Chapter 62 – Assassin's Tango
AN: Ah, hope you enjoy this one and tell me what you think. Thank you for your reviews!
I knew that something was not right when the boys were running late.
And I know that it was probably not healthy spiking own drink. But I think we all have a way of coping with stress. This happened to be my way. It certainly puts things into perspective and maintains my blood pressure on the down-low in situations like mine or like this…
My eyes roamed down their bodies as I deposited the cheap porcelain mug I was holding back on our coffee table.
Body long and lean, broad-shouldered, and his silver hair running wildly down to his shoulders. The childishness that once shaped his face was gone, replaced by sharp aristocratic features starting from the cut of his eyes, the shape of his nose and to the pout of his lips.
The adult Killua Zoldyck stood out like a dove in a room filled with crows.
''Huh.''
Bright blue eyes like fire narrowed and, the boy – now a man – rose up defensively. ''Huh, what?''
Leorio stepped out from behind Killua and Gon with a sigh, sitting on the sofa next to mine and grabbed a hold of my cold coffee. He threw me a fierce look over the rim but drank the spiked beverage until the last drop with a vengeance. I met his glare with a smile.
Gon stopped fidgeting and sat himself next Leorio, clenching and unclenching his hands. What else could I say, other than the fact that he looked like Ging?
Killua hesitated before sitting gingerly on the unoccupied sofa at my left. His suit tightened around the new expanse and cut of his body. Like Gon, he was careful with every move he made. I remember how it must feel, getting used to the new size of your own body. The tingling under that new skin would persist until later.
'Yah!'' He suddenly yelled, cringing away. ''Stop staring and whatever it is, just out with it!''
I looked away, chuckling darkly amused of his reactions. It was strange and fascinating to see such an intimidating-looking man, oozing completely of being a Zoldyck and watching him act like the cute Killua I know.
''When I said, buy me more of those pills, I didn't intend for all of you – well, except you Leorio – to use it. Didn't I tell you that it hurt?''
''Not nearly enough.'' Killua huffed half-heartedly. He was lying, of course. It did hurt. ''Besides, it's a good disguise.''
Bean knew exactly who I was when he saw the fashion show and Hisoka as well judging from what my visions supplied. Why else would he have a copy of my magazine?
As if reading my unimpressed thoughts, Killua sat back against the cushions, crossing his arms over his chest. ''Okay.'' He huffed, thighs parting like the big man he suddenly was. It was fascinating as it was distracting. ''I wanted to see how it was like. Got a problem?''
''No.'' I shook my head readily. ''It is nice to see how you are like.''
His face fell and for a moment, he resembled a deer caught in the headlights. From our opened window, a drunken yowl pierced above the night's hubbub. I fought the urge to smirk when his face eventually popped red.
Leorio cleared his throat, taking my attentions off the poor boy. ''We went to pick your pills up while you were resting and this guy here,'' he pointed at Killua as he took his seat on the other sofa. ''Just decided to take the damn pills after lunch. Did you know I had to run and carry these two from the café back to here? I probably looked like I was kidnapping them.''
''Uh yeah, thanks for that by the way, Leorio.'' My brother croaked out.
''Psh! It's fine.'' Leorio grinned, clapping my brother at the back before he blinked distractedly and examined Gon's back. ''Man. Look at you. Is this really what you would look like in a few years? Not bad, heh?'' He elbowed my brother suggestively.
I rolled my eyes.
''Well, children in mafia auctions would certainly attract attention.'' I said. ''Although I don't know if being accompanied by not just one, but three extremely handsome men will be any better.''
''Oh stop it, flatterer.'' Leorio's face split into a pleased grin, a light blush spreading on his cheeks. He reclined his back on the sofa and interlaced his hands behind his head.
There was another matter of those larger bodies providing larger strength – which was a good thing, of course. Although it could also mean more surface area for injuring them with bullets.
With a flourish of my hand, my shadow guards rose, pulling Nen out from me one by one as they materialized. I had spent most of the day creating them, only taking a nap after I was happy with them.
