Killua is woken to the morning light kissing his face. He instinctively rolls to his side to find the bed to himself.

Gon let me sleep in... I guess he's still upset.

He goes to check his phone.

7:45 am Shittt...

The hunter jumps out of bed as quick as he can. He scans the ground for whatever clothes have been left there. Slipping on whatever is closest regardless of hygiene.

Shoes. Shoes. Shoes...

At a superhuman pace, the room is turned inside out.

I thought I could talk with Gon on the way to school, but I guess I'd be lucky to get there on time.

He bustles through the door with his school bag around his shoulders, the sound of his steps muffled by his white, slightly dirty socks.

Through the kitchen, he bursts through grabbing some fruit on the counter.

I'll skip breakfast and buy some lunch from a vending machine or something.

He turns to the doorway and the site almost bought him to tears.

"Gon..."

He said stunned to see his friend tying his shoes.

"You're shoes are here..." He said distantly. "I thought you could use the sleep in given your late night."

The whitehaired boy didn't know how to respond so he just chucked his shoes on as quickly as he could before the both rushed out the door.

The walk was very silent. The talk which normally occupies the travel there isn't to be found. Gon contemplates recent events.

I honestly don't know what to do about that boy. Who on earth stalks someone random guy... without telling me! It's one thing to go against what we agreed, another to keep me out of the loop. But damn, do I need to keep being mad at him? when is it an okay time to stop?

They head around the main building rushing just as the bell rings.

Miss Thornhop was still taking the roll by the the time they made it through the door.

"I'll mark you both on time, just this once... I don't want this to be a habit..." She said interrupting the list of names.

"Will do, thank you!" Gon cheerfully added. They go to their seats to find Jacob there with a large grin on his face.

"Feels nice not to be the late ones." He says confidently, but quietly as the roll was still being given.

"Killua overslept." Gon said somewhat perky.

"I see... " He ponders for a bit. "Hey... if you guys still wanted to meet at lunch, that would be alright with me... I mean perhaps with fewer girls..."

"Amen." Killua chimes in.

"Oh... yeah sure if it's a problem. Don't you guys like girls?" The black-haired boy says still oblivious.

"What... no! of course I do." Jacob says almost choking on his words. "I would just like to eat lunch without girl drooling over you."

"I'm sure that can be arranged." Killua says with a polite smile. "It would be nice if the table wasn't so crowded."

"I don't get it... but if you guys want... alright then. "

...

"Finally, I thought lunch would never come" The white-haired boy says as his friend sits at a table Jacob has already claimed. "I'm going to hunt down a vending machine or something, I'll be back." He says quickly walking away.

"What did you just have" The blond boy said taking out his packed lunch.

"English, I don't get why I have to take it. I feel like I can speak it fine..." Gon says taking out his lunch.

"I don't think that's quite the point... hey, tell me if I'm sticking my nose where it doesn't belong but are you and Killua alright? you guys seem less chipper."

"Yeah... he did something that he said he wouldn't do. And it made me mad. But I'm not sure how I'm meant to do this... like do I just stay mad? it's not like I hate him or something but what he did wasn't cool."

"what did he do?"

"..."

"y'know what never mind. It doesn't matter." He thinks for a moment. "Whatever it is, it's enough to hurt you to the point where you feel like he shouldn't get away with it. I feel like whatever it is, it shouldn't stand. But holding onto it forever isn't the right idea either. I think you just need a little time to forgive him until then I'm sure he's not going to enjoy the cold so he probably will at least think about what he did. But I wouldn't worry about it, family fight all the time."

"We squabble a lot. But it normally doesn't last very long. We'd normally sort it out and do whatever work needs to be done."

"your... uh... 'freelance' work"

"Yeah... that."

"You guys spend a lot of time together, I'd almost say you're codependent. Do you even know who you are without your brother around?"

"What do you mean? I'm just... me. Y'know?"

"Quite true. And nobody is more themselves than you it seems." He smiles lightly "But when you're at school when you're dealing with the principle, when talking with your parent and when you're with your friends. They all demand different social etiquette. You're still 'you' but 'you' is complex. And when you hang around someone for so long you fall into patterns and dynamics, which although are nice you could easily forget how you are without them. Does that make sense?"

