(Twelve months before Neon)
"Come in. Make yourself at home," Hisoka invited as he left the private elevator and entered right to his apartment, followed by the man in a black coat and fur collar. "Leave everything here; you can take it to your room later, after you choose the one you like."
He dropped the keys on the small mother-of-pearl tray, their clang underlined his words. Hisoka put down a heavy gray bag next to the hall cabinet. Chrollo left his suitcase and the backpack next to the bag and walked in to face the spacious living room.
"So you finally made it to Floor Master! Now I understand why they use that title," Chrollo commented, not betraying his surprise at seeing the size and elegance of the place. The big apartment was decorated in a modern yet impersonal style. Everything was in perfect order, as out of a decoration magazine.
"Yeah. It's a nice place, isn't it? Too big for me alone. Actually, I hardly use less than a half. I don't need all this luxury, but the gym it's really good," Hisoka replied as he approached.
"Do you have your own gym?" The big grey eyes sparkled in amazement. Chrollo immediately lowered his head and frowned, embarrassed, as their gazes met. Hisoka smiled; for a second he had caught that fascinating boyish expression. It was the first time Chrollo had let out any feeling other than cold disdain.
"Yeah, isn't that great? It's not necessary to go to those in the building. Unless you want to socialize, but bars are better for that. I know a few that are quite interesting," Hisoka replied. As Chrollo remained silent, Hisoka added, "Why don't you take a tour? I'll prepare something to drink while you explore the place. Would you like coffee, tea, beer perhaps?"
"Coffee, please, no milk, with sugar," Chrollo replied, not looking at him. He came forward to walk around the living room, where a set of black leather armchairs were located in front of the 52" screen television.
"My room is the main one, it's just down that corridor you see in front," Hisoka indicated with his head. "You will see a lot of hallways, it's easy to get lost at first. Except fort that room, you can choose any other you like. Unless you want to share mine, of course," he added with his usual seductive, mocking tone.
Chrollo stopped and clenched his fists. He turned and glared at him with clenched jaw. He approached with firm steps as he said:
"Let's clear this up right now. Nothing will happen between us. Drop now any stupid idea that has crossed your twisted mind. I accepted to come here only because you said that the place is so huge that we can live without crossing each other. And that's exactly what I plan to do. We are not friends nor mates, nothing. I like to be alone. Did you get it?
Hisoka raised his hands, smiling.
"Come on, Chrollo!" Don't get so upset. I understand perfectly. I already accepted your conditions when we talk before, remember? I was joking. I thought you already knew me."
Without giving him time to answer, Hisoka turned and headed for the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by a small five-foot-high wall that served as a room divider. As a whole, the entrance hall, the living room, the kitchen and the daily dining room formed a single unit, wide, cozy and luminous, surrounded by large windows.
Hisoka passed the small dining room table and went to the far wall, painted in vibrant red and contrasting harmoniously with the ivory-white cabinets. He filled the carafe with water, and poured it into the tank of the electric coffeepot. He worked in silence, turning his back on Chrollo. He smiled when he heard the footsteps moving away toward the front window and into the hallways that opened to the left. Coexistence would not be easy, he thought as he took the ground coffee from the top cupboard and carefully spooned it into the filter.
The coffeepot bubbled, filling the kitchen with fragrance. Hisoka breathed in the scent coffee, lost in memories about that hard year. Chrollo's cold attitude had tried his patience several times, but he finally succeed in gaining the leader's confidence. He knew that Chrollo barely bear him but still he had defended him from their former mates. Spiders would have killed him if they could. The only one who still treated him almost as usual was Machi; she continued to heal his fighting wounds, but she doubled her fees. Hisoka sighed, he was sure that both of them felt the same: their cold tolerance was only due to his importance as a link between the Spider and their boss.
The fresh coffee scent little by little spread to the living room. Hisoka smiled when he heard the footsteps coming back. All his efforts had been rewarded: Chrollo was there, although pushed by a lucky strike. A gang of criminals had attacked him just a month ago, a random case of robbery. They weren't part of his plan, but their acts helped him to convince Chrollo. All alone and without even Nen's protection, he was an easy prey for thieves, killers and even mobsters thirsted for revenge. It was already rumored that the leader of the Spider could be alive. If word got out that he was also helpless, he would be hunted soon.
