With all the ingots melted down, Mikkel reveals his ability to the boys.

It was a long and tedious process, but the boys got through it. With Mikkel's guidance, they managed to melt down all the pieces they needed for the moment. The others will come later.

Now comes the fun part, for the man at least. This is where he'll use his ability. He may have prematurely revealed it, but that was only an introduction. What it could do, was much more than burn a piece of string. He could reshape the melted down ingots into well crafted, crude versions of the pieces… but at least it'll be in relatively the same shape of the design.

The same could be said for certain pieces of Killua's yo-yos. The other parts will be melted down, once one of the sides has been properly crafted. It'll be easier if he can properly shape one piece, then make a mould of that piece, so he could remake it three more times without having to go through the same process multiple times.

Getting it to the perfect shape four times is a waste of time, when he could do it once, then use that as a base to make the others.

As for the Elengate, that's a little trickier. He'll have to mark out a circle, then drill a decent size hole, of at least an inch deep, so he could properly set the Elengate inside the yo-yo pieces. A quick hit of his hammer should force the pieces to meld together. He must make sure it's at the right strength so that the temperature change won't melt them again.

He'll need to relay that information to Killua later so that the boy isn't left in the dark about the whole process.

As for the other exceptions, one involved the eyes that will be fitted to Daniel's weapons. The second will be making long threads of string out of Rekril. He has a device to create the strings, it's just Killua will be forced to sit there creating several strands of them, at least three to five strands so that he could put it through another machine to weave them together.

They needed to create a thin rope that's strong enough to handle the speed build-up from Ecriurium. If the string frays, it'll be no good to the boy.

Actually… Now that he thought about it, he could use Celium to make the string instead… he'll have to ask the boy if wants such a devastating secret, being hidden inside the weapon. If he does, he'll have to change the inside that connects the two sides of yo-yo so the Celium doesn't accidentally saw it in half from the constant unwinding.

On second thought, it's probably best he doesn't offer that suggestion because Celium could cut through the Nesceathuim and Ecriurium… Auzinite wouldn't be able to repair the damage if the string had sliced through it.

He'll reveal the mechanics of his Nen ability, but right now, he just needs to explain what he's about to do, "So, everything is melted down. From here I'll be taking over most of the tasks, with very few exceptions. Mainly, sorry Killua… but you'll be making the string for your yo-yos."

"I thought so… sounds painfully boring."

"Unfortunately… it is. You'll have to make several strings, then weave them together, so it acts like a small rope. But before that…" The man moved what will become the wolf's face bust, a piece of the spear to the anvil.

Smiling he held his hammer up, smacking the side of the Anvil. Like earlier, the head burst into flames, a different shade of red from last time, "Let's begin…" He smacked the side of the anvil several more times, the flames extinguishing before relighting at different shades of red than the last time, "This is my ability, Mjolnir's Temper. Hitting the Anvil cancels my ability, but the reason I'm constantly hitting the anvil is to make sure I'm always tempering at the same temperature."

Killua crossed his arms at the information, "So it's precision base?"

"Exactly… Harder is hotter. Softer is colder." He smacked the anvil several more times, showing a range of shades of fire. Some being cold, some being hot. When he smacked the hammer one last time on the anvil, he brought it down onto the mould, leaving a dent and red imprint. The shade of fire changed slightly, "The first hit always matters." He smacked the metal once more, "the next hit is dependent on what I'm working on. The first hit was at around a thousand two-hundred and forty. The consecutive hit was at around the same temperature, colder by forty-three degrees if I were to guess. Provided I'm always hitting within the same ranged, I can reshape the metal. I just can't go above its melting point. The hottest recorded temperature, I've gotten… was roughly at the three-thousand-degree mark. I almost burnt my hand in the process… as well as the floor."

He smacked the mould several more times before continuing "I know I should be wearing gloves, but it's harder to maintain the perfect hit with gloves. If I'm… going above two-thousand, I wear gloves. Or in the case of Elengate, I must wear it, unfortunately. Static charges are not fun to deal with… besides that point, I'm going to be going at this for a while until I get a general shape. Then I'll bring it to the pin needle machine to make a precision cut, and smooth out the edges. This process will take a while so I won't make you sit there all the time. But feel free to ask me any questions about this process." He returned to his task, focused only on what was in front of him.

The two boys looked at each other, thinking about what sort of questions could they ask. Should they be asking general questions, or get into the nitty-gritty more so out of curiosity?

Daniel went first, since he had more of a general question, "Can you switch from harder to softer hits to cool the previous hit?"

"I could, but it's not recommended. Constant changes to the temperature can degrade the strength. It's best to complete the reshaping process before dropping it in water rather than me finishing on a softer impact. I use softer hits when the metal requires colder temperatures to reshape it."

Killua asked a more precise question, "How does your ability differentiate between metal and the anvil? Given that the anvil is not only made from Uskiolthil, you also initiated the process by hitting the anvil…"

"It's a Nen condition I gave to myself. The last hit must always be on the anvil. The reason it triggers when I hit the anvil, rather than remain off, is due to it being a type of metal. I always start by hitting the anvil so I can get a general temperature vibe. That's another reason why I don't wear gloves, so I can feel how hot it is."

