"What does he look like..?"
'You're really out of it, aren't you.' Gon pushed me by the shoulder, and almost off the bed before I had the chance to catch myself.
'I am not exactly happy with this situation.' I looked back at him and did my hardest to focus on an image of normal people having contact. Today we didn't start with going out, we'd been thrown in this privacy room, and I'd opted to think about the technical part of the mission, and not this one.
Yesterday had gone without a hitch. When getting hold of the center of Hisoka's eyes, it didn't take long to find out how to get information from there to my own computer. The trickiest part had still been leaving no trace of something missing from his system. I like hacking into systems, but I'm nowhere near Milluki's level yet.
Well, if I messed up I'll know soon enough, won't I? Either Hisoka protests against this and comes after me, he tells Illumi and lets him come after me, or he's okay with this and he'll let me know in some creepy way like he does. I'll probably learn of the results of my actions by the evening. That Hisoka actually wants me to know is my best guess though. He's had eyes everywhere from the beginning, and never even protested of me and Feitan meeting – even though he says he wants to keep us apart.
'Have we actually been placed in here so you can practice what you have to do with Illumi?' He tilted his head and looked at me as if that was the most normal situation we could possibly be in. I pouted back at him. I have no fucking clue how to tackle this.
'Is there anything you can teach me without us actually having to do that stuff..?' I leaned forward, a bit closer to Gon's face and gave him a hopeful look. But I was still only half there. The session this morning had been weird. Ever since Chrollo took more of a lead, his questions had gotten more shallow than anticipated. This was really suspicious, but the information I was giving him couldn't lead him anywhere harmful either, so I was really wondering what his plans and goals were.
'I can just explain in words, but I've already done that halfway over the phone. Are you sure that's enough?' His straight face was killing me,
'Are you actually saying you're gonna do this with me?!' I shouted in his face. 'Because I sure as hell am not kissing you!' Gon burst out laughing, and fell back on the bed. Meanwhile my skin was finding out about new shades of red.
Illumi had been distracting during session. He hadn't said a word, but there'd been some kind of intent seeping out of him the entire time that I haven't been able to place just yet. Whatever it is, I'll find out with training tonight, won't I? I need to fucking focus on what's in front of me.
'Oy! That's enough laughing, you moron!' I slapped his head when he got back up, but laughed a little myself. This whole situation is moronic. 'Illumi won't let me practice with him, so I don't exactly know what to do!' He raised a hand to where I'd slapped him, and still looked back like there was nothing strange about any of this. You are more adaptable to situations than I am, aren't you?
'There's nothing to worry about, when we go out I'll just point you at random people and you make friendly contact like I told you. It doesn't have to go that far, you just have to learn how to look at someone without assessing if you need to kill them, right?' He lowered his hand again, and I looked away down at the bed. When it comes to simple things like this I'm completely clueless, aren't I? 'Do we have to stay here any longer? 'Cos it's bo~ring.' This would be a good time to discuss the plan with him some more, but somewhere I didn't want to. I don't want to hear him say no to it. I just want it to happen without him knowing what's happening, and blame it on my shrinks. On top of that, it's better if he doesn't know about it… it'll be easier to hide him.
'Hey!' He ticked my forehead when I looked back at him, and I gave him an offended push back. 'It's okay.' I gave him a quizzical look and cocked my head at that statement, waiting for him to continue. But I saw a familiar change in his expression, and my eyes slowly widened. 'Just make sure mom and Kito will be here as soon as you're out of this place. It'll get lonely otherwise.' I… I didn't know how to respond to that… 'There's no other way to save everyone, right? It'd be stupid of me if I'd say no.' How… How can you be so… 'What's wrong? Is there a change in plans? I won't do it if you can't get mom and Kito here, y'know.' I looked down at this point, and let my hair cover my expression. You have to do all of this just because you're friends with me, but still you stick up for me and accept everything like it's nothing… How… how are you real..? 'You okay, Kil?' No I'm not fucking okay, if I'd succeeded in the hit on your dad and you'd have found me, I wouldn't have any of this anymore. The thought is killing me.
'Yeah I'm fine, let's just get out of here. Maybe we can use the extra time for outside.' I felt him starting bouncing on the bed a little in anticipation. I will make sure to be out of here as quickly as possible, I won't let you be alone, Gon.
