Chapter 2
When Kurapika wakes, there's a lingering ache in his muscles, promising him discomfort for the rest of the day, and a weight on his chest, rendering him unable to move. He raises his head slightly, looking down at himself, and finds Sol resting against his chest, his dark hair brushing against Kurapika's throat.
Sol must have come to him during the night, apparently finding him more comfortable than the pillows and blankets Kurapika surrounded him with. A sidelong glance finds Runa resting at his side, nestled against his arm.
He doesn't know what he was expecting when it came to these two. There hasn't been much time to dwell, when Sol has been in constant need of his attention and care. Although the sight of his two children isn't as unnerving as it was yesterday, he still can't quite make sense of his circumstances.
Kurapika's slight movements seem to wake him up, because Sol lifts his head, the evidence of drool over his mouth and Kurapika's chest. His bedhead is one to behold, with his hair sticking up haphazardly in various directions.
"Dada," Sol says through his sleep haze, a dreamy smile on his face.
Kurapika weaves a hand through Sol's hair, smoothing his strands out. "Good morning."
Sol leans in closer, and suddenly presses a damp kiss over his jaw.
Kurapika startles, making a sound of surprise. Sol looks up at him worriedly, as if he just did something he wasn't supposed to. But his expression clears the moment Kurapika lifts him beneath his arms, raising him in the air.
"You're so affectionate," Kurapika murmurs, sending him an apologetic smile. Sol seems to accept his apology, because he beams back at him.
"That's just how you raised him," comes Runa's voice, right beside him.
"Is that so?" Kurapika turns his gaze towards his daughter, who also seems to suffer from a case of an unruly bedhead. "Good morning, Runa."
"Good morning," Runa says, a gentle yawn escaping her. She moves away from his side to give him more space, leaning back against the pillows to rest in a more comfortable position.
Sol stretches out his arms, so Kurapika entertains him, swaying him back and forth in the air and making him giggle even more. Even though he bears an aching resemblance to Kuroro, Kurapika can't bring himself to reject his presence or deny him of his parents. There's so much softness in the curve of his cheeks and sincerity in his smile, when Sol looks at him with as much adoration as Kurapika remembers loving his mother and father.
"How can you be so adorable when you look just like that bast—" Kurapika bites his tongue, because he's in the presence of children after all. "Just like that guy?"
Sol babbles as if he's giving Kurapika an answer, and it's so endearing that he nearly forgets his displeasure at being reminded of Kuroro's face. He lowers Sol back down on his chest, pressing an appreciative kiss against his cheek.
"Are you indirectly calling me adorable?"
Kurapika slowly turns his head towards the direction of the voice. Kuroro is lounging on his sofa with a book in his hand, appearing more well-rested than yesterday. He immediately rises on the bed, laying Sol down beside him on the comforter.
"How long have you been here?"
Kuroro gives him a careless shrug. "You didn't answer the door last night, so I let myself in."
Panic rises in Kurapika's chest. "You've been here since last night?"
"No," Kuroro says, closing his book with one hand. "I returned a second time this morning, only to find you all still sleeping. If your lock was this easy to pick, I could easily break into the Princes' quarters."
Kurapika silently reprimands himself for failing to sense Kuroro's presence, when he should have been prepared to handle any threats to the children during the night. But if Kuroro had any intention to harm them, he would have done so by now.
And Kurapika was the one who allowed him to return anyway, although that doesn't justify him breaking in more than once.
Runa seems unable to return to sleep, because she pushes the covers aside and gets up as well. "Papa," she says, rubbing at her eyes, "you look better today."
"Better?" Kuroro repeats.
There are hardly any traces of his appearance from yesterday, with only his cross tattoo exposed on his forehead and his turquoise earrings remaining in his ensemble. He's dressed in a black turtleneck layered beneath a matching black lapel coat, conforming with the rest of the civilians on the ship.
"Handsome," Runa affirms, nodding her head in approval. "You looked like a Christmas tree yesterday with that horrible coat. Please don't wear it again."
An unexpected snort escapes Kurapika. She's forward enough to say what everyone else is probably too afraid to, but she does it so politely that it's difficult to take offense.
"I'll think about it," Kuroro says after a moment, mild surprise in his tone. "Do you want to see the clothes I brought you?"
"Yes, please."
Runa goes to him at the edge of the bed, while Kuroro retrieves different shopping bags from beneath the coffee table. At least Kuroro had the mind to follow Kurapika's directions.
Kuroro lays out several dresses on the bed, most of them with frills and ribbons and voluminous bell-shaped skirts. The aesthetic he chose for her is oddly familiar, both elegant and gothic, when there are crosses and roses embellished all over the dresses.
