What Friends Do

Killua marched on, despite everything he had just witnessed. If he were in the right frame of mind, he may have dwelled more on the events that just took place but right now, it took all of his power just to put one foot in front of the other. He struggled with the dead weight of the unconscious boy on his back, the wind occasionally blowing the long hair into his own face. Had Killua possessed more energy, he may have noticed how it tickled his nose but he was too focused on getting his precious cargo out of this thick wood. He was too focused on the boy's lack of response. He was too focused on how laborious the boy's breathing had become.

He was too focused to realize he had pushed past his own limit.

Killua barely registered his knees buckling as both boys tumbled limply to the ground. Killua looked up. The edge of the castle was in his sights! He couldn't stop now! He forced himself up along with his best friend as he trudged forward on shaky legs. Gon's breathing was becoming more and more shallow with each step Killua took and each small breath broke another piece off of Killua's heart. Gon was his best friend and he couldn't even help him before. . . before. . .

Killua squeezed his shut as he pushed on. It wasn't far off now. When he opened his eyes again the castle before him started to bend and spin. The logical part of his brain told him that he was more than spent and all he needed to do to make this pain go away was to just stop.

But Killua was too tired and too stubborn to listen to that small voice. Gon needed help and Gon would come before anything else. Before anyone else, including himself. Killua closed his eyes as he walked, trusting his instincts to keep him walking in a straight line.

After an eternity, Killua started to hear familiar voices. He pushed himself to go faster. Just a little bit further! There's only so much a person can fight before their own body stops listening to them for good. Killua's knees buckled again, throwing the boys to the ground but this time, Killua was unable to get back up, no matter how much his mind and heart screamed and begged him to just keep going. You have to save Gon! He cracked his eyes open as he saw familiar forms begin to run in his direction.

I guess I made it after all. Killua let out a soft sigh of relief as he lied face down on the dirt ground with Gon still smothering him. He looked up at the shadowy forms hovering over him.

"Please," he whispered as his eyes slid shut, "take care of him."

HXH

It had been a week since the final battle against the Chimera Ants. Killua spent the first day unconscious and the second day was still a blur to him. By the third day Killua was completely aware of his surroundings, including the bandages on his arms for the bruises he had obtained in his fight against Palm. The doctors let him walk around the hospital to see his friends who were more stable on the fourth day. He mostly sat in comfortable silence with them. There wasn't all that much to say. By the sixth day the bandages on his arms had been removed.

It wasn't until exactly a week after he had entered the hospital that Killua was able to visit his best friend.

Killua stood in front of the window, its glass blocking any substantial view of his best friend's broken body. He already knew that Gon's condition wasn't stable, his friends had told him so when he did exchange words with them, but never had he imagined this. Never could he picture Gon, always so strong and wearing such a bright smile, to look practically dead. It tore at Killua's heart.

Killua always looked up to Gon, since the first time they met during the Hunter Examination. He always seemed to bring the sun wherever he went, shining light on Killua's darkness.

Killua stepped away from the window until the back of his knees hit something hard. Killua fell limply on the bench behind him, unable to tear his eyes away from the prone figure on the other side of the glass.

Why Gon, Killua thought he felt his eyes begin to moisten. He blinked harshly as he continued to think. Why didn't you let me come with you?

Are we not friends? I know you were closer to Kite than I was but that didn't mean you had to fight Pitou on your own. Friends are supposed to help each other! If you don't think I'm capable of helping you, then do you truly think of me as your friend? Killua felt as if the remains of his heart had shattered into thousands of pieces.

Because you are my friend. More than that, you are my best friend and you're the only one who holds that title. I want to be there for you, Gon. I want to go on adventures with you, I want to have pillow fights with you, I want to cry with you.

But if you keep on rushing ahead and leaving me to clean up your messes, how am I supposed to catch up? Suddenly, Killua felt a rage unlike any he had ever felt before.

You should've let me help you. You may be strong but so am I. Had you let me help, this could have been prevented. You could be walking around right now, laughing, and cheering up everyone else stuck in this hospital. Killua clenched his fists as the tears started falling uncontrollably.

"YOU ARE SO SELFISH SOMETIMES, BAKA!" Killua screamed at the sleeping boy unable to hear his cries. Killua stood back up. He pointed through the glass, at his friend, as he declared, "I'll clean up your mess up like I always do. You are my friend and I'll always have your back.

"But you had better wake up soon because this time you're going to have to apologize! Friends don't have to say thank you, but friends should not abandon each other like this either! Friends still have to apologize!" Killua paused to take a breath.

"I promise I will get you fixed. You will get better Gon and you will say you're sorry!" Killua had a plan. There was someone he could bring, granted it would not be easy to get her.

But he would find a way. Killua would do absolutely anything for his best friend.

Because that's just what friends do.

AN: I always loved watching Killua's journey of self-worth and I felt that this was a pinnacle moment where he truly realizes how valuable he is as a person. I haven't seen a lot of fics that point this out so I thought I would give it a try. I hope I have given Killua justice and didn't make him too OOC.

Thank you so much for reading!