Josh and Marina stood in their places behind me while three others placed themselves directly behind their designated masters. One for each important boy of my life. The rest of the group standing in the room were out-guards, assigned to blend in the background as my eyes and ears.
''Uh Gin? Who are these guys?'' Leorio glanced at me and then to eye the towering guard behind him.
''The spiders are coming to the Cemetery Building. These guys are our guards for tonight.''
My day was spent planning and plotting, and siphoning my doubts and fear locked and screwed in tight. I focused on what I want to get tonight instead – the spiders pushed back to whichever hole they came from, Greed Island at our grasp, Shizuku captured – a victorious night at my fingertips, one way or another.
I took a deep exulting breath, power rising to the surface, enveloping every surface of my skin.
Leorio gulped audibly, sweat glistening at the side of his face while Gon and Killua sat, unmoving. Their eyes watched with a mixture of awe and trepidation, bodies tensed as they familiarized themselves with my aura thickening around them.
They had to get used to it. I imagined that they would be surrounded by it a lot tonight.
I stood up as I sensed our car pull up from the entrance, composed of shadow and held together by Nen. At my will, our windows closed.
I stood up and took my purse from Josh, turning to the boys with a languid smile. ''Let's go.''
We arrived early at the entrance where I handed our fake invitations and laid a soft touch on the porter's arm, leaning close to whisper at his ear telling him not examine the invitations and just let us in. Leorio's breath hitched as I led them inside, seeing the empty smile on the other man's face.
My shadow guards blended in nicely as numerous suited and armed men patrolled the building as a precaution to prevent another attempted theft. My sources said that the Ten Mafia Dons had quadrupled the security tonight, not only the Mafia was included but also the police.
The Phantom Troupe was coming tonight anyway. My spying had shown that they had no idea where their leader was, only that he was after some errand, concerning the Nostrade Family.
I have no idea where he was but I have a bad feeling about it anyway.
We were led inside a massive room through a set of double doors held open by two door men. I thanked them with a wan smile, pulling my fur coat closer to my body as we entered the waiting hall.
''Do you think Kurapika will be here?'' Leorio murmured, looking around.
I nodded and just on time, one of the waiters came to us with a plateful of bubbling champagne.
''Right, here is for Gon.'' Leorio finished one flute and reached for another, ''and for Killua.''
I stopped him at the third one which I assumed he was going to drink on my behalf. ''Better drink that slowly. The night is just beginning.'' And while Leorio looked like he could hold his alcohol, I didn't want his reactions slowed down just in case.
We sat in one of the tables at the back. I closed my eyes, opening my other senses to what was happening around us, trying to catch new information from other people's personal conversations. But annoyingly too early, the name Hyuna, pinged at my ears and the image of some men recognizing me flashed in my mind. They were crowded together, shooting me with hopeful and scrutinising glances.
''Killua.'' The silver-haired boy turned to me with a questioning look. ''Ask me to dance.''
The boy—man – frowned and looked as if he was going to say no. His eyes flit above and behind me, eyes narrowing before he stood up and offered me his hand. He threw a nod at Gon and Leorio across our table. The latter waved us off as he helped himself with the bread on the table while Gon smiled.
I looked away and expunged the tiny sinking feeling caused by his new apperance and instead focused on the silver-haired man who was leading me to the dance floor. At the other side of the stage, the ensemble changed its rhythm. The bandoneon set the romance in the stage, seduction plucked the strings of the guitar and mystery played the fiddle's.
With teasing smile on my lips, I pulled him back around and caught him by the shoulder, chuckling lowly at the surprise on his face. I took his un-responding hand and placed it on my lower back, forcing our bodies to a close embrace.
''Just copy my lead.'' I whispered to his ear as he struggled to reclaim his hands back from my grasp.
''I thought we're just…'' Killua trailed off, getting distracted with how much eyes were on them.
''I just need you to keep doing this. I need to continue with my spying.''