"I suppose... but we're always together, that's how we like it."

"Is there any time where you won't be together, where you could do something else?"

"I think Killua has a guidance counsellor appointment on Friday after school

"Perfect, do you want to hang out at my place after school?"

"Uh.. sure..." Gon says as his nose twitches "Killua is coming back."

"Wha... where?" Just like that the young hunter in his slightly dirty school uniform walks back into the lunchroom. "what the fu... how did you do that?"

"KILLUUUAAAA! what did you get" He yells across the lunchroom.

"You're so loud!" He grumbles. "couldn't find any chocorobots"

"What on earth are those" Jacob pipes up.

"They're small chocolate robots. They don't seem to sell them here." Gon answers.

"Yep. So I found 'm&m's they looked chocolatey from the packet." he says before guzzling a handful.

The rest of the day goes well. Gon seems much warmer than he did before. In fact, lunch seemed to be the tipping point. The two begin to walk back home.

"I'm sorry... " Killua spits out from nowhere. Gon gives him an understanding look.

"I really didn't want you to do that... But I'm not going to hold onto it forever."

Oddly worded.

"Thanks... I'll let you know next ti-"

"Or there could just not be a next time."

"Yeah... or that."

Silence falls between them for a second before the black-haired boy speaks up again.

"Jacob invited me to play at his house on Friday after school..."

'To play'... I swear.

"That's... cool, I guess. I could meet you there after my stupid appointment. I uh... Already know the way to his house."

"Actually... I was thinking I could go alone." what. "I just think I want to find out who I am when I'm not around you..."

"what... No... c'mon Gon... I said I'm sorry"

Why does this hurt so bad?

"Killua, it isn't about that. It's just, I want to hang with my friend."

"I'm your friend!"

"My bestest in the entire world, forever and ever! but I also really want to get know Jacob, he's really smart and I think he could be handy in our invest-"

"So you want to replace me?"

"Wha... No of course not. Killua! Why is this such a big deal? you don't even like him."

"I don't." The boy composes himself. " I think he's a bad influence on you."

"He's barely had an influence on me, how can you tell?"

"I just can."

"Well, maybe you're right. But I'm deciding for myself, I want to go. Alone. I promise we can do something as well. "

Silence falls between the two of them again.

What the fuck. What the fuck. What the fuck.

I'm going to kill that boy. That smug little shit. I could do it, he'd go to bed and never wake up. His parents will find out their son died of a heart attack in their sleep. All will be well, and Gon stays mine.

Gon stay's mine.

That... sounds kinda wrong. possessive? I know this is an overreaction. But we're Gon and Killua. A package deal. We're together, best friends forever. 'he wants to see who he is without me' more like Jacob wants to see who he is without me. For fuck sakes.

The silence continues the whole walk home.

What if this is the beginning of the end. 'Sorry Kil, I just like Jacob way more, he's so cool, and he knows all of these things you don't and he's so confident.'

Dinner happens. With an awkward lul at the table. Leorio and Kurapika making idol chit chat trying to ignore the elephant in the room.

...

"I'm going to get an early night." Gon gets up from the couch where they've been watching TV and head to his room. A little later, Leorio calls it a night. They've got the weirdest shows here. 'The Simpsons' basically a dorky yellow family doing dorky things. It's kinda funny though.

"Out with it." Kurapika finally speaks up as the two sit in front of the TV.

"With... " He plays dumb.

"Oh c'mon. I can't help you if you keep pretending like nothing is wrong." He says with a coy smile.

"I don't need your help. I never had."

"Right. Because you had Gon. But now it's something to do with him. You can't talk to Gon about himself, so you're left brooding." Kurapika says without looking away from the TV. "I hate to see my sons fighting and I'm afraid that the rain cloud above your head will drown us all soon. So just talk."

smartass.

"Gon wants to go to Jacob's house on Friday. Without me. He wants to 'See who he is without me around.' Whatever that means. " He relents.

