facial expression giving away that he was about to say something that would embarrass Killua. Said boy tried to steady himself.
"Do you mind if I share with you? I guess I did forget one of my soccer things after all," Gon said sheepishly.
Killua could feel his shoulders drop as he relaxed. Sharing his water bottle was hardly something to get worked up about.
"Sure, I can't seduce you if you pass out from dehydration," Killua said before handing Gon his water jug and wiping his chin with his free hand.
Once the jug was in Gon's hand, he stared down at the spout for a moment before looking at Killua intensely.
"You know, this is kind of like an indirect kiss."
Killua's face couldn't have been redder if he'd spent a week sitting at the beach sans sunscreen.
For a moment Killua sputtered before finally gathering his bearings and replying, "Idiot, plenty of people share. It's nothing like that."
Gon chuckled and Killua put his hand over his face. That was not the response of someone who was trying to be seductive. Why couldn't Killua just stay focused? Well, it sure didn't help that one minute Gon was flirting with him and then the next acting like he wanted to be best friends. How the hell was he supposed to switch back and forth?
"If you say so," Gon said, obviously not agreeing, before wrapping his lips around the spout of Killua's water bottle and taking a drink, although in Killua's opinion it was more than that.
In fact, watching Gon take a drink was like a sexual experience. His head was leaned back, showcasing his tanned neck and bulging Adam's apple. As Gon drank the lump in his neck moved up in down in what Killua could swear was the rhythm of his own heart. Beyond that there was the single bead of sweat that was cascading down Gon's neck. Oh, how Killua wanted to lap up that sweat. And fuck if that wasn't gross. Still, he wanted to do it.
"So, are you a good kisser, Killua?" Gon asked after he'd lowered Killua's water bottle from his soft looking lips.
Once again Killua was caught off guard.
"What?" Killua asked before he could stop himself.
Gon took a step forward, bringing his face mere inches away from Killua's.
"I asked if you were a good kisser, Killua."
If Killua wasn't in the incredible shape that he was, he was certain that he would have had a heart attack and died on the spot. Was he a good kisser? How could Gon ask that? How was he so bold?!
Amber eyes stared at Killua, practically glittering with mirth as he awaited Killua's answer. Really, there was only one answer Killua could give, even if it wasn't entirely honest.
Or honest at all.
"Psh, yeah! Of course I am!" It was a lie, and the way Killua turned his chin up in defiance as he crossed his arms totally gave that away before his tone had the chance.
"Really?" The smile that followed the question was so wide that it looked painful.
Killua scowled as a blush took over his face. He would rather die than admit the truth— that he'd never kissed anyone. At almost 17 years old Killua would have felt at least slightly insecure telling anyone that he had never kissed anyone, but telling Gon was different. Gon was beautiful and cocky, and Killua had been flirting with him like he could keep up. Admitting the truth was surely the same as forfeiting the game they were playing.
"'Course," Killua lied, still not looking Gon in the eye.
Gon laughed softly as he leaned his head forward to rest his forehead against Killua's shoulder. The pale boy immediately tensed at the contact, not knowing how to react to the touch.
"You're a liar, Killua," Gon stated simply, turning his head and shooting Killua one of the most affectionate looks he had ever received from another person.
Tingles instantly shot down Killua's spine in response, despite Gon's words. The feeling was so good Killua forgot to think of a response.
"It's okay if you've never kissed anyone. You don't have to be embarrassed," Gon said, insuring that Killua was embarrassed.
"Yeah, well, what about you? Are you a good kisser?" Killua asked, attempting to take the attention off of himself.
Gon lifted his head from Killua's shoulder, taking away the spiky hair that had been gently tickling Killua's neck, and making the taller boy regret ever posing the question.
"I've had good feedback," Gon said, looking overly pleased with himself. "Maybe someday I'll teach you."
Gon's smugness immediately brought Killua's irritation to the surface, extinguishing both his embarrassment and his warm feelings toward Gon, at least momentarily. Luckily it also served to revitalize Killua's competitiveness.
"I think you'll be pleased with how fast I catch on," Killua said before taking the water bottle from Gon's right hand, making sure the his fingers had plenty of contact with Gon's.
He then brought the spout of the bottle up to his lips before proceeding to let his tongue run over it in what could only be described as a sexual manner. Had Killua been thinking about it, he would have been at least a little disgusted with himself. After all, he was pretty much just lapping up Gon's leftover spit. But he wasn't thinking about the logistics of his actions. He was only thinking about winning, which meant seducing Gon. And seducing Gon meant licking at a waterspout that had previously been in said boy's mouth.
