Hiii ! The dance is about to begin, how will Lara and Hisoka do in this strange contest ?
I hope you'll like this chapter, I had a lot of fun writing it ! I would advise listening to Stalker's Tango by Autoheart while you read (if you want to !), it's the song that I listened on loop while I wrote the scene, I think it's particularly fitting these two lovebirds ;)
Here's the link : watch?v=Q3B17TmEvoY
And thank you again for your support, it really makes my day !
Have fun reading !
Part 2
The music was pretty fast, with a seductive undertone to it, and actually very entertaining. The rhythm spoke to Lara, who was literally gliding across the stage. And to Hisoka too apparently. He was very good, his steps almost as light as a feather and his arms holding his partner fiercely, like he'd never let go. Lara had no trouble following him, they made quite the pair among the other players.
Everybody was sticking to the basic movement so far, which was to walk back and forth around the place in a left right left left motion.
« You're talented, I didn't expect any less from you, » said Hisoka barely looking at where he was putting his feet.
« Quit playing and be careful, all of this seems way too calm. »
She was right, all this show was too simple for such a reward. Even the clumsiest players were holding up and if it kept going on, they would have to dance for hours.
Suddenly, Lara heard a high pitched scream coming from her right. A few feet from her and Hisoka, a poor girl — one that was part of the game — was being outrageously groped by a chubby man with literal drool on his chin. His hands were going all over the poor lady and Lara started to boil inside at the sight. Thankfully, the woman pushed the pervert away from her, interrupting the dance by the same occasion.
A second later, the girl evaporated in a whiff of smoke and the man fell to the floor like a lifeless puppet. There was a bleeding spot on his neck.
Before anyone could react, a hole opened under the man. A terrible crack resonated inside the arena and the hole closed back again, like nothing happened.
« Ah yes, I may have forgotten about this part, » chimed in the host on the microphone with a disgustingly sadistic voice, « I take dancing very seriously, so I put a little chip on each of your necks. A single wrong step and poof ! The chip will cut right through your spine. What a great invention, don't you think ? »
Lara almost forgot to keep dancing. Girls cried out all around the room, guys were already yelling at each other to get out and the crowd was cheering.
At least half of the dancers exited the stage in a grotesque dancing rush and soon, only twenty couples were still dancing. Thankfully, the chips seemed to fall from the contestants' necks as soon as they crossed the red line.
Hisoka's hand tightened on Lara's waist, bringing her back to the present. She focused back on her steps and they kept swirling on the stage all the while being careful to avoid getting too close to the other contestants.
« Don't worry, I won't let you fall to your death today, » Hisoka purred, still very confident about the situation.
« They weren't joking about the « don't stop dancing » part. Which means that one single false step and the same thing happens to us. Or maybe worse. »
« Probably, but that doesn't mean you can't be on your own. »
« What do you mean ? »
« See those two couples back there ? » he said, pointing to her left with his chin.
She followed his gaze and locked eyes with four people, three guys and one tall lady. Lara nodded.
« They've been looking at us for a while now. I think they're going to try to force us to part so that the dance would be over. »
« Well, it would be, right ? »
« Not necessarily. Tango is a very complex dance, and it involves a lot of… playing between the dancers, » he added with a smirk, the hand on her waist slowly tracing circles in her lower back.
Lara immediately understood what he meant. She smirked as well. This was going to be fun, indeed.
« I'll be the mouse, catch me if you can, » she purred, leaning in slowly towards his face.
Right when she was about to kiss his lips, the two couples lunged for them. Fully anticipating their movements, both Lara and Hisoka pulled away, leaving the quatuor confused, but still on their feet.
The spotlight focused on Lara, who gracefully glided on the opposite side of the arena, her feet stomping the floor in rhythm, both of her arms swaying up and down. Her leg slipping in and out of the slit of her dress made her look like she was almost floating. The crowd cheered and some whistled at her performance, Gon and Kirua shouting encouragements among them.
Hisoka on his side, was very, very excited by her dance. Mimicking her movements in a slightly more masculine way, they were now forcing the quatuor to part and pick a side. The couple with the tall lady danced towards Lara, while the other two went for Hisoka.
Thankfully, they were not strong enough to actually put them in danger and the moment both of them were in Lara's range, a knife in their hands, Lara did what she did best : keeping people away from her.
The beast inside her stirred, noticing the sudden burst of energy she was feeling. It sensed the fight incoming and Lara felt its own delight in the upcoming events. Lara couldn't help it. She smiled.
