Author's Notes:
PAIRINGS: Leorio/Kurapika (Leopika). Hisoka/Kurapika (Hisopika).
RATING: Mature. Rough sexual content.
SPOILERS? Yes, until chapter 390 of the Hunter x Hunter manga by Yoshihiro Togashi. You may want to click off until you've caught up with the Succession War Arc, or have decided that you don't care. I do attempt to explain the context for the uninitiated.
Chapter 29: Howl, dying animal
Back in the medical ward, Leorio pours all his energy into his nursing duties. During his rounds, he fixes a bright smile over his face, even lets loose with boisterous bursts of laughter every now and then. Many of these patients are ailing, suffering — the last thing he wants to do is drag down their moods with his comparatively petty problems.
Cheadle has been looking at him strangely, Leorio has noticed. She's far too perceptive not to have realized that something is seriously wrong with him. She obviously wants to talk to him about it. She even asks him to accompany her on various tasks that she usually accomplishes on her own.
On these excursions with Cheadle, Leorio projects a cheerful demeanor and keeps up a continuous stream of small talk, anything to discourage her from opening that can of worms. If Cheadle asks him to explain, what will he even say? He fell head over heels in love with a friend who sucked his dick once upon a time. Needless to say, the friend did not feel the same way. The friend was only playing games. What kind of pointless sob story is that?
During his breaks, Leorio allows the smile to slide off from his face. Smoking like a chimney and wallowing in his heartbreak, he holes up in the privacy of the stockroom.
Leorio wishes he could mope in peaceful solitude, but Izunavi won't let him. Izunavi, who has been admitted into a room in the central hospital, keeps track of Leorio's schedule and visits the stockroom during his breaks. Whenever Leorio cries, Izunavi scoots closer on the couch and nudges him, as if to reassure him that he's not alone. Izunavi makes no other attempts to comfort him. He takes no stabs at soothing language. He's just there.
Izunavi claims that he only visits to inhale secondhand smoke from Leorio's cigarettes because his injuries prevent him from smoking his own. But Leorio doubts that this is Izunavi's sole reason. Contrary to what others may expect due to the man's rough exterior, Izunavi is surprisingly kind.
When Leorio is too exhausted to cry, Izunavi babbles about random things. Izunavi reports that Kakin's guards have visited the central hospital to interrogate him and Giuliano. As prepped by the Zodiacs, he and Giuliano claimed that they were under the control of a Manipulative ability, and that they remained clueless about the identities of the killers of 6th Prince Tyson and 4th Queen Katrono. Once they broke out of their Manipulative state, Izunavi and Giuliano immediately sought the support of the Hunter Association to back their pleas of innocence. Of course, the Hunter Association stood by these mostly fabricated assertions.
Leorio issues half-hearted grunts at several points of this one-sided conversation, but once Izunavi starts wondering aloud whether Gel is single, whether Gel's eyelashes flutter faster whenever Izunavi is around . . . Leorio tunes out, lost again in his own self-pitying thoughts.
Leorio is in his silent mode one day when he hears Izunavi mentioning Kurapika's name, seemingly in the context of a question. Because they have an unspoken agreement not to talk about Kurapika, Leorio glares at Izunavi, but the older man simply repeats his question.
"Are you really not going to see Kurapika?" Izunavi asks. "I know it's difficult between the two of you right now, but weren't you the one who asked him to visit the medical ward?"
The realization hits Leorio then. Too preoccupied with his sulking, he has totally forgotten about Kurapika's scheduled checkup.
Leorio leaps up from the couch. "Where's Kurapika now?"
Kurapika, sitting shirtless on a cot, is staring into space as Cheadle prods his body. He only jerks back to reality as a breathless Leorio barges into the room.
Leorio's chest is heaving from his sprint. "Cheadle, it's fine. I'll take it from here."
Cheadle spares him a single glance. "This is only going to last a minute longer. Then an X-ray, perhaps. . . ."
"Why would Kurapika need an X-ray when I'm right here?" Leorio demands. "I am the X-ray! I said it's fine! I'll take care of Kurapika now!"
Cheadle sighs. "What do you say, Kurapika? While Leorio's ability functions in a somewhat similar way, an actual X-ray would be much more thorough."