'… …'
Currently I was killing the wall in front of me with my head, while Gon was standing right behind me, giving more of his well-intended advice. I need to man up, I need to be kind to people, I need to stop thinking of them as people I want or don't want to kill. This was harder than anticipated…
On top of that, the constant shadow of Illumi keeping an eye on us wasn't exactly making me any less nervous about any of this. Ultimately we still only get two hours outside, and an hour into it I wasn't any closer to becoming friendly with anyone.
'Let's try someone else next.' I didn't turn away from the wall when Gon spoke up.
'No-one will like me in this town, Gon, they all know who I am.'
'So? I know who you are, doesn't stop me.' I stopped killing the wall in front of me and sighed deeply before turning around and look in the general direction of where Gon was pointing. No use in sulking over it, I need to get this done.
From the corner of my eye I saw Illumi react to the person Gon was unintentionally pointing at, and it piqued my interest. He knew the actual random person walking down the street to the extent that he reacted to it?
'Fine. I'll go.' I pocketed my hands, and turned on my heel, 'I'll go for the blonde one, 'lright?' When I got a nod, I started walking to the person currently window shopping at a bookstore. Time to try this again…
'Hey.' I stopped besides him, and looked up a little. You're a guy, right? 'Interested in books?' He laughed a little before looking down at me.
'Actually I love them, how about you?' I smiled a little back at him,
'I like them, but I've been brought up to be practical, not necessarily book smart.'
'Oh? But they can be great for relaxation as well, can't they?'
'They can, but I never really have the time.'
'Busy with school?'
'And all kinds of other activities. I still like to browse though, want to go in?' I pointed my thumb at the door and looked up at him with the kindest smile I could muster. I was just glad someone finally responded positively to this. He didn't seem like a bastard either. But his reaction was off just before he responded, and his smile dropped a little,
'Don't bother kid, I know the one chaperoning you. You're a patient of his, aren't you?' I looked up a bit grouchy that it wasn't because of me that contact had succeeded, but also surprised that I was right that they apparently knew each other.
He looked back down at me and flashed me a smile before continuing.
'Is he forcing you to learn social skills so you can leave earlier?' If he knows I'm a patient, then he has to know my level of danger – but he's not caring about it. I shifted weight a little before responding.
'You recognize him but not me?'
'I know who you are, unfortunately for you it's impossible not to know.' Yeah, that's kinda the problem here. 'I also know of your profession, and with someone like you they're most probably not working on stopping you from doing it. They're just stabilizing you.'
'I figured as much.' How do you know about my profession though. 'But for myself I still need to learn how to approach someone.'
'You'll not have much luck here.' He looked back inside the window, you don't have to tell me. 'I don't approve of your profession, but if you want to know some more about either Hisoka or Illumi, you can follow me inside.' I was taken aback by that response. 'There's some things you need to know before you continue to cooperate with them.'
'Can I ask you something first?' I tilted my head, and he nodded, 'You know what I do for a living, but you don't seem impressed or threatened in the least, who are you?' He huffed amusedly before looking back down at me and answering,
'I'm Kurapika, a neighbor to Hisoka. You're Killua-kun, right?' Neighbor to Hisoka? It was hard imagining someone like Hisoka having something as normal as a neighbor, but I played along for now. This guy has secrets up to his ears, but I can cross check any information he gives me with what I already know, and give the name through to my parents to check his credibility.
'Yeah, I am, nice to meet you.' I held out my hand, and he kindly shook it before laying a hand against my shoulder, and walking us both inside the shop. 'What do you have against them?'
'You know of Chrollo Lucilfer?' I nodded, 'What does he look like?' I glanced up at him, what's everyone's obsession with this all of a sudden? The guy really is untraceable it seems. By now I'm really, really sure he's the most dangerous out of everyone at that institution.
'Why do you want to know?'
'We'll have to talk quickly before Illumi gets in here as well.'
'… Fine.' I used the same description I gave to everyone else that'd asked, and we stopped in the middle of the bookstore when he answered.