"I see... and you don't like this?"

"Isn't it weird? We've been together for years and now of all times he wants to explore himself without me."

"Could it be because you've been together for years and years that he wants to explore himself. "

"I mean... sure. I just don't like this Jacob kid. Anyone but him. It'll be fine."

"The friendship you two have is amazing. A gift. But you guys can have lives away from each other. Imagine when you two find girlfriends. What are you going to do? Go on each other's dates? starting a family?... are you going to live with each other forever? You can't spend every waking hour of every day together for the rest of your lives. "

"Ugh. dating. don't get me started. I swear the school is just full of whores ready to drop their pants for Gon the moment he says so. "

"So, girls bad. Jacob, bad. So far, anyone who shows any attempt to take Gon away from you, you have some reason not to like. Tell me... who is the ideal person Gon should spend time with that isn't you?"

"..."

"Maybe the problem isn't these people but that fact that you just don't want Gon taken away."

"It's just I'm the one who should be by his side. We've been through so much, no one else could care about him as much as I do. I'd die for him, I almost have, and I'd risk it again. Because any discomfort he suffers from hurts me tenfold and he only deserves someone like that looking out for him." The young hunter can feel tears almost building up. A moment of silence passes.

"Have you considered... that you might have feelings for Gon?"

"huh?"

"Just the way you talk about him-"

"No dude. I'm not gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just... I'm not gay."

"Well, how are you going to feel when Gon starts dating. Picks up one of the girls that chase after him. Kisses them. Whispers sweet nothings across the pillow as they cuddle each other to sleep."

"This conversation is over," Killua says abruptly before standing up. "Tell anyone anything we talked about and they'll never find your body."

"And goodnight to you too." The kurta says somewhat pleased with himself.


Fuck… it's Friday. Me and Gon have been on ice for a few days now, I now must go to this stupid councillor while Gon and Headphones buddy it up.

The thought makes me sick.

The school bell rings declaring the end of the day. Gon starts packing his things up a little too happy. "Alright, I'm meeting Jacob" Gon said packing his books in his bag. "I'll be home by 7, then I promise we can watch a movie or something, okay?"

The other boy can't even muster a response.

….

"Are you just going to be silent the entire time?" This old looking lady in a pink sweater and a notebook says, in this weirdly small room filled with nick-nacks. All we can really hear is the cat clock ticking, ticking, ticking. "I get you're here involuntarily, but that doesn't mean we can't make the most out of this."

"What's there to make out of this" Killua breaks his silence "I'm here because I got screwed over and the principle has his head too far up his butt to admit that maybe his favourite students are in the wrong. So now I get sent to some past her prime granny whose main job is to deal with hormonal teens upset about their parents getting a divorce and convince them that their life isn't ending."

The old lady jots some more notes down in her notebook before taking a large breath.

"There's a lot to unpack there." She thinks for a moment. "I've dealt with a lot of people your age, and I think we can both relate on some level that many of their problems are insignificant on a grand scale. I will admit that yes I do, at times, want to shake these students shoulders and show them that there are starving kids on the streets and people dying due to disease, they have loving parents, a family, a roof over their head and 3 meals a day, a privilege denied to many." She puts down her notebook and pen and thinks a little. "But growing up isn't easy, and these problems which may seem insignificant to you or I are actually instrumental to how these kids learn to deal with change and conflict throughout their life. So, their problems on a scale may seem small, yes, but in terms of how important they are to their growth, they're huge. To add to this, just by reading your file I can tell your life has had some bigger problems than your peers and you've been forced to grow up faster than you should, but I also think that you'll find that there's a reason why people normally take their time."

"What are you trying to say?" The white-haired boy sputters out.

"Well… as I've said. Typically, patterns are formed in the brain and when they've proven to work, even a little, they're treated as a blueprint. Sometimes for the rest of a person's life. You've needed to form that blueprint when you were much younger than when someone should. So, whereas most adults work with a blueprint they made in their teens because they were dealing with their parents' divorce yours was made by a very young boy in a much more dire circumstance."

"you're saying I act like a kid?" He fumed.