The couple's face widened in shock, confused. Lara didn't let them enough time to retreat and crossed her feet. She began to spin like a living tornado, her silver aura expanding around her to form a great fire. The couple barely had enough time to think that they were violently thrown out of the stage, hitting their head on the outer walls of the arena.
At least I spared them from the chip cutting their spines, thought Lara, who was still whirling. The other couples immediately got out of her way as fast as possible. But then, she felt strong arms holding her and dipping her toward the ground. Her fire died out.
Hisoka.
He had managed to get back to her after killing the other guys, judging by the spray of blood on his smiling face. Lara was a few inches from the floor, her left leg up against Hisoka's side in a pretty lavish pose. Having her so outrageously close to him seemed to please the clown very much.
« Caught you, little mouse. »
Before Lara could shut his mouth, a couple lunged for them again, this time by sliding close to the floor. Hisoka had no choice but to grab Lara's arms and raise her high in front of him to keep the dance going. Lara immediately circled his waist with her thighs before dropping back down in an arch. The players were clearly not expecting this and Lara just had to send a wave of her fire towards them to eject the players from the stage. She raised herself back up and looked down at the jester's face, alight with excitement.
« Don't get too comfortable, perv, » Lara groaned when she felt his hand grasping a handful of her ass.
« You know I can't help it, » Hisoka chuckled, very excited by the situation.
Lara shot him one of her darkest look while she dropped back to the floor and laced their hands again. The crowd cheered once more and the spotlight kept following them after that. Soon, five more couples decided to leave the stage, fully aware they would not win against them.
Smart choice, Lara thought. The less people she could hurt, the better.
After about an hour, there were only three couples still dancing and no one else had dared to attack Hisoka and Lara in the meantime. Most of them had retreated from the stage, other were killed by players, and a few died just because they tripped or made a wrong step. It was cruel, but they knew what was awaiting them.
The three couples were dancing far away from each others, assessing their opponents. Lara wasn't particularly scared of the numbers 23 and 24, two guys in their mid-twenties who had just managed to keep their spot thanks to an aura protection, but the numbers 43 and 44 were something else.
Number 43 was a tall man, pretty strong judging by the bulge of his arms under his suit, his hair up in a spiky fashion and his eyes concealed by sunglasses. He was quite handsome, with a tanned skin that made him look like a pop star in disguise. The lady was also very charming with her long purple hair and very… imposing attributes. Her big blue eyes were playful, and expecting. They both never stopped looking at Hisoka and Lara, not even sparing a glance at the other twos. Considering their movements, they were very good at the tango, and sometimes indulged in a swirl or two, taking the situation lightly.
« They want a fight, » Lara said to Hisoka, who seemed to grow a little bored of their dance.
« Yes, I can feel it too. They seem pretty strong, but we can't attack them without knowing what they're capable of, » he sighed, visibly disappointed.
« Don't be so sad, clown. I'm pretty sure they're plotting something very interesting for you twisted ass. »
Hisoka smirked, but was determined not to let her get away with this attitude. In a swift movement, he sent her twirling on his side and Lara almost lost her balance. He brought her back to him again and this time she bared her teeth.
« I could've fallen, you idiot ! Don't do that again ! »
« Then don't be mean again, it doesn't suit you, » he said, a sufficient look on his painted face.
« I should send you on the floor right now and let this chip cut your neck. »
« You know you can't do that, we have to be two to win this contest. You're stuck with my glorious presence, darling. »
The couple 43 and 44 looked at each other with the look of people who suddenly got a brilliant idea.
Lara was fulminating. Her eyes started to shine from the anger she was feeling. Fooling around was a thing, but endangering each others' lives was something else. Hisoka merely winked at her, very happy to see her letting her fury shine through. He hadn't forgotten the prophecy and how she might show the full extent of her powers at some point. Maybe she just needed a little push, although he had to admit he would've liked a little more time to… taste her, before actually killing her. Oh well, we'll see where all of this is going.
Suddenly, number 43 and 44 lunged for 23 and 24, who immediately put shields around them. The man with the glasses threw what looked like an electricity ball with greenish tendrils at the couple, but it seemed to be absorbed by their barrier. When he realized his attacks were unsuccessful, he briefly nodded to his partner, as if agreeing to something. In a gracious twirl, the purple-haired lady produced what looked like a lasso from her palm. It circled her partner's waist and she began to turn on her tip-toes, mimicking Lara's earlier move. The man was thrown up in the air as she was waving him around in a circle like a vulgar rag doll. She had to be extremely strong to be able to lift such a heavy weight, even if the centrifugal force was helping her.