'Alright. Let me just tell you this. Chrollo is being possessive over Illumi, right?' I nodded. 'He's like this for a reason. Be careful when moving closer to Illumi. Also - and remember this well - no matter what he does, Hisoka is an ally. Use him. He should be amused enough by this situation to do so.' He was speaking in riddles to me about all of this. 'I also suggest giving up on triggering Illumi. It will drive him further away, and you don't want to do that.' I cocked my head and gave him a questioning look to all of this. 'That's all you need to know about them for now, but I suggest you keep digging.'
'What has Chrollo done to you in the past?'
'… …' I guessed right.
'Mah, as long as you're not getting your feelings mixed with advice meant for me, then it's alright. But you can't expect me to—' he stopped me from talking any more with a look. When I turned around, I saw both Illumi and Gon already standing there. Kurapika addressed my shrink.
'Illumi, I appreciate you and Hisoka stopping before midnight, but will you keep it down the next time.'
'That's impossible. But next time will be at my house either way.' It wasn't hard to see that Kurapika couldn't really get along with Illumi, but that was hardly of my concern. Gon was about to come my way again, but I was caught by surprise when someone else approached and talked to me first. Did I look more harmless with Gon attached to me..?
'Hey…' Either way, I'm finally getting some practice. Although it's not directly the practice I need, I'll trust Gon's judgment on this.
I hadn't expected running into the blonde while we were out, but it had little consequences for me either way. His grudges lay with Hisoka, not with me. I've also been told of his past, and the likelihood of this man involving himself in any matter of the institution is highly unlikely – so he'll be leaving Killua alone after this.
Attached to me after that was the boy I was going to take care of this Friday. I'd made it clear that he shouldn't cling to me, but the threat hadn't worked. While Killua had been talking to someone neither of us knew, he'd had the constant need to verbalize every one of his observations – things I was already seeing with my own eyes, so I hadn't seen the need for it.
In the end Gon had been able to relax Killua a lot more, and that was good for what the coming week was going to bring him.
'The Zoldycks will be here in just a minute.'
'I can read my watch, Hisoka.' I didn't even look up when he softly knocked on the open door to tell me this. He sounded amused again. I imagined he would be after yesterday. Although other kinds of triggers had happened, he'd enjoyed all of them, and had come out less scathed than expected. Broken bones heal abnormally fast with him either way.
'Have you been able to wrap everything up at your place last night?' Amused seemed to be an understatement, he was almost purring like a cat.
'Not a problem. Why are you here?' I looked and stood up when it was indeed time to meet with Killua's parents. This was an unusual situation – the last two times Chrollo took the lead on it, but apparently he's been giving the job to Zeno. He wants to keep away from everyone that's not me or Machi, it seems. Today these people had requested my presence in particular. Concerning this, they're not hard to read. They believe I'm the weakest link and they want to take me down first. Perhaps hoping I can give them information on Chrollo.
They're knocking on the wrong door if that's their goal.
'Just a social call.'
'You always have ulterior motive, and I don't have the time. Move out of the doorway.' I was slightly surprised when Hisoka actually did as I asked, but I stopped right next to him leaning against the doorframe when he casually held out a piece of paper in front of me.
'I'd read through this if I were you. Something very interesting is happening outside of your watchful gaze today.' I took the piece of paper from him, and he pushed himself away from the frame before turning around and walking the other way. I followed him with my eyes, and he raised his hand before he left with one last message, 'I'd read that before the meeting, it's a message from your dear patient.' He turned a corner afterwards, and I closed the door behind me before folding open the small message in my hands.
"Pretend to get triggered today and make them think it's easier than it actually is.
I need to know the other conditions to your triggers to not accidentally fulfill them.
Tonight during training you will make sure I need to visit Machi."
'What did you mean by this?'
'Isn't it obvious?' He looked away a little when he noticed the danger around me.
'It is, that's what makes me wonder about your intentions. You will not hear anything about the other conditions. I don't trust that you don't give this information to your parents one way or the other. Your sense on the importance of information is still too little in comparison to that of your parents.' I lowered the hand holding up the note, and he took it over from me to shred it to pieces. 'You're getting closer to Machi to get new information on Chrollo? You think it will be that easy?' I inclined my head and leaned my shoulder against the doorframe to his room. He looked back up at me with a kind of determination I hadn't seen before with him. Machi may not like everything Chrollo does, but she will never give information on him.
'How did the meeting with my parents go?'