"These are all for you," Kuroro tells her, looking pleased with himself.
But Runa seems entirely unimpressed. "Papa's fashion sense has always been weird," she says with a light frown, not quite complaining but not satisfied either. "Why is everything so puffy?"
Kuroro mirrors her frown, holding up one of the dresses to make a comparison. "These all look like what you're already wearing."
"Because Papa from my time gave me this as a gift." Runa smooths out her skirt with her hands. "I didn't want to hurt his feelings, so that's why I wore it."
Kuroro studies her for a long moment, resting a hand on his chin. "I see."
"But I like this one." Runa holds up a Kakin traditional dress, consisting of a white billowy top and a scarlet pleated skirt with a sash. "Thank you."
Curiosity brightens his expression. "What makes it different?"
"My favorite color is red," Runa reveals, the red fabric of the skirt pooling in her hands.
Kuroro nods in understanding. "Mine as well."
From the edge of his vision, Kurapika catches the way Kuroro spares him a glance. But Kurapika doesn't return it, when that means acknowledging the unspoken implications.
He keeps his attention on Runa, considering the different layers of the dress. "Do you need help changing, Runa?"
"I can do it myself," Runa assures him, descending the bed with the dress. "I'm going to wash up and change in the bathroom."
"Alright," Kurapika says. "Let me know if you need help with anything."
When Runa closes the door, Kuroro turns his attention towards Sol, who has already taken the opportunity to rummage through the rest of the shopping bags.
"What about you?" Kuroro asks.
Sol has a sweater with an embroidered dinosaur in his hands, holding it up proudly. "Dino!"
Kurapika takes the sweater from him and searches the heaps of clothes for a pair of pants. The clothes for Sol seem to be much more wearable and suitably sized for him, although Kurapika finds a jacket with a fur trim hood, making him toss it back into the bags. What he does keep is a pair of comfortable sweatpants and a pack of diapers at the bottom of the pile.
"Arms up," Kurapika says.
Sol listens, raising his arms in the air and allowing Kurapika to pull his shirt over his head. He removes his pants too, until he's only sitting there in his diaper. Kuroro doesn't do much except for poking Sol's exposed stomach, inducing a light giggle from him.
"You're so soft," Kuroro comments with an amused smile, "just like pudding."
At the mention of the dessert, Sol swallows loudly.
"You're drooling." Kurapika shakes his head in disbelief, wiping at Sol's face with his hand. "Are you hungry?"
"Uh-huh," Sol answers simply.
Kurapika changes him quickly, wondering what he should do for breakfast. Runa eventually returns to the room, her long hair brushed and fully dressed in her new ensemble.
"How is it?" Runa asks, fidgeting with the wide sleeves.
"You look like a princess," Kurapika tells her, earning a curious glance from Kuroro. The words come easier after having to praise Bisky to win her approval, but he means it this time.
"Oh," Runa says, her cheeks flushed. The smile blooming on her face makes the compliment worth it. "Thank you, Daddy. And thank you again for getting me this, Papa."
"Of course," Kuroro answers with a light smile. "I'll keep what you like in mind next time."
Sol slides down the edge of the bed and runs over to his sister, leaping into her arms. "Pretty Runa!"
Runa catches him with ease, lifting him off the floor and squeezing him in a hug. She laughs as she spins him around, her skirt flowing with the motion. "Pretty baby."
Sol laughs, pressing his cheek against hers. Kurapika is almost touched by their interactions, pretends the softness in his chest isn't entirely fond, until he realizes that he has to leave for work.
"Sol," Kurapika says, immediately taking him in his arms, "it's your turn."
Sol looks up at him with confusion, but Kurapika hauls him over to the bathroom without another word. He doesn't stop wriggling around in his arms, so Kurapika lowers him to his feet, keeping both of his hands on Sol's shoulders.
"No, Dada," Sol protests, struggling to escape his hold. "No, no, no."
"Yes, Sol," Kurapika answers firmly, not allowing himself to be affected by Sol's wobbly pout. "We need to clean you up."
Kurapika washes Sol's face first, despite his efforts to run away from him. When he reaches for the toothbrush, Sol presses his lips closed, arching his head away from the sink.
"You have to brush if you want to eat," Kurapika reminds him, and Sol reluctantly opens his mouth.
He brushes Sol as quickly as he changed him. He needs to bathe him again tonight, and that will prove to be even more difficult than getting him to brush his teeth. It's not as if he wants to forcefully restrain Sol, but he has to figure out how to handle Sol's defiant behavior from time to time, especially since he ran away from him yesterday.