And then, the man curled up in a ball — no, he transformed himself into a ball of pure electricity, his light radiating so hard Lara couldn't see his figure anymore.
Number 23 and 24 seemed to realize the same thing that Lara did. They were fucked.
The man with the glasses collided with the other dancers's barrier and shattered it to the ground, electrocuting the two players with such strength that Hisoka and Lara had to protect their eyes from the bright light.
They convulsed, twitching like fishes out of the water, before dropping to the ground, lifeless. The stage opened and they fell into the same holes many others fell before.
This is getting serious, thought Lara, and one glance at Hisoka confirmed her suspicions. Hunters.
Number 43 and 44 were still dancing apart, their gazes focused on the two last dancers. If they were smart, they wouldn't try to attack them directly or Lara and Hisoka would kill them on sight. Actually, they probably could already kill them right now, but not only did Lara not want to kill them, but they would risk making a wrong step.
Suddenly, the man with the glasses lunged for them, twirling so fast Lara barely had time to deploy her fire wall, stopping the electricity globe he had just sent. The man kept dancing around them, sending more and more deadly balls around them, but Hisoka and Lara kept effortlessly stopping them.
Why would they do this ? They know they don't have a chance by attacking them bluntly, so why does he keep trying to get us ? Unless…
The realization hit her at the same time as she felt something on her stomach.
A distraction.
While they were busy stopping 43, the lady had managed to grab both of them with her lasso. She pulled, hard, and Hisoka was torn away from Lara with a shocked expression. They both extended their hands, but their fingers only brushed against each other, helpless.
So that's it, that's how I die ? Thought Lara, and a wave of anger mixed with something like regret filled her.
She waited for the chip to cut her neck, but instead, two hands caught her waist before she hit the ground.
« Try to attack me and I'll drop you, » said a deep voice.
Lara looked up. The man with the glasses was holding her. Why ?
Lara nodded once and the man pulled her back in a dancing position. She quickly looked on the stage. As she suspected, Hisoka was dancing with number 44, his expression unreadable. They had switched partners, which was in theory possible, since you had to be two to win, they never said it had to be the same partner you began with. But what she couldn't understand was why they did it.
She turned her gaze back on the man, unable to see his true intentions because of his glasses.
« If you try anything, you die, understood ? »
« Yes, » she said with defiance, « Why did you switch partners ? »
« Very simple. We've been watching you for a very long time. We know what you're capable of, how powerful you are. Let me introduce myself : I'm Juzen, member of the Black Sails order. »
Lara's eyes widened in shock. « The famous secret organization ? »
« I see you know who we are. My partner over there is also a member of the Black Sails. She's keeping your comrade occupied while I talk to you. Or, should I say, your lover…? » he added, a glint of curiosity in his voice.
Lara was bad at concealing her emotions from people dear to her, but to strangers, she had no trouble, so she answered calmly, « No, we're just partners. »
« Oh, I see. This is why he almost made you trip. »
« What ? No, he didn't do it like that. »
« So he didn't try to make you fall on purpose ? »
« Well yes, but… »
« That doesn't seem very kind for a partner. »
Lara didn't answer. It wasn't, indeed, but it was Hisoka, what did she expect ? That he would suddenly change his whole behavior just because they had gotten closer ? Tsk. She was pretty sure that the minute they would have sex — if that ever happened — he would move on to something else. He just wanted to win a fight against her, after all, to kill her, for god's sake. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Hisoka smile deviously at the beautiful lady, who laughed in earnest in answer. Lara couldn't help but feel a pang of jealously nevertheless.
« In the Black Sails order, we look out for each other. We want you to join us. »
« And why would I want to join you ? » answered Lara after a pause, « I'm doing very well on my own. »
« Because we have some informations that might interest you. »
« I highly doubt that. »
« What about the location of your forme master, Helvar ? »
Lara gasped. She almost tripped again, shaken by his words. How did they know ?
« I told you, we know everything. »
« What do you want from me ? » she said after a moment.
« Your powers are incredibly valuable attributes. You would be a great mercenary, and to be honest, we need money. »
It seemed fair, many other organizations had tried to recruit her, the Phantom Troupe on top of it. She glanced at the spot where Kirua and Gon were watching anxiously, clearly worried for Lara more than for Hisoka.
« Alright, but I can't leave my partner behind, » she said, looking at Hisoka, who was clearly not paying any attention to her, his gaze entirely focused on the purple-haired girl. It was more a question of honor than anything else, she couldn't bring herself to let him behind after everything.