Kurapika raises his eyebrows at Leorio, who gives him a terse nod in return. Kurapika faces Cheadle again. "If Leorio says it's fine, then it's fine. Thank you for seeing me, Chairman."
"Not a problem, Kurapika. The Zodiacs need to stick together during these hard times." With these words, Cheadle leaves the room. She stares seriously at Leorio as she goes.
Once they're alone, Leorio approaches Kurapika and picks up where Cheadle has left off.
"You don't have to do this, you know," Kurapika tells him.
"Do what? I'm checking on you like I said I would. Am I not allowed?" After a minute of silence, Leorio reveals his real reason for sprinting all the way here. "This is going to sound ridiculous, but I hate the idea of anyone else touching your body, even for medical purposes."
"You're right. That does sound ridiculous."
"Indulge me. I can't control who gets to touch you when you're outside the medical ward, but while you're here, I want to be the only one." As he continues to palpate Kurapika's torso, Leorio smiles slightly. "Okay, your lungs are looking good. They're healing nicely. I should have had more faith in the Holy Chain. No need for a further operation."
"I wouldn't have time for an operation anyway," Kurapika says.
"Know what you do need? A full plate of food. Your weight has dropped again."
"Yes, I'm aware of that. This past week has been nonstop work. Endless moves and countermoves. I may have skipped a few meals. Don't worry, I'll eat something once I get back to the 14th Prince's quarters."
Leorio examines Kurapika's eyes. "Throw in a full night of sleep while you're at it. You look tired as hell."
Kurapika rubs his dark eyes, self-conscious now.
"You haven't been abusing Emperor Time again, have you?" Leorio asks.
"I had to use it twice for the Judgment Chain. But other than that, I haven't activated the scarlet eyes at all."
"No more fainting spells then? No more migraines?"
"Minor headaches," Kurapika admits after a pause. "Probably because I lack sleep and sustenance."
Exasperated, Leorio parks his hands on his hips. "Kurapika! You think I don't know you by now? When it comes to you, 'minor headache' is code for 'debilitating migraine'!"
Kurapika massages his temples with both hands. "Migraines then. Yes. You're right."
"Stop by the pharmacy for a bottle of aspirin," Leorio instructs him.
"I'll do that."
"And? What else are you going to do when you get back to the first tier?"
"I'll sleep. I'll eat. I'll follow your orders, Dr. Leorio." There's a toneless quality to Kurapika's voice. He speaks as if he's only trying to appease Leorio.
Leorio furrows his brows with concern. "What's wrong, Kurapika? Talk to me."
"Nothing's wrong." Kurapika isn't meeting his eyes. Assuming that the checkup is over, he picks up his button-down shirt.
"Wait," Leorio says.
"You're not done yet?"
Leorio is indeed done, but he commences stroking Kurapika's skin again. He never wants to stop. He never wants Kurapika to leave. He wants to see more, wants to touch more . . . he just wants more from Kurapika.
Kurapika has no doubt noticed that Leorio is feeling him up without even bothering to utilize his ability as an excuse, but he doesn't complain. He watches blankly as Leorio brazenly fondles him.
"Kurapika?"
"What is it, Leorio?"
"Can I still change my mind? Does your offer still stand?"
Kurapika hesitates as he absorbs these questions. "Do you want to have sex with me? Is that what you're saying?"
"Yeah. Do you still want to?"
"Of course I still want to," Kurapika says. "But this is only going to make it more difficult for you, you know?"
"I know."
Kurapika cocks his head to the side. "You understand that sex doesn't carry the same weight for me as it does for other people?"
"I understand. Guess I don't care."
"Right here, then?"
In response, Leorio walks over to the door and locks it. They stare at each other steadily as they both shed their clothes.
Leorio gets on top of Kurapika on the cot, clinical and white, and begins kissing Kurapika's chest all over. Seeming to remember something, Kurapika leans over the edge of the cot to reach for the trousers that he's just discarded on the floor.
Leorio pauses to observe as Kurapika's chained fingers root inside his wallet. In Kurapika's haste, he fumbles — numerous packets burst from the wallet and spill all over the floor.