Hisoka poured coffee into the mugs and set them on the polished wooden table, facing each other. He took a package of cereal biscuits and placed them in the center scattering them on a plate, along with a sugar bowl. He sat in his usual place, with his back to the red wall and facing the living room, and invited Chrollo to take a seat in the vacant place opposite his.
The man took off his black coat, leaned it on the back of the chair, and sat down. He reluctantly looked at the biscuits. It was four in the afternoon and he even hadn't had breakfast. He had wasted hours trying to decide which books he would bring with him. He had barely made it to the train station where Hisoka was waiting for him.
"Don't you have cookies? Jellies? Pudding? Let alone chocolate cake, right?"
Eventually Chrollo sighed in resignation and took one of the cereal crackers.
"I have some fruit if you want."
Chrollo's disgusted face let him know that only by starving would he be willing to eat fruit.
"I'm sorry. Had I known before, I would have bought you that cake gladly. I didn't know you were so fan of sweets." Hisoka remarked as he watched Chrollo pour three spoons of sugar into his coffee. "I wonder how you don't gain weight; everybody else would already be rolling like a ball."
"I train a lot, that's all."
"I bet you do," Hisoka said with a lewd tone as he bit a cracker and watched delighted the worked arms and guessed the strong, athletic body under the T-shirt. Chrollo glared at him up over her coffee mug and frowned; then he kept on drinking his coffee.
"Now that I know you like cookies and cakes, I'll keep that in mind for later, don't worry," Hisoka added.
"You don't have to; I'll take care of buying what I need. I told you that I won't be bothering you while I stay here."
"You don't bother me at all; otherwise I wouldn't have invited you. So, have you already choose your room?"
"Yeah, I like the one at the end of the left hall; it has a large balcony facing west."
"Seriously? But that's one of the smallest! It doesn't even have a private bathroom. Why not the room that faces southwest? It's the second largest in the floor and its bathroom is almost as gorgeous as mine, with a jacuzzi included."
"Yes, I saw it, but it has lack of balcony. The room I chose instead has a balcony that almost seems a terrace. I measured it walking; it's almost 13 feet wide from window to railing. It even has a garden table and lounge chairs. They are dusty but can be cleaned with no much effort."
"Really? I had forgotten about that. As I told you, I hardly ever visit that part of the floor."
"Great. Besides, the bathroom is not a problem. The one next to the room has all I need and it's spacious enough. If someday I fancy relaxing in the jacuzzi I'll use the one in the room you say, if you don't mind."
"I already told you: you can use everything you see in the apartment as if it were yours. No need for asking my permission. I would be glad if you handle yourself as if you were at home. I was surprised by your choice, that's all. It is clear that we have very different tastes!" Hisoka smiled as he placed more biscuits in the empty plate.
"Thank you," Chrollo murmured without looking at him, as he took another cracker.
Hisoka rested his chin on his hand and watched him. If it weren't for Chrollo's undeniable discomfort and his coldness, he would have thrown himself across the table to hug him and jumping for joy across the apartment.
"Ok. What you would like for dinner?" he said instead. "I'm really good at cooking. Just tell me what do you want and I'll go down later to buy the ingredients. There are plenty of shops inside the Heaven's Arena, you know? This place is like a vertical city…"
"Shut up."
Chrollo set the mug down on the table. His white knuckles still clenched the handle. A tense silence stretched among them.
"You don't have to cook anything for me. I already told you I'm not intend to bother you. If there's everything, as you say, I will order a pizza and eat it in my room. Or I'll go down to dinner, I don't mind. We are not friends, did you get it or not?"
Hisoka kept a funny, forced smile on his face as he replied:
"Ok, Relax, Chrollo. I won't tell you anything else. Of course I got it. I got it very well," his smile disappeared and he continued in a more serious tone this time. "I really appreciate that you agreed to move in with me; I promise you again that I will do my best to manage my days without you noticing my presence. As you can see, the floor is large enough so we can live without having to see each other."
"Great. Now that everything is clear, I'll take my luggage and start unpacking. With your permission," Chrollo said in a very formal way.
He stood up, washed the mug and put it on the drainer. Then he headed to the entrance hall, grabbed the backpack and the suitcase, and headed to his new room. Hisoka didn't move; he just sat there, finishing his coffee. By the time Chrollo came back to get his coat and the other bag, Hisoka was gone.