« This is very honorable, but I doubt that will be possible. You see, this man has caused a lot of troubles to the Black Sails order these last years, I can't even count how many of ours he has killed. He's a threat to us, which is why my partner is going to kill him. »
« What ? »
« Don't be too sad, Lara. He has no affection for anyone on this planet. All that matters for him is his own benefit. My partner, Katrina, is currently persuading him to let me kill you in exchange for informations about the Spider leader, a certain Chrollo Lucifer that he so desperately wants to fight. If she twirls three times, that will mean that she managed to convince him. If he refuses, I will let you regain your partner, if he accepts… Well, I guess that will be your choice. »
Those bastards… Lara's heart was beating like crazy in her chest and the beast was growing more and more restless the more anxious she was.
Would he ? Would he let him kill her ? Probably, considering the kind of informations they possessed. She didn't know how they even gathered what they knew, so who knows what knowledge on the spiders they could give ?
Lara heard Katrina giggle, and then, she spun. One, two, three times.
He had agreed.
She felt her heart break a little, and tears filled up behind her eyes. She managed to keep a contained figure, but she was shocked herself by the pain she still felt in her chest.
« Ah, he said yes, » simply said the man in glasses, « I guess this is our cue to exit the stage, don't you think ? »
Lara glanced one last time at Hisoka, who was still enthralled by Katrina, he even licked his lips for fuck's sake ! She had enough, this clown would not mess with her anymore.
« Let's go. »
Juzen smiled, and led her towards the edge of the platform. The stage was slightly raised, and it was a few meters drop from the ground to exit. They reached to edge, still dancing, the bold red line right before their feet.
This was going to be a test of faith.
Taking Juzen off guard, Lara threw both of them out of the stage, using her weight to drag Juzen down with her. He screamed in surprise and Lara said to him, « Next time you try to pass for the Black Sails order, make sure you're not talking to one of them. »
She saw the man's terrorized eyes behind his glassed as he finally noticed the black symbol on her upper thigh, the one concealed by her dress.
Right before her foot slipped off the stage, she felt an aura wrap on her left arm, accompanied with a feminine scream.
Hisoka's Bungee Gum dragged Lara back to the stage and right into his arms, her back slightly bent back in a final pose formation. Katrina had been tossed out of the stage as well, and somehow, Hisoka had managed to pull a red rose out of nowhere that he was now holding between his teeth.
« Ladies and gentlemen, we have our winners ! »
The crowd, which had been very quiet since they switched partners, exploded in a fit of screams and applauds.
« I told you I wouldn't let you fall, » said Hisoka with a wink.
Lara genuinely laughed this time, actually relieved their plan went through. Earlier, Lara had noticed a tattoo on the lady's arm, almost concealed by her dress but still visible. It was very well done, except that the actual Black Sails tattoo had three branches, not two. She had warned Hisoka about it, and they had decided to go along with the two impostors, knowing very well that it would've been too dangerous to try and throw them off balance. Once they both had persuaded them they were on their side, they would surprise them and kick them off the stage. We have to keep them alive, I want to know why they're pretending to be part of the order, had ordered Lara and Hisoka had agreed.
Hisoka and Lara felt their chip fall down to the ground, and Lara sighed with relief. The jester brought her back up and tossed the red rose aside, but still kept a hand on her waist as a rain of flowers landed on the stage.
« You said yes, about her proposition, » said Lara, refusing to look at him. If he had refused, they would've been brought back together and they could've fought them off. The pain she felt had been genuine when she saw the lady twirling and Hisoka smiling.
« I did. I wanted to know how you would react, » he merely responded.
« And ? »
« I was a little caught off guard when you threw yourself off the platform, but pleasantly surprised. I expected nothing less from you. »
« But what if it were true ? What if she really had informations that would've been useful to you ? Would you still have saved me ? », she asked, looking at him this time.
He gazed back at her, his playful smile faltering. Hisoka seemed to ponder the question, looking deeply in her bright silver eyes.
Suddenly, he faced her completely, bringing her against his chest. Lara was caught off guard and let her hands rest against his shoulders, forced to lean back to keep eye contact.
With the most seductive voice she ever heard coming from him, he simply said, « You're my favorite toy, darling, I'm the only one allowed to break you. »
And with this, he crashed his lips against her. The crowd erupted again, and for once, Lara actually smiled against the clown's lips. Juzen's words came back to her head. He has no affection for anyone on this planet.
Maybe it was true, maybe it was something very sick that was motivating Hisoka, and something even sicker that drew Lara to the clown.
But it was something, and for now, she was okay with it.