After his tongue had thoroughly explored the spout, Killua took hold of it in his mouth and took a long drink, tipping his head back in an attempt to copy the pose Gon had looked so good in earlier. When he finished his drink he looked down at Gon with heavy lidded eyes, hoping that he had accomplished something.
The look Gon was giving said that he had. The dark haired boy had a slight pink hue to his cheeks, and his eyes were wide as though he was impressed. Killua was also proud to note that Gon's pupils had practically blacked out the brown of his eyes.
"Not to mention, by your logic, you've already kissed me, and I just kissed you back," Killua declared as he shoved the bottle back at Gon. "And no offence, but I think I did a better job."
After finishing his sentence, Killua proceeded to spin around, hands going up to link behind his head before he happily approached the spot where Bisky had other players surrounding her.
He'd only made it a few steps before Gon was beside him again, walking closer than what was necessary and smiling like he'd been the one who'd just bested Killua instead of the other way around.
The two of them were among the last to join Bisky's circle, and once they were all surrounding her she began to speak.
"All right! I'm going to split you up into teams so that we can do a little scrimmaging! Stay still while I do that or the whole team will be doing pushups!" Bisky yelled, holding up mesh green and white tank tops that would signify teams.
Upon Bisky's words the entire team froze, as though trying not to breathe until she had made the teams. Bisky quickly went through the players assigning positions. When she reached where Killua and Gon were standing she assigned Killua to the right side of midfield on the green team before turning to Gon.
"Okay, Gon, I'm going to let you try out playing midfield on the left side of the green team. I'd let you try central, but since we have a limited number of players, we only scrimmage with a left and right midfielder," Bisky told the boy, who immediately began giving enthusiastic nods. She then looked past the boys to another player. "Shoot, can you come here for a second?"
Within a few seconds Shoot was standing next to Killua, looking forlorn in a way that was very typical for him.
"Is something wrong?" Shoot asked, looking between Bisky and Killua.
"The opposite! I'm putting you on offense for the green team," Bisky said excitedly before grabbing Gon's shoulders and pushing him to stand in front of Shoot. "Gon says he wants to play midfield, so we're going to see if he's up to the challenge! If he is then I'm going to officially move you to offense. Sound good?"
"Sounds great," Shoot said, offering Bisky one of his rare smiles.
"Good! Then don't be afraid to keep an eye on him and let him know when he's screwing up!" Bisky said sweetly before shoving tank tops at them and then moving on to the next player.
"What? I can't be trusted to watch a new player now?" Killua asked to Bisky's back as he pulled the tank top over his head. He wasn't surprised when she pretended not to hear him.
Shoot, on the other hand, decided to respond, "I think she asked me because you're watching too much."
Killua's mouth fell open in shock before turning to level a glare at Shoot.
"Just saying," Shoot said with a shrug before turning to Gon. "Good luck."
Shoot then walked back over to the spot he had originally been standing in, completely ignoring Killua's frustration. Of course it wasn't surprising. Shoot was just that kind of guy. He said his piece and then didn't bother to say anything else. Had Shoot been more outspoken he might have been team captain, especially being Killua's senior by a year. But as it was, Shoot had little to no interest in anyone else. Well, unless you counted his interest in fighting with Knuckle, but that was a different story.
"He makes a good point; are you going to be able to concentrate on the game with me around?" Gon asked teasingly as he purposefully leaned in too close to Killua's ear, having put on his own tank top during Killua's short exchange with Shoot.
Killua turned his glare toward Gon, but upon seeing his cheeky looking expression, his features softened into a smirk. There was no reason to be angry with Gon when he could simply compete with him.
"Don't worry, baby, I won't let you lose your first scrimmage," Killua promised as he casually put his arms around Gon's neck. "Leorio failed to mention that I can handle cute boys and soccer balls at the same time."
Gon beamed at the attention and settled his own arms around Killua's waist, making it look like the two boys were about to start slow dancing on the soccer field.
"Boys, huh? Is there someone else you're trying to seduce?" Gon asked.
"Why? Would it make you jealous?" Killua teased as he ran a hand through Gon's spiky hair.
Gon's arms tightened around Killua's waist slightly before he answered.
"Mm, yeah. I wouldn't like it if you were flirting with someone else when you could be flirting with me," Gon said without the smallest hint of shame.
Killua let out a small laugh. "So even though I haven't seduced you yet, I'm not allowed to flirt with anyone else?"