"No, of course not. Just the way you've grown up may have created an atypical method of dealing with relationships and tension. I don't doubt that when it comes to the serious, the painful and the bloody you excel. You can do what needs to be done even if it's hard, but I think that comes at the cost of the more 'boring' stuff. When it isn't life or death when it's your parents divorcing. Or maybe a big a move to a completely new culture. When you're working with a set of instructions that only really goes into detail when things are critical, dealing with the mundane can seem surprisingly hard. What makes it worse is we feel like we should be able to handle it. It's not a big deal. We've handled worse. But it is a big deal. Because it's a type of problem we haven't dealt with before. One we can't punch, kick or run away from. And that can be hard when you're only 16."


"Here we are, Home sweet home" Jacob says extending his hand to his old broken home. "My parents and sister are out and won't be back for a while so we have the place to ourselves."

Gon starts to take off his shoes.

"Nah dude, you're fine. We're not a shoes-off household." The hunter awkwardly slips his shoe back on. "Come on I'll show you to the living room. No one is home so I have full reign over the stereo!"

The place is cosy, reminds me of Aunt Mito on Whale island. Gosh, I miss her. I haven't sent her a postcard in a while.

"Do you listen to much music?" He says powering on the speakers.

"Uh… not really, but maybe you could show me some things?"

"With pleasure. So, this is my favourite band 'The Beatles'. They're kinda old but I love their stuff" He puts on a groovy song. It's nice. The blond boy turns up the volume to point where it hurts the other boy's ears. "And now." He says throwing his headphones onto the coffee table and collapsing onto the couch. "We relax."

Gon politely sits next to the slump who's now got his eyes closed listening to the music. "I haven't heard this song before, they're kind of nice."

"That honestly doesn't surprise me, you guys seem to be from a completely different place. Do you get culture shock?"

"Hmm… not really. Me and Killua travelled a bit so we're sort of use to new things."

"How have you two been now. Has the 'thing' blown over?"

"I don't know… we've been talking but he really didn't like the idea of me coming over"

"Shocking. But you stood your ground, so I guess all is fine."

"Yeah… all is fine…"

"…"

"Do you think I'm mentally retarded?" The young hunter blurted out.

"Woah… where did that come from? No. I don't…"

"Killua said I was mentally retarded. The night of 'the thing'."

"Oof."

"He said sorry after… but it still hurt."

"It's a hurtful thing to say."

"But like, sometimes I don't get stuff like everyone else and they seem to go slowly for me."

"Smarts comes in different ways." He says sitting back up from his slump. "You've got brains, just not the sort schooling systems always favour." He thinks for a moment. "Y'know my sister was born with a genetic disorder, she can work with numbers real well but reading has always been a challenge. We've been told she'll always be illiterate. But she's proving them wrong. She's what many would call 'mentally retarded'. You're not. People say hurtful things when they're upset, untrue things."

"Is she okay?"

"I wish I could say so. She got into an accident when she and my mom went to shops. She lost her ability to walk, for life. Or so they say."

"One of my dad's is a doctor, maybe…"

"Thanks Gon, but she's seen a few doctors."

"Is your mom okay?"

"Oh yeah, she was on crutches for a few months, but she got off quite easy, all things considered. Though the medical bills almost crippled us."

"So, you talking to those boys to get money?"

"Yeah… I reckoned I could get some money out of them. Help my parents. I don't know. Almost got killed though. So, I guess I'm not as clever as I think. Good thing Killua was there to help… But like damn, a little bit psychotic"

"He… shouldn't have done that."

"Well, I have to say I'm glad he did. Not only did he defend me, but he bet those fuckers so bad I doubt they'd want anything to do with him again." He perks up. "This is the best bit!" He says excitingly as the music builds, he sits up straighter and closes his eyes. As the music drops slumps into it and bounces to the beat in harmony. His eyes open again to meet Gon's. "You look amused."

"You just look silly doing that."

"My mom says the same thing, but it's the bomb. Try it!"

