Note: I wrote it while listening to Mariana's Trench - "Fallout", and if gave me FEELS and I've always hated Leorio. T^T
Beta-reader: None.
Chapter summary: Leorio and Kurapica talk; a phonecall.

Chapter 37

Leorio led Kurapica inside of the little restaurant and hailed the waiter. "Table for two," he asked easily.

The waiter looked from one to the other slowly. "You prefer secluded or by a window?"

"The window's fine," Kurapica said quickly.

Leorio sighed and let his arm drop. "Like he said. Window's fine."

The waiter pointed them to the tables by the front. "You can pick one of those. Place isn't exactly booming tonight. I'll bring the menus. Water?"

"Please," Kurapica said, walking over to one of the tables and sliding into the booth. Leorio sat across from him. The waiter returned with two cups of water, then he gave them each a menu. "Thank you." Kurapica flicked it open. Anything to keep from looking at Leorio. He knew they had to have a serious talk, but he really didn't know how to go about that. Leorio put his menu down and Kurapica quickly scanned his for something that he thought he would like. Then he set it down as well, and the server hurried over to take their orders. Kurapica turned his glass between his hands slowly.

When the waiter had left for the kitchen, Leorio reached over the table and tugged on one of Kurapica's fingers. "Kurapica," he said. The blond looked up and tried to pull away. Leorio sighed. "Don't do that. C'mon, gimme your hand."

"I'd rather not," Kurapica said uncomfortably.

"Don't you trust me anymore?" Leorio asked, and he looked so crestfallen that Kurapica sighed and put his hand out towards him. "Thanks," Leorio said and place his own over it. "Do you remember York Shin?" he asked.

"Leorio," Kurapica said slowly.

"No, hear me out, Kurapica," the would-be doctor said. "Trust me and just humour me for a bit. Do you remember when I kissed you?" Kurapica nodded. "Do you remember what you told me then?"

The blond nodded again. "I said, Now isn't really a good time, Leorio."

"I know," Leorio quoted himself.

Kurapica paused, wondering where his friend was going with that. Leorio looked patiently at him, so he continued with their conversation from the previous fall. "There's just so much."

"Is there?"

Kurapica sighed. "Leorio..."

"Humour me," the taller man said again.

Kurapica lowered his head. "There is," he continued. "I thought the Spiders were dead then so I said, The Gen'ei Ryodan is gone, but I still have to find the Eyes of my people and return them to Lukso."

"Must you?"

Kurapica licked his lips slowly. "No one else will. No one else can."

"I know," Leorio said. "But do you really need to do this?"

"Yes," the blond continued. "Then I saw your face and added, Leorio, I do like you. Don't think for even a second that I don't. I do like you, but there's just too much going on right now."

Leorio nodded and said again, "I know." He sighed. "I know you swore an oath and all, I just wish things were different."

"Yeah," Kurapica said sadly, just as sadly as he had said it then, "me too."

"When all is said and done," Leorio began.

Kurapica interrupted like he had done back in York Shin, "We'll see. Here, let me walk you back to your hotel."

"I took your hand then," Leorio said, and he picked up Kurapica's hand like he had done all those months ago, in front of his hotel lobby, "and kissed the back of your fingers." He brought Kurapica's hand to his mouth.

The blond's fingers twitched. "Leorio..."

"And then you kissed me," Leorio continued, and he set Kurapica's hand back onto the top of the table. "Did I miss anything?" Kurapica couldn't trust himself to speak, so he shook his head. "Notice anything missing?" Leorio asked.

Kurapica sighed. "You know that was all that was said."

"That's not what I mean, Kurapica," Leorio insisted. The blond looked up at him. "Did you notice anything missing?" Leorio asked again. Kurapica frowned and shook his head slowly. Leorio leaned over the table to look into his eyes. "We made no promise."

"What?" Kurapica didn't really know what he expected, but this wasn't it.

"We made no promise whatsoever, Kurapica," Leorio insisted. "So please, please, stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?" the blond wanted to know.