Gon smiled. "Why would you want to?"
Killua was going to comment on Gon's conceitedness, but the shorter boy spoke again before he could.
"Besides, I won't flirt with anyone else while I'm still waiting to see if you can seduce me. So it's only fair that you don't either," Gon explained.
"So what happens after I seduce you?" Killua asked, only to have Bisky's whistle blow before Gon could respond.
All of the players' heads shot toward where Bisky was standing.
"Okay! I've assigned everyone's positions!" Bisky declared, an evil glint in her eye that Killua had learned to recognize over the years. "As usual I've got Palm as one of the goalies!"
As usual there were some grumblings, despite the fact that Palm playing goalie was a given. Palm was the best goalie the team had, as she was practically impossible to score against. She seemed to always know which direction someone was going to kick the ball and was able to anticipate exactly where to move.
Palm's only exploitable weakness was that she was easily frustrated and could lose her concentration with enough trash talking. Unfortunately, frustrating Palm came at a cost. Killua had watched Palm earn herself a red card his first year on the team after breaking some guy's nose. Apparently he'd called Palm's boyfriend at the time ugly.
Needless to say, most players preferred not scoring to risking Palm's fury.
"And since I want Ikalgo to get more practice playing defense, I'm going to be the other goalie!" Bisky announced.
Immediately the whole team groaned. Killua even untangled himself from Gon so that he could face Bisky as he cursed her under his breath.
"Why is everyone upset?" Gon whispered to Killua as he looked around at the team. At least three people looked ready to attack Ikalgo, Zushi had dropped his head to say a prayer, and Meleoron's face was in his hands where it looked like he might be crying.
"Because Bisky was an Olympic soccer player and anytime she joins the scrimmage the team she's not on gets killed. You know how embarrassing it is when the other team's goalie scores?" Killua complained.
Instead of looking frustrated like the rest of the team, Gon's face transformed into one of determination. Killua groaned. Of course Gon was excited for the challenge. Killua was about to call Gon an idiot when Bisky's laughter rang through the air.
"Oh, I'm just kidding! I put Goreinu in the other goal!" Bisky said looking far too amused for someone who had just upset her entire team. Well, all of them but Gon. "Now get into position before I change my mind."
The entire team scurried to their positions on the field, Killua pulling Gon behind him to assure that he didn't try to convince Bisky to play. Thankfully Gon didn't argue.
Once everyone was in position, Bisky walked to the middle of the field to stand between Shoot and Knuckle, the two offenders who would have the first chance at getting the ball.
Killua watched closely with laser focus as Bisky held the ball in her hands between the two players. When she blew her whistle she dropped the ball between them. For a few seconds it was unclear who would get possession of the ball, but Shoot managed to take the ball and send it down the field to Zepile.
Zepile moved down the field clumsily, his ball control still needing work. Killua was quick to get into passing position.
"Hey, send it here!" Killua called as Meleoron snuck up behind Zepile.
Zepile was just barely able to kick the ball away before Meleoron could take it. The pass wasn't perfect, actually it could just barely be considered a pass, but Killua managed to get to the ball before anyone else.
He then kicked the ball down the field, juggling it around the other team's midfielder. He managed to make it most of the way down the field before Zushi came to block him. Killua spent a moment trying to kick the ball around Zushi, but upon seeing Shoot open near the goal, Killua passed to him.
Once Shoot had control of the ball, he took the shot, the ball just barely soaring into the goal past Goreinu's fingertips.
There was little time to celebrate as Bisky blew her whistle to make sure the team kept moving.
The ball made its way up and down the field, moving from player to player before Killua finally watched the ball get taken in by Gon near their team's goal. Killua stayed even with Gon on the pitch as the other boy ran down the field, kicking around other players as simply as he had the cones from the practice drill.
Gon had managed to get the ball clear down to the other team's defenders before Amane managed to trip him up. Off of the field she seemed overly anxious, but on it she was at ease. Killua watched the two of them going back and forth with the ball, both struggling to get the upper hand.
As they fought for possession, Killua scanned the field. Gon had another defender coming to take the ball from him, meanwhile Pokkle stood wide open, waving his arms at Gon.
"Hey, Idiot, pass the ball before you lose it!" Killua called across the field.
Gon's chin perked up at the scream, an indication that he'd heard Killua. A few seconds later Gon sent the ball to Pokkle, who was able to fire off a shot toward Goreinu. The goalie managed to catch the ball, throwing it to Zushi, who lost the ball a few seconds later to Shoot. Shoot then managed to make the shot.