After drying his face with a towel, Kurapika reassures him with a pat on the head. "All done."
"All done," Sol repeats with an unbearably sad sniffle.
The moment Kurapika releases him, he rushes out of the bathroom, apparently running over to his other father for comfort. Kurapika peers out of the door, watching how Sol buries himself in Kuroro's arms.
With an aggrieved sigh, he concentrates on getting ready for his responsibilities for the day. He changes into his suit hanging in the bathroom and considers his reflection, adjusting his tie and trying to make himself presentable in the mirror.
"I have to go to work," Kurapika announces when he returns. "But I'm uncertain if I should take you two with me."
Suddenly showing up to Prince Woble's quarters with two children and the infamous leader of the Ryodan in tow doesn't bode well for Kurapika. It's not as though he can care for these children while on the job, when he's dedicated to Prince Woble and her mother during his time here.
But perhaps Queen Oito will accept his situation if he properly explains to her beforehand instead of appearing before them without notice.
"We can stay with Papa," Runa suggests, casting Kuroro a curious glance, "if he doesn't mind."
"That's fine with me," Kuroro answers with Sol in his arms, propping him on his lap. Sol continues to seek his father's embrace, apparently still upset with Kurapika because he's not looking back at him. Surely Kurapika will have to make it up to him later.
He folds his arms, not approving of this idea at all. "I don't trust you."
"The kids certainly do," Kuroro answers easily.
"The kids don't know any better," Kurapika retorts.
It comes as a surprise that the children adore Kuroro as much as they do, when there's a connection between them in the future that Kurapika is unaware of. But this is their current timeline and Kurapika doesn't trust him—doesn't believe that he ever could.
Kurapika may be an orphan, but he isn't alone in this world. He has a family and even if they belong to another time, even if they can't replace the people he has lost, a promising future exists for them. He won't allow anyone to be taken from him again.
"I can watch the baby while you're at work," Runa says, sitting quietly at the edge of the bed. Sol perks up at the mention of his nickname. "I promise I'll keep him safe."
"I appreciate it, Runa," Kurapika answers softly. "But it's the both of you I'm concerned about, not just Sol."
"You'll have to decide between the lesser of two evils." Kuroro's expression is serious. "Expose them to the succession war or allow them to stay with me."
Kurapika's eyes narrow sharply. "Why exactly are you on this ship again? And how do you know about the succession war?"
"I have an agenda to accomplish involving Kakin," Kuroro says without revealing much of anything, "but I'm willing to temporarily suspend it for these two."
"It's okay, Daddy," Runa insists, leaving the bed and standing beside Kuroro in an effort to appeal to him. "I don't think Papa will do anything bad—at least, nothing that will hurt us. If it's only for a few hours, I'm sure it'll be fine."
Time is running out to make his decision. Runa's gaze is as firm as Kuroro's own. This isn't an argument that Kurapika is going to win, so he swallows his protests despite his instincts telling him not to. "Kuroro, you are not allowed to engage in any form of violence or thievery with these two around."
"I do believe that's what I meant by placing my agenda on hold," Kuroro answers with a quiet chuckle, although Kurapika doubts that he is being sincere.
"Get them something to eat, and meet me around two at the Hunter Association's lab," Kurapika says, and Sol finally turns around to meet his gaze at the mention of food. "There's something I need to confirm with you."
"Alright," Kuroro says, standing up from the sofa and carrying Sol in his arms. "I'll meet you then."
"Dada," Sol calls out, despite his treatment earlier. Kurapika crosses over the room to meet him, his gaze questioning.
Sol reaches out to him, his small hands framing Kurapika's face. His eyes are impossibly large for his face, but Kurapika notices that Sol shares the warmth and shape with his own eyes.
There's a moment of hesitation where Kurapika thinks that he will cry to prevent him from leaving, but he leans in and kisses his cheek. "Bye-bye!"
Kurapika can't help but smile, a little wry and disappointed. "See you soon, Sol."
He lowers himself on one knee to meet Runa's eyes. Reaching out to brush her bangs away, he lays a gentle kiss against her forehead. "Let me know if anything happens, Runa. If you get yourself into any trouble, come find me. Alright?"
Runa raises a hand to her forehead, slightly surprised. "I will."
Notes:
The next chapter will be Kuroro spending a day with the kids. What could possibly go wrong? :p
Please leave a comment! I would love to know what you think about this chapter.
As always, you can reach out to me on Twitter (ryuuseigai).