Daniel asked the next question "You stated the next hit is dependent on what you're working on. Are you implying, the toughness of metal will change, how hard you need to hit it while tempering?"

The man stopped his task, instead, opting to lean back. He turned to smile at the boy "It does. The first hit matters as much as the second. The reason I can adjust between the metals is because of, my experience from working with them. The second reason, I don't start by hitting the metal first, because my ability isn't activated; it's useless… also, I'd damage the integrity, due to what my hammer is made from. It's also made from Uskiolthil. That's why I'm able to go as high as three thousand in temperature without the hammer melting or being reshaped too. It's also why I'm always careful on the next hit…"

The man returned to his previous task as he spoke "When I first started practising with my new tools, I broke my fair few of them in the process, both the tools and moulds. Oh, if you ask why the hammer doesn't damage the anvil or vice versa, fun little fact about the two of them… I had to coat them in Auzinite. I also have to recoat them every year, considering how much I'm using them."

"Wait, so if we had something coated with Auzinite…" Daniel raised his finger, "You'll have to recoat ours every year too?"

"You could get away with every two years, but yes. Due to it being intermingled with the other minerals, it'll be fine. Maybe pop in occasionally, for a touch-up… preferably before it's shattered into a thousand pieces."

Killua brought up another question, "When you covered my yo-yo with your handkerchief, your ability didn't activate… but when you hit the string while it was against the anvil, it did. Does any part of the hammer have to touch the anvil for the ability to activate?"

"Another good question…" Mikkel smiled widely, "Yes. I could technically tap the side of my hammer against the corner of the anvil, and my ability will still activate. But I must be holding the hammer for it to work… The amount I times I walked past my Anvil and the hammer has accidentally swung into it… well, let's just say I'll be out of pants."

"And leg hair…" Killua remarked with a sly smirk.

"Oh, so you've seen my yeti legs."

The boy's grin widened. He won't be easily embarrassed on these things… maybe with Daniel, but Mikkel, it doesn't affect him as much "be careful, you don't want to be sued for deforestation every time you bust out a razor."

The man let out a bellowing laugh, "Sassy one, aren't-cha…"

Killua acted innocent, "Maybe…"

"Very sassy…" Daniel interjected with a soft smile.

Killua frowned, only to be caught in a web of embarrassment seconds later.

"I guess I love that aspect about him."

"Wh- what?"

Mikkel interjected, "I would say get a room, but the two of you claimed a single one already." Killua cheeks shifted to a darker shade, only to deepen in colour when the man continued off his earlier comment, "I'd go far to say, I'm thankful for you keeping the noise down."

"We haven't-"

"I know…" The man's frame softened, "Well, I don't know… nor do I want to know. But I hear you two talking some nights. Very incriminating stuff, I might add. I know bits and pieces, able to guess some things. But I haven't gotten the full picture. Killua mentioned Vastorie messed you up, Daniel…"

Daniel gave a nod. Although it's a topic he much rather, sweep under the rug, the man did ask him. But then again… being open may, in turn, allow Mikkel to be impartial about some similarities "To put it bluntly… he got us three evicted from a school, because, apparently… my grandfather, wants me dead."

Mikkel's hand stilled mid swing, "What…?"

"My grandfather, I never knew existed, wants me dead?"

"No… well, that's troubling news. But the part about him getting you three evicted from school, it's what concerns me. You see the man I know, spins so many truths, sometimes it's hard to pick up on lies."

"He was the opposite to me… spun so many lies, until the truths were impossible to find."

Mikkel returned to his task, "Sounds like he has serious daddy issues."

Daniel snorted at the idea, "He has a lot more than that…"

"Maybe you're right." The man spoke softly, agreeing with the boy for a moment, "Maybe we're both wrong. As I said, he called me. The first thing he asked me, was to make sure you made it here, alive. So, I'm assuming, he just can't talk to you, because of a barrier you have."

Daniel said nothing, only raising an eyebrow, even though the man couldn't see it.

"You said nothing… so am I assume I'm correct." Daniel opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted, "Or maybe… I'm wrong. He isn't open with his life with me. I now know he has a son; I also know he bats for the same team… that he's filthy rich. I also know he's a sucker for things in life that intrigue him…" The man turned his head slightly, "I realise now… that the people he tends to care about the most, he shuts them out from what he's genuinely feeling. He lies for a reason, Daniel… I don't know why, but maybe… you'll find out the answer to that, one day."

Bringing his attention back to his current job, he smacked the mould one last time. Grabbing it from a side that wasn't searing hot, he threw it behind him into the tub, the water sizzling as it sunk to the bottom, "I don't have those answers, unfortunately. But I'm going to teach you my trade like he helped me refine my own. I'm sure most of it will be useless to you as soon as you step out of those doors… but maybe from this, you'll see… or likely come to understand your old man a little better. Can't say I'll help you paint him in a better light though… that's for you to decide."