"Sorry, Killua! I was in the zone!" Gon yelled across the field as the game continued to move.
"You're just lucky I'm here paying attention to you!" Killua yelled back, happy with the smile his words brought to Gon's face.
The practice game went on like that for a while. The longer the teams played, the more obvious it became that the teams weren't evenly matched. Killua's team definitely had more skill. He was actually surprised Bisky waited as long as she did to blow her whistle.
"Okay! Break for water while I switch up the teams!" Bisky yelled.
The players jogged to the sideline, taking their drinks while Bisky decided who should change positions.
Killua took a slow drink from his water as he watched Gon wipe the sweat from his face with his shirt.
"Do you think Bisky will play with us now?" Gon asked after he'd soaked up most of the perspiration from his skin.
Killua rolled his eyes. "Probably not today, but trust me you'll get a chance to play against her. The old hag can't stay off the field," Killua grumbled, knowing that if he spoke at a normal volume Bisky would somehow hear him.
"I've been meaning to ask, why do you keep calling her old?" Gon asked.
"Because she is old," Killua answered simply.
Gon laughed. "She can't be more than 35, Killua. That's not old!"
Killua grinned knowingly before handing Gon the water bottle. "Yeah, you're right, 35 five isn't old," Killua paused, waiting for Gon to take a drink before he finished speaking. "Too bad Bisky turned 61 last year."
As Killua had hoped, Gon spit his water out of his mouth in surprise, choking on it a little. Killua cackled.
"She can't be that old," Gon said, disbelief evident, as he wiped water off of his chin.
"I swear, Gon. She's just had a ton of work done," Killua explained. "If you don't believe me, check out some of the old yearbooks. She looks the same now as she did in 1975."
Gon's eyes went wide, and for a second Killua thought it was from what he said. Then Bisky's hand grabbed his ear for the second time that day.
"Ow, Bisky, come on!" Killua complained.
"You need to stop giving away my beauty secrets," Bisky said calmly before turning her attention to Gon. "I'm putting you on the other team, same position—actually, switch to the right side. Keep up the good work!"
Gon nodded before trading Bisky his green tank top in exchange for a white one, all while she was still holding onto Killua.
When they had finished Bisky finally released Killua's ear and walked away.
Killua rubbed at the side of his head as Gon beamed from Bisky's praise. The tan boy then turned his grin to Killua.
"I guess you were right. I have made a good impression," Gon said to Killua happily.
Killua rolled his eyes. "Gee, I'm so proud of you."
Gon laughed before pulling Killua's hand away from his head. "Aw, did she hurt your ear?" Gon asked as he gently pushed silver hair away from the mentioned appendage.
Killua scoffed, avoiding eye contact with Gon, but not pulling away. It felt nice having a hand in his hair.
"Why? Are you going to kiss it better for me?" Killua teased, a small part of him hoping that Gon actually would.
Gon didn't disappoint him. Before Killua could bring his eyes up to face Gon again, the other boy had already leaned in and planted a small kiss right on Killua's earlobe.
"All better?" Gon whispered against Killua's earlobe.
The boy in question could have melted. Before meeting Gon, Killua had never known what a strong effect hot breath could have on him. Now he knew that questions whispered in his ear were enough to make his whole body feel a jolt of pleasure.
Killua pulled away to look at Gon, hoping that he would think of an appropriate response once he was looking him in the eye. Upon meeting Gon's shit eating grin, he decided on one.
"Yeah," Killua agreed, a sweet smile on his face that masked the irritation caused by Gon's facial expression. "Now I just feel guilty that I'm about to wipe that smug smile off of your face."
"Oh? How are you going to do that?" Gon asked, sounding far too excited for someone who had just been threatened.
"In case you missed it, we're on different teams now. And that means that I'm going to kick your ass," Killua said, a look of determination on his face.
Gon mirrored his expression, his eyes looking bright and alive in response to the challenge in the air.
"It means you're going to try," Gon corrected.
"I won't go easy on you just because I'm seducing you," Killua warned him.
"I wouldn't like you if you did," Gon said honestly.
Bisky's whistle interrupted the conversation. "Alright, everyone back on the field!" Bisky yelled.
Gon took a quick swig of Killua's water before tossing it on the ground. He then bumped his shoulder against Killua's.
"Good luck, Killua," Gon said, his body looking full of energy despite practice being close to over.
Killua stretched his neck from side to side, making it crack in the process. "You too."