"Like you think you've let me down." Leorio sat back in his booth and slung one arm over the back of it. "Because you haven't." He was quiet a moment, and then he repeated, "You haven't."

Kurapica bit his lips together. So, Leorio knew. Of course he knew. He wasn't an idiot, despite the fact that he did a lot of idiotic things. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

Leorio waved a hand airily. "Don't be." He paused, looking at Kurapica for a moment in silence. Then, he said, "Just promise me one thing."

Kurapica looked up. "What do you want me to promise?"

"If ever, and I mean, ever, you change your mind, you call me, you hear?"

"Only if you promise me something," Kurapica said.

"Anything!" Leorio said quickly.

"Don't wait for me," the blond said, looking straight at his friend. This was important.

"Wh-what?" The med student blinked. "Don't wait for you? But –"

"I'm serious, Leorio," Kurapica said. "Don't wait for me. I might not ever be free to be with you. If you find someone you like, you should go for it."

"But –" he started protesting.

"Promise me," Kurapica insisted.

"What's this about?" Leorio frowned, studying Kurapica's face intently.

Kurapica looked down, praying that he wouldn't start blushing now, of all times. "I mean it, Leorio. Promise me this much, or I will have to turn you down right here, right now."

"Okay, okay," Leorio said quickly. "I promise."

"Thank you," Kurapica said, relaxing somewhat. Right then, the server returned with their meals. They both waited patiently until he was gone to resume their conversation. "Right now," the blond said, "I need my friends. Just friends. Can you be that for me?"

"Of course," Leorio said, though his pain was clear on his face. He took a moment to compose himself, and Kurapica looked away to leave him time to do so. "Of course," his friend repeated, "I can do that."

"Thank you," Kurapica said softly, then he cleared his throat. "So," he continued, his voice much lighter now, "tell me about med school."

Leorio looked a little lost for a moment, but then he started one story about going out on the town with his friends and somehow the entire thing ended up in a police station sometime around three in the morning. From that story, there was another one, then another one, and Kurapica found himself laughing on more than one occasion. He felt horrible about having to keep Leorio at a distance, but it was for the best. Whatever was happening between Kuroro and him, it was better that the med student be kept out of it.

That thought stayed with him over the next few days. Not so much the part about his friend, but the one about Kuroro. The, whatever was happening between Kuroro and him part. Just what was happening between them, Kurapica had no idea. It was so confusing, so terrifying, so impossible. There was a definite physical attraction and chemistry there, but was this all this was? Lust? If it was that simple, Kurapica would have no problem dismissing it. No, it went beyond that. It was more like fascination. The thought that he was like a moth going to a fire that was eventually going to burn him came more than once during the time he spent with his friends.

The Friday, he went to the library again. On Saturday, the four of them went to see a carnival that had come to town. Sunday was spent around the town, the four friends strolling about, doing a little shopping here and there, but mostly just hanging out. Monday, Kurapica went to the library again. It just felt wonderful to be alone.

Tuesday dawned and Gon said he wanted to go fishing with everyone. Kurapica didn't care much for fishing, so he brought a book he had bought on their little outing the previous Sunday. As he was leaving, his phone beeped and he glanced at it. Twenty-third of May. He frowned lightly.

"Problem?" Leorio asked.

"No," Kurapica answered with a shake of his head. They left the hotel and made their way to the waterfront, where they spent the day. Around noon, Leorio and Kurapica went to buy lunch for everyone and brought the food back with them. Every hour or so, Kurapica took out his phone, glanced at the screen, frowned and put it back in his pocket. He didn't really mean to call. It wasn't like he had promised. He was a little curious about the reason for Kuroro's request, but that didn't mean he would call. It didn't. They went out for dinner and Kurapica couldn't help but smile at his younger friends' antics. He caught Leorio watching him a few times, but he couldn't let himself feel guilty. He was determined to go through with his partnership with the Spiders. He would see the eyes returned to Lukso.