"Can't say I'll ever be able to paint him in a better light…"

"Pick anyone close to you, and I dare you to say that again. We all have our demons, some choose not to face them head-on, but rather become them." He could see the words had hit the boy harder than he intended. Rather than grilling him, he changed the topic "Pass me the Rekril cylinder Killua, I'll teach you how to make the thread with the machine, given that this task may take the longest. Then maybe we can move onto something else…"

"~"

Killua sat on the bed, his shirt still sticky with sweat, "I swear… all my good shirts are going to feel sticky and grimy by the time we're done with these weapons." When his partner hadn't responded, he saw his boyfriend looking at a wall, spaced out.

Mikkel had unintentionally made Daniel rethink his standing on his father. He was certainly deep in his thoughts, rethinking if it was correct of him to think of his father in a judgemental manner.

Considering everything he put them through, he was a prick… but to someone like Mikkel, he was the beginning of a new chapter in their life. Even with someone like Madelyn, he had plucked her from her shitty family, but in the end… even she had a change of heart about the man. She called him a dick to his face.

Killua snuck up behind his partner, roping his arms around his boyfriend's waist, "You're thinking negative thoughts again? May I offer you a distraction…?"

Daniel felt himself smiling, "Negative? No… but he's still a dick in my mind."

"He does… to you, apparently. Well, me too if I'm being honest. But so does your sister…"

"Is this your distraction…?" Daniel twisted around in his partner's arms, facing his boyfriend with a sly smile, "It's not a very good one now, is it…"

"How about this tall hot drink in your arms?"

Daniel brought his hand to the top of his head, moving it slightly forward so the hand was hovering over his partner's head, "Tall… I don't think so."

Killua slapped his partner's ass, "Rude." He then flowed it with a smirk, "I'll be taller than you. I guarantee it. You'll look like a tiny baby in all our photos."

"Just not right now…" Daniel leaned forward.

Killua pressed a finger to his boyfriend's lips, stopping them from connecting, "Fewer reasons for the bed squeaking, more on your feelings. What's on your mind?"

"Was I too quick to judge my father?"

"Nope… even if he was hiding his actions because he doesn't want to show he cares about you, it's not fair he got the other teachers to evict us over something out of our control. It may be Victor's fault we're in this mess… but Vastorie put us in the limelight. We're victims of your father's actions… not his father's existence. Him trying to cover up that his helping us from the shadows, doesn't make him any less of an asshole."

"Your right, but…"

"No 'ands', 'ifs' or 'buts' about it, he made our life miserable. He took away our safety net. Him, asking to make sure you made it here alive, isn't going to make his previous actions any less problematic."

"No, you're right… but it gets me thinking. Why is he this way? Is he emotionally stunted?"

"He's just got daddy issues…" When his partner raised an eyebrow, Killua poked the boy on his cheeks, "Hey! I do not have daddy issues. My father was there for me… for the wrong reasons, but he was still there for me."

"So, him wanting me dead is not an issue…?"

"Over my dead body. I may be a teen, but I should be allowed to date and fuck…" He whispered the last part, just in case Alluka or even Mikkel could hear them through the walls, "Whoever I please. My mother has, undeniably, been making his life hell because of our relationship. He's just trying to erase a problem; he believes our relationship is a problem…"

"Does he believe it's a problem because of who my father is…?"

"Maybe…" Killua paused, only to change his mind seconds later "Nah, he'll do the same shit if I was in a relationship with Gon. Hell, if you were a girl I don't believe my father would accept you. Your father just gives him another reason to dislike our relationship … he doesn't like that man one bit. My father is just too damn serious, so if you have a similar attitude to Vastorie, which you do…"

Daniel never felt so offended in his life.

"Put away your pearls, I don't mean it like that. You joke around… you don't take his opinion as an absolute fact. Well, you don't take it seriously as in shut your mouth in his presence. You've challenged his authority… he doesn't like that one bit."

"The first time I met him, I was keeping quiet for most of the conversation. I don't believe I challenged him in person… at all."

"No, but you called Illumi a fuckwit… They would've been watching at that time."

"I did do that… didn't I?"

"Also, Tsubone had been updating my parents via her scope. You called Illumi a bunch of hypocrites, along with my family, while they were watching us."

Daniel rubbed the side of his neck, quite embarrassed about the old memory, "I guess… I did do that also."

"They may have rescinded the kill order then, but it could change at any moment. We still must be careful, especially when it comes to dealing with Victor. That being said… you're definitely on my family's shit list."

Daniel roped his fingers between his partner's, "I know we'll get through this together. How about a little smooch to feel better?"

Killua pinched his partner's cheek in response, "All right… a small kiss for my little cry baby."

Daniel puffed up his cheeks, but Killua's laughter that followed was intoxicating. He found himself laughing at the matter. The two eventually leaning in for a kiss during their fits of giggles, smiling as they held each other in their arms.