Hey-o! Long time no see! It's been what? Ten months since I've updated? WELL NO WORRIES, FOR I AM HERE (with an out of season update!) I know, you're thinking "Gold, why are you updating a fic that is currently in winter during October? What are you thinking?" and I'll tell ya, I don't know shit. Time is arbitrary and I'm in a festive Halloween mood. I wanna be happy, and make other people happy. And what makes people happy? Fic updates. Long, 5k+ word fic updates.
"People can say they care for you all they like until they find out that you're not who they thought you were."
The last thing Kurapika had said still echoed in Chrollo's mind long after Kurapika himself had left with Shalnark, and to say Chrollo had only now just begun worrying would be a lie. He had been concerned since the blonde had uttered that sentence, and he could only feel uneasiness at what those words could potentially unpack.
Pakunoda lightly touched his shoulder, making him jump slightly. He hadn't been paying attention to anything since Kurapika had left, and he kind of felt out of it at that point. He looked out at the messy, wrapping paper filled living room where a few people still lingered, trying to clean up the mess that it was.
"Are you alright boss?" Pakunoda asked, bringing his attention back to her. She tentatively sat next to him where Kurapika had been, and Chrollo could only shrugged.
"I don't know," he admitted truthfully, and Pakunoda frowned slightly but nodded. She turned to watch as Bonolenov held open a giant trash bag for Uvogin to shoot at with a giant crumpled piece of wrapping paper. He took his shot and cheered loudly along with Franklin and Nobunaga when he made it in.
"Franklin and Bonolenov are leaving soon," she commented as they watched Feitan circle around the others to collect a sleeping Taj from her castle of presents. "Shizuku also said she'd be leaving with Franklin since he needs help with the gardening shop."
"How nice of her," Chrollo said. "To Franklin, that's probably like receiving another present altogether."
"It probably is. Speaking of, I can see that Kurapika hasn't quite opened his own presents yet," Pakunoda began, monitoring Chrollo's reactions. He tried to show no outward difference to the topic, but she smiled sympathetically, seeing right through his now clenched jaw and slightly narrowed eyes. She gave Chrollo a soft look. "He seems so busy, doesn't he? It would've be nice if he had opened them with everyone else, but when he gets to them later, could you tell me how he likes the presents?"
Chrollo nodded, giving her a small smile as he did.
"I'll make sure to write you a detailed report on his response. Do you want fifty or a hundred pages?"
"One hundred would be nice, but I think a short text will do," Pakunoda grinned, getting up as she did. "Well, it's time to retire for the day. Machi and I will be back tomorrow and leave with Nobunaga and Uvogin later. And we'll make sure to clean this place up a little more before we go too."
"Thanks, that'll be a big help," Chrollo said with a bit of relief, also getting up with Pakunoda and following her to the door where Machi was waiting, both hers and Pakunoda's jackets over her arms.
"Hurry up or it might start snowing before we get to the hotel," said Machi impatiently as they approached. Pakunoda responded with a kind yet firm tone.
"Yes, but do remember that Shizuku and Franklin have to accompany us back since Shizuku's bags are still there."
"Then why aren't they over here yet?" Machi asked as if immune to the underlying dangers of Pakunoda's tone. When Pakunoda shrugged uncaringly, Machi continued. "Fine. If they want to take their sweet ol' time evading sleep, then that's not my problem."
Pakunoda only smiled and exchanged the car keys for her winter coat as Machi huffed again.
"I'm gonna go warm up the car and catch some Z's before they make up their minds to actually come along."
"Alright Machi. Be safe out there; watch out for ice patches," Pakunoda supplied helpfully even though Machi glared at her before closing the door firmly behind her.
"She's in a pleasant mood," Chrollo said sarcastically. "What happened?"
"Machi's just tired. You know how she gets when she spends too much time with people."
"I unfortunately do."
By the time Shizuku and Franklin had made their way over to the door, Pakunoda and Chrollo were already halfway through with making plans for the next big meetup for them, which they had determined would be during the summer.
"Really guys? It's in the single digits out there and you're already talking about what'll happen if someone's skin starts melting from the sun?" Franklin asked, taking his coat off of the dining room table beside them.
"Well if your skin melts off and we don't have a cure, remember that you only have yourself to blame," Pakunoda smiled sweetly. Franklin only huffed at her comment.
"Are we going to actually research that or are you being facetious?" Shizuku asked as she slipped on her sweater jacket.
"The latter," Chrollo answered, checking out the side window to see if Machi had ditched them all to camp out at his house, but true to her word, she was in the passenger seat asleep. "Though I bet the research on that could be interesting."
"And probably illegal," Shizuku supplied, shaking her head. "Can't test the melting temperature of skin on humans and know the side effects without the government breathing down your neck."
"Shizuku, I'm pretty sure the skin would just wrinkle a lot," Franklin sighed, walking between Pakunoda and Chrollo and towards the door. "You know, like jerky."
"Oh! You're right!" Shizuku said, following after him. "But what if-"
"Later Shizuku. I'm exhausted from today and I think my hearing aid is dead," Franklin said tiredly as he opened the door. Shizuku nodded immediately.