"The 'bomb'? "

"Just try it! Here comes the chorus again"

Gon sits up straight and closes his eyes listening to the music as the rhythm gets more and more intense, he sits more and more straight and building with the music. His body tingles with anticipation, and just as it drops, he slumps like he saw Jacob. The energy pulses through his body and he can feel his aura ripple with it as it spreads to all his body from his head down up his arms to his fingertips, continuing down to feet tingling his toes. He couldn't help but sway with the beat.

"Woah."

"Cool, right? I just love how sounds can make you feel that way!"

"Do want to become a musician or something one day?" black-haired boy asks.

"Oh… nah I don't really play."

"So what do you want to do?"

"well… I.. guess.." He stammers. He's clearly sitting on something.

"C'mon, tell me!"

"You can't laugh" Jacob said seriously as he starts to blush slightly. This isn't a side Gon's seen before.

"Yeah, sure just tell me!"

"I want to be a hunter!" He says loudly. Gon was caught off guard. "See, it's stupid. I know. Completely unrealistic and in no-"

"You'd make a great hunter!" He says excitedly.

"you think? I've been practising. I get as many clues as I can online and try and figure out where the exam is held each year. You see, they hide it in a different spot each year. After the exam, it's almost always leaked where and I can check if I was right. So far I'm right 1/3 of the time."

"Have you thought about trying out for one?"

"Fuck off, I don't want to die just yet. I don't nearly have the money to travel the world to go to the exam and even if I did, there's probably better stuff the money could be spent on. The fatality rate of the exam is insane and as of late it's been going up. Not to mention it's impossible to know what the exam will entail so I can't really prepare beside trying to get my overall fitness up. It's a pretty stupid goal."

"I don't think it's stupid at all. People pass every year! You just got to make sure you're one of them!"

"You make it sound so easy… I wish I had your optimism."

"Do you want to be a hunter because of the money? I know a lot of people who wanted that"

"I'm not going to pretend like I wouldn't want to be rich. Move my family to the rich side of town, or maybe even away from this place entirely. But there's something more to it. I have a big nose and I can't help but stick it everywhere for better or for worse. I just think there's so much more to the world than I see. And I want to see it all. Hunters are always in the loop. "

"One day you will see it all. You'll think back to this conversation and wondered why you'd ever doubt yourself; you'll one day see how awesome you are and what you can do. You have a goal. You just need to seize the moment with everything you got. Just make sure you enjoy the detours."

The boys sit for a while with the music still going.

"You're pretty amazing Gon."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, I'm normally a closed off and guarded person. But in just an afternoon you stripped me down and got me talking about my life, my troubles, my past, my goals. You got me feeling giddy about the future like a little kid again. I don't know, your vibe is comforting. I feel like I could tell you anything. I can see why Killua guards you so much, it's addicting"

"I think it's cool how you can always think of what to say. I just sort of blurt out what I'm thinking and Killua tends to just keep his cards close to his chest, but you've got some sort of cool guy-ness going on. Like you always know what to do. Everyone seems amazing at something, even if they use their amazingness for bad. I think what's cooler is when we're able to take the parts of ourselves that aren't amazing and make them better. That's why I'm sure with hard work and dedication you could find the hunter exam 1/4 times!"

Jacob just laughs to himself a bit. "Thanks buddy."

"So, I've managed to do some snooping around the richer side of town." Leorio said sitting around the dining table filling his plate with mash potatoes. "The person who's been buying the land isn't seen around these parts, but he goes by the name Simon Reginald and I have the address he lives at, but there's a gate and seems like he takes security seriously. It smells fishy and I think it's worth looking into some more."

Killua huffs as he plays with his food. "I don't see how this is relevant. We're trying to find a woman, not solve some large conspiracy."

"you're the one who told us it seemed weird!" The doctor shot back.

"ignore him, he's just sulky because Gon still isn't back." Kurupira says putting the pot of vegetables down. "I think that given all attempts to contact the witness thus far have proven fatal, if something isn't right, we need to be aware of it. The more information the better, currently we're running blind."

The two older hunters continue to chat about strategy, details and the like. The white-haired boy tuned them out.

"But it is a big deal. Because it's a type of problem we haven't dealt with before. One we can't punch, kick or run away from."