'Are you curious for results in the plan you're making?' I narrowed my eyes a little at the arrogance hiding beneath the harmless question. 'Your parents tried to verbally drive me into a corner, but they didn't succeed in doing so. As for the physical test you warned about, it was non-existent. They shook my hand upon coming and leaving, that's it. Does that satisfy your need for information?' Killua is still only aware of the physical condition to the trigger, it was all his parents had to go on. Assassins in general don't interest me enough to cause anything; nothing the Zoldycks did today had caught me off-guard.
I could see that Killua was dissatisfied with these results, that there was still a lot about me that he was unaware of. He – like almost anyone – is uncomfortable with this lack of information.
So he changed the subject back.
'So are you going to help me get information from Machi or not? 'Cos I know you don't like Chrollo either.'
'Liking or not isn't the point, you know this. You're helping me keeping him at a distance because he's least likely to help you with all the plans you have inside your head. You think I'll help you then?'
'You're training me, aren't you. You're also letting me voluntarily "trigger" you next Monday. It's obvious you're not on my parents' side.' I raised an eyebrow and had to admit that this was true.
'You're mixing up your motivations. I'm training you because I'm interested in your strength and it won't impede getting you out of here. I'm letting you "trigger" me next Monday because you'd be harder to handle if your parents think you're falling short.' There was a short silence, but none of the regular irritation I'd usually get from him if I refuted him. He was most probably in the same mindset as when preparing for a hit – being swayed by one thing or the other will not exist for him anymore until his "job" is done. I've seen this before with assassins. I've seen it this afternoon with the Zoldycks as well – although better hidden.
'Mah, none of this matters. You're not hiding Gon here either way, and I'm just here for training. Let's go.'
'Come inside for a second.' I'd already turned around and was ready to walk to the court, but I looked back down at him when he took hold of the door,
'You're giving me an order? Don't be ridiculous. I have a lot to do, amusing you is not one of my tasks. If you have something to say, I will hear it during training.' I turned to walk away once again, but this time he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back in the room. When he simultaneously wanted to slam the door closed, I stopped myself and put my hand against the door – keeping it open. My first instinct was to get rid of the offending arm, but looking down at him I decided not to.
Although it was good if he was determined, all the relaxation he'd had when Gon was present was gone. Is he going to snap the moment he finds out I've taken over his task?
'Is there a reason you're provoking me? Do you want to train right here? I don't think the cleaners will like that. But I will down you in one strike if you don't let go.' I snaked the fingers of my captured hand a little, and knew it would only take a split second to accomplish this. I let him feel a small amount of fear – but it didn't seem to affect him.
'I'm only doing this because of you.' Although the words made sense, hearing something like that from him was strange.
Stranger than that was that he continued his provocation and pulled my arm down with a force. I countered this and twisted free from his grip, taking hold of his arm instead and turning him face down to the ground before I sat down with my legs on either side of him; pinning his free arm under my knee.
'Training will be cancelled, and I will put you to sleep right now.' I raised my free hand to make it so, but was halted when he twisted both his arm and his wrist almost out of their sockets to free himself – he wouldn't have succeeded if I hadn't let go to make sure his bones wouldn't break though. He turned his upper body a little, and raised that partially dislocated hand to pull me down by my hair and kiss me. I was caught off-guard, but not so much as that I knew to kick the door closed behind me. No matter the surveillance cameras everywhere, there were enough curious eyes in this place that would jump on making my life more troublesome if they'd see this.
When ignoring all of that, Killua had made a surprising amount of effort to make this kiss happen now, when he also could've tried it after training. This was a test, wasn't it. I said I wasn't going to tell him other conditions to my trigger, so now he was most probably following up on a hunch he's previously had.
I wanted to pull away and retort to this before putting him in an unconscious state after all, but I let go when he started dislocating his still captured hand under my knee. He turned over completely and relocated both his hands behind my head to keep me locked. Forcing him now in any way will result in breaking bones. What will the consequences of this be?
…Chrollo will most certainly have a new excuse to get me off the case. If I physically hurt Killua outside of training or supervision, Zeno will definitely pull me away. I have attacked too many times without reason already.