Kurapika's eyes widen. "Shit. Sorry."
Before Leorio can stop him, Kurapika jumps down from the cot to retrieve the packets. While it's certainly rare to see Kurapika being clumsy at anything, Leorio's attention is diverted by the condoms now littering the floor. Aren't there way too many? And so many different types! How did Kurapika manage to fit all of them inside his wallet in the first place?
Leorio tries to sound unfazed. "Wow. You and Hisoka sure like to experiment with different textures and flavors."
"No, these are all from before. Hisoka and I don't use any. We both prefer to go without condoms."
Wait, Kurapika has been having unprotected sex with Hisoka all this time?! Why?! Didn't Kurapika himself mention that Hisoka has no qualms about fucking anyone or anything? Kurapika is being way too careless about this!
Leorio is extremely pissed. "Leave them. Get back here now."
But Kurapika has already collected all the condoms and has stuffed his wallet back into his trousers pocket. He swiftly returns to his position underneath Leorio and hands him a condom. Even amidst the confusing flurry of foil packets, Kurapika has managed to single out the perfect size for him.
Leorio wastes no time in putting on the condom. Still in a huffy mood, he spreads Kurapika's legs and positions the head of his cock against Kurapika's entrance. "Need me to finger you first? Last time, you told me to fuck you without preparation."
Kurapika is just as impatient as he is, if not more. "Yes, I don't need preparation. I'll be fine. Come on, Leorio. Fuck me." As Leorio glares down at him, Kurapika amends his statement. "Please fuck me. Please."
"This really isn't a big deal to you, huh? You do it with Hisoka every damn day, after all." Leorio stares at the bite mark on Kurapika's neck. "When was the last time you two had sex?"
"About half an hour ago, I suppose?"
With a roar of frustration, Leorio snaps his hips forward, shoving his entire length into Kurapika in one go. Leorio's head fogs up instantly. The pleasure of being buried deep inside Kurapika is so intense that he cries out. His eyes flutter shut, and his next thrusts are just as rough, bordering on brutal. He desires nothing but to repeat that brain-melting sensation — every inch of his cock being squeezed thoroughly by Kurapika's snug warmth.
Leorio is barely aware that he's moaning nonstop, moaning so loudly that he's practically shouting. It vaguely occurs to him that he probably shouldn't be this loud — the walls aren't too thick in the central hospital — but he simply can't contain this feeling. This incredible, indescribable feeling of finally, finally being inside the person that he loves.
Leorio eventually realizes that Kurapika is completely silent beneath him. Fear pierces his heart. Has Leorio hurt his love in his reckless fit of anger? Has he broken Kurapika now?
When Leorio opens his eyes to check on him, he's shocked. Kurapika's eyes are smoldering with such a brilliant scarlet that the black contacts can't conceal their vibrancy. It doesn't even seem like Kurapika is wearing contacts at all.
Leorio forces himself to halt his thrusting. "Kurapika, your eyes are red. You shouldn't do that."
Kurapika hisses once he realizes that Leorio is right. The red hue fades right away. "Sorry, I had no idea." He looks suddenly disturbed. "Shit, don't tell me I've been doing that recently . . .?"
"Your scarlet eyes are beautiful to look at, but I can't have you shrinking your lifespan for me."
Kurapika traces Leorio's clavicles, reverently, with his chained fingers. "You're the one who's beautiful, Leorio. So fucking beautiful that you're unreal. I wish I could stare at your face forever."
With a single, practiced maneuver, Kurapika flips them over on the cot, so that he's now on top. "Know why I commanded Hisoka to fuck me right before I came to see you, Leorio? I can never control myself around you. Something like this was bound to happen. This is a bad idea. We both know it, right? Yet look at us now."
Kurapika starts rocking over Leorio's hips. This vision of Kurapika sitting astride him, sighing and playing with his own nipples as he goes, his stiff cock bouncing bright red in its stimulation . . . everything about this scene is so unbearably erotic that Leorio has to shut his eyes again. He's in danger of coming prematurely, otherwise.
In the ensuing darkness, unbidden memories come flooding back. Kurapika's voice from a week ago echoes around Leorio's skull.