The line keeps replaying in his head.

What does she mean?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door close.

"I'M HOME!" A familiarly loud voice filled the room before his sopping wet figure trapesed through leaving small puddles on the kitchen tiles. Only now does Killua notice the sound of pitta patter on the roof, he's been so zoned out that he didn't even notice the weather change. He must really be losing it.

"God damn it, you're soaked!" Kurupira said getting up from his seat. "Stay on the tiles, don't get the carpet wet" He says before rushing off to another room.

The damp boy just stands there with a cheeky grin on his face. His hair now hiding his ears and finally being affected by gravity. His white school shirt turning transparent and his tie hanging loosely around his neck allowing his shirt to be peeled back showing his chest more than normal. Despite it raining buckets he still refuses to wear a jacket. His shorts grip tightly to his body, showing his figure.

"Here" Kurupira returns with a towel and Gon eagerly takes it from him. "Go put your clothes in the dryer"

The doctor pipes up "Man, you could have called, I would have picked you up."

"Jacob's mom offered, But I was fine walking. It's just water." He replied while unbuttoning his shirt and taking it off. Then pats himself dry. The white-haired boy couldn't help but stare at his friend's body again as he stands there with his wet shorts still showing his toned figure. Not too muscular, just enough to see a six-pack faintly showing at the right angles. Any overly testosterone packed parts are balanced by his cute little face, with a look in his eye that never ages.

The doctor continues to comment. "Please tell me that's all the clothes you'll be taking off!"

"Yeah yeah, don't worry." The mostly naked boy says as he finally walks through the house now with his hair frizzled and poufy but still a little weighed down. Killua's eyes follow his friend as he walks out of sight around the corner. Only now does he realize the tightness in his own pants as he feels his body betray him. He blushes slightly.

Honestly, the worst times. I swear my hormones must be all kinds of fucked if I'm getting a boner over Kurupira's mash potatoes. Puberty is the worst.

Gon eventually got some dinner wearing his famous Pjs covered in bunnies which feel like their suited more for someone half his age. There was some light chit chat from everyone except Killua. Eventually, everyone decided to break off for the night and the two younger boys went off to their room.

"Say Killua, are you still mad at me?" The boy says sitting on the double bed still in his PJs.

"I was never mad at you."

"Liar" Gon sticks his tongue.

"Stupid, it isn't a lie."

"You can't fool me, I know you too well."

"Well I'm sorry to say bunny boy, but you're not as clever as you think" There's a moment of silence between the two boys. "I was mad… just not with you."

"Then with Jacob?"

"No… not really. I was just mad. I don't know how to explain it."

"Are you still mad?"

"I guess now it's more, sad?"

"Aw…" The young hunter springs from the bed. "you know I just want to hug you when you say stuff like that." He goes in for the hug. It's nice. Gon's aura is warm and calming. His scent is familiar. "I still don't get why you're sad, but I hope I can help."

Gon… stop. Please…

Though his thoughts protested, Killua just remained silently embraced with his arms by side.

30 seconds of calm before Gon detached his arms. "You should take a shower."

The other hunter stood there stunned by what just happened before he took in what his friend said. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means, you've skipped showering these last few nights and you should have one."

"It's not my fault you're a dog" he grumbles before stomping to the shower.

The longer-haired boy goes off to have a shower and throws his clothes in the laundry. He comes back to Gon back on the bed browsing on the laptop they keep with them when they travel. "I thought since it's Friday we could watch a scary movie"

"Woah! Really? Are you sure?" Killua said closing the door with a towel around his waist. Killua's always been a big fan of scary movies, not for the reason most people are though. He finds them to be only movies that aren't afraid to be 'real'. Gon, on the other hand, isn't, he often gets nightmares after them. It's odd considering he doesn't get frightened when he's in similar situations in real life. He says it has something to with the fact that the people in the movie are always so helpless and get hurt. "I appreciate the thought, but we don't need to"

"Yeah, I'll be fine!"

"Alright… do you have a movie in mind?"

"No, you can pick." He says spinning the laptop towards him.