As soon as Killua gripped tighter, I set my elbows next to his head and made sure his shoulders were on the ground before continuing. I checked if those were still in their sockets first - which they were. Next I tried to use a pressure point on his arm to release his grip and untangle him from me, but he barely reacted to it. I tried another to get him unconscious, but I could feel slight muscle movements countering the pressure – just enough to keep him conscious. I returned my focus to what the boy was doing though, when he started licking my lips a little. I had underestimated his physical resistance when in the mindset of a mission. I can't have him dominating this moment, I need to make him unconscious right away.
… …
He bit on my lip before I had the chance to properly place my hand for a more forceful move, and with it catching me off-guard once again. That he did this twice was more of a bad thing for triggering me than anything else. Then we're turning this into a test for me as well.
I set my arm back down next to him, and lowered my head so he could rest his on the ground. I parted my lips a little bit and took the lead in finding his tongue with mine. There was a small reaction from him when this happened, but the grip on my hair didn't diminish – impressive with his wrists like this. If I survive this, I will also have proven that interest or domination are no conditions for me.
I spread my knees a little to lower my lower body, and could hear his heart rate increasing – he was forcing himself more than his body could handle. I inclined my head the other way, but other than his heartbeat that he was doing his best to subdue, he wasn't acting hesitant in any way. For an assassin his age he had an unusual amount of control over his body if needed be. Well, he already proved that during our training, didn't he.
He obviously wanted to be tested now already – before the end of the week. Well, if that's the case, then we need to move on from something he's already known with.
I let my lips glide away from his, and found my way to his ear. I licked and kissed beneath it, and finally felt his grip loosen a bit. His breathing remained even, but I wasn't surprised by that, he's been trained to keep it that way. I set my teeth in his flesh a little before I noticed there was most probably just one thing left that would make him anxious.
I lay one hand on his chest, and slowly let it slide down. I got his teeth in my ear just before I reached my destination, and stopped. His hands finally let go, and I sat back up. I took one of his hands in mine, and felt it out a little before setting it back to how it belonged. He didn't flinch. I repeated the motions with his other hand which took a little more time; he will still need to go to Machi for this. However, these wounds are self-inflicted; Zeno will not pull me away for it.
'I will not give away any signs to the other conditions, and you still have until Sunday before I'll test you. I suggest getting used to be touched there before then. Because no sexual assault charge would stand without that being touched, and your parents will be dissatisfied.' I let go of his hand and stepped away before he started testing his wrists for movement again. 'Training is hereby canceled, but I don't think you expected otherwise. Also, if you're like this, I take it you're going to say no to surgery?' I cocked my head and watched as he stood back up himself.
'I will not say yes as long as Gon or his family is in danger.' I raised my eyebrow a little. This was a motivation for himself, not for me – I had no obligation to go through with surgery, after all.
'Your choice.' I raised my hand palm up, 'I suggest not to assault me like that again though, I can't guarantee the results next time.' I lowered my hand again and walked out the door when he didn't physically react. As soon as I was back to my own office though, I had to admit that I'd barely prevented a trigger from happening. I need to work harder on seeing through Killua again before he becomes too interesting.
'I get this notion you only allow yourself to use the logic that is favorable to you - it will break you.'
'… Get out of my office Hisoka, I can easily contain this.' I shifted my eyes to the couch when I passed it, and his grin widened. He licked his lips at the prospect of seeing me break, apparently. More likely the things he can do to me if I would,
'Hm~ just be careful next week, Chrollo's interest is starting to rise, isn't it?'
'Not even early this morning had he been able to keep his complaint standing without making it personal. And he still has to abide by the rules set out, he will not get close. And I am always perceptive of unusual changes, so you don't have to warn me for that.'
'Oh? Then I'll take my leave with everything Kurapika's called about.' He simply stood up and raised his hand casually in goodbye when walking out the door. Did Kurapika have information on Chrollo that I didn't know about? I can't have that.
A/N
Oh man somehow I'm busier during free time than I am during school, this is fun but also draining xD And aaaah~ no.
No real talk between Illumi and Killua's parents yet. It will come, but not right now. More important stuffs happening.
Also, I asked around - and these things are very important to me - though it's impossible to negate pressure points, you
ANYWAY
Yes, I'm involving Kurapika. I neee~d him.
I also will be very busy with family stuff, so it's possible the next update won't happen until next year D8
I'll do my best, but I also have a Kuroko oneshot promise I need to write before next week, so yeah...
At the very least,
A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE 8D