After dinner, they returned to the hotel and Killua popped a DVD in to show them a movie he liked. Kurapica didn't care much for movies, but he stayed to be with his friends. Gon and Killua's commentary throughout the film was more entertaining that what played on the screen. When the credits started rolling, he excused himself and retired for the night. He went to his room and closed the door. As soon as it latched, he took out his cellphone and glanced at the time. It was nearing ten at night.

He wasn't going to call, he wasn't.

He pocketed his phone, and walked to his bed. He sat, then let himself fall backwards with a sigh. He took out his cellphone again and glanced at the time. It was too late to call, wasn't it? He dropped the phone on the mattress next to his head. Ah, but Kuroro was usually up late at night, wasn't he? He picked up his phone again. Ah, hell.

The first ring, his hand was tight around the device, so tight his joints went white. Second ring, he was biting the side of his lower lip. Third ring and he started tapping his heel nervously on the floor. The call connected. He froze.

"Kurapica," Kuroro's voice was low and calm. Kurapica found himself relaxing. "How nice of you to call."

"Ah, yeah," Kurapica wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to be saying. "You asked me to and well..." He pushed himself up and toed his shoes off so he could fold them and sit Indian style. Kuroro chuckled, and the low rumble of his voice did a funny thing inside Kurapica. He wasn't quite ready to analyze that, though. "Well," he continued after a moment, "here I am. Calling you."

"I'm glad you did," Kuroro said. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Ah, yeah." Kurapica cleared his throat. "It's nice to be with my friends."

"All three of them?" the Spider head asked, and Kurapica frowned lightly, somewhat confused by the question.

"Yes," he said after a moment, "all three of them."

"Including the med student?"

The blond paused. "Yes, of course," he finally answered, "Leorio's here too." He marked another pause. "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Kuroro said, and Kurapica wasn't a hundred percent sure that he believed him. "I'm glad you're enjoying your time there."

Kurapica didn't know how to answer him, so he didn't. The silence stretched between them. It should really have been awkward, but it wasn't. It never really was, anymore. "What about you?" Kurapica finally asked.

"Oh," Kuroro said lightly, "I was a little bored, so I went out. Visited around, that sort of things."

The blond frowned lightly. "Did you, ah, acquire any possession that didn't belong to you?"

Kuroro chuckled again, and really, he shouldn't be able to make Kurapica's heart race like this with just his voice. "Yes, I did," he said, and the Kuruta could still hear laughter in his voice. His frown intensified. Kuroro said, "Of course, I did. I couldn't just sit here, doing nothing. So I went around and got you five more pairs, bringing the count up to thirteen."

"Oh," suddenly, Kurapica felt silly for having assumed that Kuroro had just stolen things at random simply because he could. "I ah – "

"Save it," Kuroro said, but there was still amusement in his voice. "It was not a wrong assumption to make." There was another moment of silence and Kurapica wondered if he should be saying something, but the Spider head spoke up again. "When are you coming back?"

Something did a funny little tug inside Kurapica's chest and he frowned, not answering right away. He was just being manipulated, that was all. Even knowing that clearly, though, it still messed with his head. "Next week," he said. "I'll text you the flight number and time of arrival when I have my plane ticket."

"All right," Kuroro said.

"Why did you want me to call you today?" Kurapica asked.

"No reason," the older man replied easily. "I just felt like it."

"You're a liar," Kurapica said, but there was no anger in his voice.

Kuroro chuckled. "I'm just glad you did." There was a short pause, then, "Well, I hope you enjoy the coming week. I'll be waiting for your text. Have fun."

"You too," Kurapica answered automatically.

"Oh, I always do," Kuroro replied, then the line went dead. He had hung up.

Kurapica dropped the phone on the bed next to him, then let himself fall backwards. It was all so messed up. So messed up. But he knew what to do now. He knew exactly what he was going to do about Kuroro, about the Scarlet Eyes, about the Spiders. There was only one question left.

Was he strong enough?