"No Jack!" The woman yelled out. "This isn't you! Fight it! C'mon!"

"JACK ISNT HERE NOW!" The manic half-monster says as he inches closer to the woman desperately pleading.

The two boys are sitting in bed, lights off with only the laptop screen lighting their facing. Killua seems rather entertained, but it doesn't take an expert to see his friend beside him is having trouble with the blanket being clutched for comfort. Something about the look in the boy's face melts his heart.

"Hey, buddy… you alr-" Before he could finish his sentence, his terrified friend closes what little distance they had between them placing his head on Killua's bare chest in-between the screen sitting on Killua's upper thighs. In one swift motion Gon takes the arm of his friend closest to him and wraps it around him like a scarf. Killua was taken aback, but he's so warm that he doesn't question it. Before long Killua could block out entirely what his friend has just done and watch the movie.

The movie was fine. Though Killua thought the effects weren't the best, the color of blood was all wrong, but it sure beats 'inside out'.

"How are you Gon?" He says softly to his friend still on his chest. Only now is he taking it in. With the blue light from the laptop still silhouetting his friend. He got no reply to his question other than a light snore.

He fell asleep. That's new.

Killua wiggles the mouse on the laptop to stop the light from going out as he watches his friend. He can feel his friend's breath on his chest. His spikey hair lies dormant as it stretches across his chest slightly tickling him when either of the boys takes a breath. He could feel the warmth of Gon's face as he notices his hand resting on him. In his unconscious state Gon's still securing his friend's arm in place. Automatically, using what limited motion he has Killua takes his thumb and starts stroking his friends face. He didn't know why he was doing it. He takes his free arm to close the laptop and place it on the bedside table, he stretches trying to move his chest as little as he could. With the laptop precariously balanced on the nightstand, seemingly stable enough darkness fills the room once more. He's going completely off the dark figure he sees, Gon scent he's grown addicted to, the warmth he brings. Killua's free arm gravitates towards the tickling sensation on his chest. His hand is trembling. Why?

This isn't normal. There are lines.

Killua's free hand now starts to play with the raven spikes. Threading his fingers through the spears eventually reaching his friend's scalp. He slowly starts to soothingly rub his sleeping friend's head ignoring his fingers nervously twitch every so often.

He started it. He placed me into this situation. This doofus stresses me out so much, I deserve this.

But this doesn't mean anything, this shouldn't mean anything.

Despite his panic, Killua couldn't deny that right now, he wouldn't trade his position for anything.

The way he melts into my arm.

The way he slightly drools onto my chest.

The way he breaths so calmly.

He's perfect.

Why is my heart pounding?

Why does my stomach feel like it's trying to runaway?

Why am I so mad at any girl who shoots him a look?

For fuck sakes. The blonde was right.

Shit.


A/N: This chapter didn't have a note originally. I thought, even though to me it's a long time between chapters and I want to say stuff when you read each chapter one after another they all start to say the same thing and that can be annoying. But reading through it uploaded I realised the horizontal lines I use to denote a change in perspective somehow fucked up. I quickly added the important ones at least, but if the scene suddenly changed and it seems like it's from the perspective of another character then assume that happened. I swear I proofread it and went over it with Grammarly, but damn reading through it I still catch dumb mistakes. I'm sorry, I know it can take you out of the story. So You might notice, I go on and off with this series and I make no promises of when chapters will be done. If you want to increase the chances/ speed of a chapter being written then review it. I know I'm a broken record player at this point but it's honestly the only thing I have to tell how I'm doing so having people care enough to take the time to write something really helps me find the motivation to write. Even if it's critical. I like critical.

It's funny with this spanning such a long stretch of real-lifetime my writing evolves. I know that it may be detracting by not being consistent, but I only see myself getting better so I think it's a good thing. So far the hardest part (apart from grammar errors don't kill me.) is getting the pacing right. I have the scenes in my head clear as day, but it's hard to know if I dedicate enough words to fully give the idea and tone and stuff. But I'll work on it. Anywho, thanks for reading. They're long so if you're reading this you must've stuck it out. Cheers,.