You're too weak, Leorio. Too soft. That ability of yours . . . does it serve any substantial purpose outside the limited confines of a hospital? I need someone strong and ruthless by my side to have even the slightest chance of winning this war. Will you eliminate my enemies for me, the way Hisoka would?
Kurapika's chained hand wanders over Leorio's mouth to muffle his moaning.
Can you go for hours like Hisoka can? Can you bruise me and wound me whenever I ask you to? Hisoka can hurt me and be hurt by me in a way that satisfies us both. Hisoka can make me come, over and over again, using just his mouth. Remember how I went soft while you were blowing me, Leorio? Remember that?
Kurapika is riding Leorio with an almost frightening forcefulness. Leorio's penis will probably be sore in the aftermath, but he doesn't tell Kurapika to slow down.
You put me on a pedestal, Leorio. That's not what I want. Hisoka and I . . . we treat each other as partners and as equals. I trust Hisoka more than I ever trusted you. I feel safe and desirable in his company, whereas your unwarranted and insurmountable expectations of me always drain me. Is it any wonder why I'm choosing Hisoka over you?
The rocking movement over Leorio's hips has suddenly ceased.
Kurapika is leaning down now, pressing his lips to the corners of Leorio's screwed-shut eyes, where salty tears are spilling freely. While Kurapika is kissing him, Leorio holds him close to his chest.
"I love you so much," Leorio whispers. "I love you more than anything. Why can't you just choose me? Why can't I keep you here forever?"
Kurapika says nothing. He continues quietly kissing the tears streaming down Leorio's face.
While still embracing Kurapika, Leorio sits up. He briefly runs his fingertips over Kurapika's abdomen, utilizing his ability to verify the angle of his dick in this position. He then readjusts Kurapika's body over his lap. Kurapika stifles a gasp as this minute modification massages a sensitive spot inside him.
"Ready, Kurapika?"
When Kurapika nods, Leorio begins to buck his hips upward, pounding powerfully and relentlessly against Kurapika's prostate.
Kurapika throws his arms around Leorio's waist and smothers his feral groaning against Leorio's broad chest. The sound reverberates all over Leorio's bones. Leorio orders himself to concentrate on the mechanical movements of his hips, on the scrabbling sensations of fingers against his back — anything to prevent him from coming before Kurapika does.
As Kurapika approaches his peak, he starts chanting Leorio's name, again and again. Leorio listens, captivated, as his own name, for which he's felt only ambivalence, flows like music from Kurapika's tongue.
Kurapika's hold around Leorio's waist tightens, and he chokes out Leorio's name a final time as he comes to his climax. Leorio feels Kurapika's warm essence erupting against his abdomen.
Kurapika takes a few seconds to recollect himself, then apologizes profusely. "I've made you dirty. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Leorio."
"It's not dirty, Kurapika. It's a part of you, and I love every part of you."
Kurapika wraps his arms around Leorio's neck. His dark eyes are uncharacteristically soft as they gaze into Leorio's brown eyes. "Don't you want to come inside me, Leorio? Do it. Don't hold back."
So Leorio doesn't hold back. He hugs Kurapika and slams upward. He's been holding off for so long that he only manages a few more thrusts before he reaches his own release. He comes with a howl, not unlike that of a dying animal.
Breathing hard, Leorio kisses Kurapika's blond hair. Though it's damp with sweat, the scent of Kurapika's shampoo is as sweet and as addictive as ever.
"I'll always love you, okay?" Leorio murmurs. "No matter what. So if you ever change your mind. . . ."
At this point, Kurapika pulls free from Leorio's arms and clambers off his lap. His expression, which was vulnerable earlier, is detached once again. He faces away from Leorio as he wipes himself dry then dons his clothes.
Fully dressed now, Kurapika meets Leorio's eyes. "Don't wait for me to change my mind. Because even if I did, I'd never tell you. I can promise you that."
"Don't you think that's a little cruel? Not just to me, but to yourself?"
Kurapika shakes his head. "It's the most decent thing I can do. Leorio, you deserve the world. No, the whole goddamn universe. I'd never condemn you to a life with only me, this broken and despicable friend of yours."