''Can't you do this sitting down?'' He hissed at my ear as our bodies moved with the rhythm.
I raised an eyebrow pointedly at him. ''Your job is to glare at anyone who tries to take me away from you. Keep them away.''
His face was twisted in dislike. ''Why should I do that?''
I ignored and instead motioned for him to look at another couple. ''Now, just copy that guy over there.'' Killua's sour frown deepened as our guy led his partner to a sensual dip. I watched, a little bit impressed at how very absorbed they seemed to be with the dance.
Dancing with the hot and cold Killua is like hauling a slab of stone around. ''I'm not doing that.'' He said.
I sighed and then with a wicked idea in my head, I said: ''Maybe I should've invited Leorio instead.''
And as expected, my dance partner scowled, hair rising up slightly in indignation, brows nearly disappearing behind the messy fringes of his hair. His canine teeth looked incredibly sharper up close. ''Why didn't you!?''
Because Leorio appeared too awkward and stressed to dance. And he was also too nice to successfully intimidate anyone into not approaching. I thought Killua's assassin instincts and upper class looks would be helpful.
Not that Leorio's handsomeness was 'lower' or anything like that. Leorio…just looked so nice and handsome while the adult Killua's kind of handsome could kill – both in the figurative and literal sense.
I was forced out of my thoughts when the body against me suddenly took the reins, and no longer did it feel like I was carrying a log around. Killua's arms tightened around me as he led us into the dance together while pointedly avoiding my eyes.
Would you look at that, the ex-assassin can dance the tango.
Zeno Zoldyck stopped in his tracks, eyes catching the colour he knew he would recognise anywhere. He spent most of his life looking after it, after all. That brand of silver, dominant to the Zoldyck blood.
For a moment, his age nearly fooled him to think he was seeing his son again. Silva, back when he was younger and more foolish had the same cut and build in body too. Although his son didn't quite smile like that.
''Ah, good grief.'' He could almost hear his daughter-in-law's hysterics from the future.
''What is it, father?'' His actual son, Silva appeared next to him and when receiving no reply, followed the line of his eyes.
Together, they watched their family's heir interact with the dark-haired woman in his arms, traced the line of this new body of his against his partner's, calculating, assessing and concluding what was exactly before them and who…
The couple did a turn, granting them a view of the woman's face. The two assassins watched her intensely. Then she said something, the danger in her smile never leaving her face. Only their training allowed them to read the movements of her lips.
''I didn't know Mr. Zoldyck can dance.''
Of course, Mr. Zoldyck can, Zeno crossed his arms over his chest.
Every savage can dance.
Killua replied with a curl of a proud smile at the edge of his lips. Zeno nearly shook his head in disapproval at seeing the boy's complete inattention to the rest of his surroundings what with all of it being ensnared by the girl in front of him.
He bet his money on this mission that the boy's ears will be pink under all that Zoldyck hair.
Much to their surprise, the woman looked up, glimmering dark eyes unerringly finding them from across the room and over their heir's shoulder.
Silva turned his attention to his father. ''The debriefing is at the second floor. Intel says the leader is somewhere inside this building.''
They watched as their heir fell still as if he heard them, their dance stuttering into a near-stop. Killua turned around, scanning until his eyes found them. Too little, too late, the boy released the girl, extricating himself away from her.
''Ah.'' Zeno did an unnecessary shallow nod at his grandson before turning away. His son followed suit after a beat and together, they climbed the steps towards the meeting room in silence.
That is, until Zeno smirked and Silva prepared himself to take whatever quip the old man had for him with a grain of salt.
''Now, remind me, son, where and when did I see you doing exactly like that before?''
''You know very well where, father.'' Silva replied as they walked through the deserted hallway.
When it happened was many years ago and where was in a middle of a mission where he let himself be distracted by a woman's charming vice, and where his father had to complete his mission after getting himself poisoned out of all things.
Silva married that poisoner not even a year later.
It was that, or having to kill her.