"Oh, sure, of course!" Shizuku said, this time her commentary more for herself than for Franklin. "Bye Chrollo!" she said then, walking out the door and towards the car, Franklin waving towards Chrollo in his silent way of saying goodbye as well.
Pakunoda was about to follow them, but then stopped before she got out of the house to look back at Chrollo. She studied him for a bit before she smiled.
"Don't rush anything okay? Everything will turn out fine. It usually does."
Then Pakunoda left with a wave, and Chrollo stood at the door to watch them drive off before heading back inside where he immediately sought out the closest blanket.
He draped it over his shoulders and began shuffling back around to the kitchen, putting dirty dishes to the side of the sink and then sorting out the leftover food into containers to save for later.
It wasn't until he was mostly done with the long task of sorting out and putting away the food did Kurapika and Shalnark return from his room, Kurapika being in a much better spirits than when Chrollo had last saw him. He was almost tempted to leave what he was doing to go over and talk to Kurapika, but decided against it. He didn't want to ruin his mood again; that'd be counterproductive to the meaning of Christmas after all. That was, until Feitan elbowed his way between Chrollo and the dishes with a glare.
"What are you doing?"
"No, what are you doing?" Feitan asked back angrily, swatting Chrollo's arms away when he tried to get back to cleaning up. "Go, now. I'll finish this," Feitan said motioning to the dishes.
"Then what will I do?" asked Chrollo, feeling antsy at having nothing to do with his hands now.
"You? You go talk to your boyfriend."
"He's not—"
"I don't care if he's not, now go!" Feitan said, physically nudging Chrollo out of the kitchen area. "And don't come back until you can tell me something sappy about the whole encounter!"
"For your book?" Chrollo tried to joke, but Feitan rolled his eyes at him and responded back in Chinese.
"For you!"
Then Chrollo was given a final nudge with Feitan's foot and he was standing next to the living room, a wet dish towel still in hand. Shalnark gave him a questioning look as Kurapika rambled on in a language he didn't recognize to his cousin, unaware of Chrollo's presence as he scrolled through Shalnark's phone.
"Got kicked out of the kitchen?" Shalnark asked Chrollo after a few seconds, offering him a sympathetic grin.
"Guess so," said Chrollo with a grin of his own. Kurapika stopped what he was doing and looked up at Chrollo, almost startled that he was there.
"Hello," said Kurapika, his greeting more an immediate response to seeing him than an attempt to initiate conversation. Chrollo decided to go through with the latter anyway despite the lack of invitation.
"Hey, are you good now?"
"Yeah I'm… I'm good. I think." Kurapika got out, and Shalnark patted him on the shoulder with a shake of his head.
"Lots of stories were told! One of espionage missions and one of tricking the government… All of it was super interesting! Amiright cuz?" Shalnark asked, and Kurapika nodded slowly. He looked really tired, the bags under his eyes more accentuated than normal and his hair was frazzled. Chrollo pitied him. Half the day wasn't even over and he already looked about ready to pass out.
"You should take a power nap," Chrollo prompted, hoping he kept his tone as light as possible so as to not sound like it was an order. "And before you ask, yes, everything is already cleaned up."
Kurapika pouted at him, crossing his arms as he did. "It's only noon."
Chrollo shrugged.
"It's vacation time. Do whatever you want."
"Then I want to not go to bed at the same time as a senior citizen," said Kurapika, giving Chrollo a pointed look. Chrollo grinned at him without flinching.
"I'm just saying. Afternoon naps are nice every once in a while."
"Oh? Like the ones you take in your office when you're supposed to be working?"
"Ooohhh he just told you boss!" Shalnark taunted as he moved behind Kurapika. "He. Told. You!"
"Shalnark please," was all Chrollo could plead before Shalnark stuck his tongue out at him, causing him to sigh mid-sentence. "Alright, fine. I admit I don't always get enough sleep before going to work, but at least I get sleep."
"Oh shit Kurapika, it's in your court now!" Shalnark gasped scandalously, placing a hand on Kurapika's shoulder, which was shrugged off.
"Whether it's in my "court" or not," Kurapika said with a frown, turning to Shalnark, "all I really want to know is whether or not you're going to do what you promised me."
"Don't worry cuz! I've got you covered! I'll do it later tonight before I go to sleep," said Shalnark casually as he spun on one leg before taking a big step away from Kurapika.
"But what if you forget later?"
"You'll remind me!"
Kurapika made a disgruntled noise and Shalnark winked at him, which made Kurapika roll his eyes.
"Fine, as long as you start today."
"Start what?" Chrollo asked as Shalnark disappeared to go to his room, and Kurapika shook his head.
"It's… nothing. Just family business." When Chrollo raised his eyebrow, Kurapika amended his answer. "Blood family."
"Ah, I see. I hope everything is going alright…?" Chrollo asked, wondering if Kurapika's biological family was the reason for all of his distrust earlier, but Kurapika shrugged and looked off to the side, his frown only deepening at his inquiry.
"You could say that."
An awkward pause settled between them, making Chrollo wish Feitan had never exiled him from the kitchen. This is a thousand times worse than doing dishes!
He tried to think of something to say when Kurapika gave a questioning looked around, as if searching for something,
"Did some people already leave?" he asked, and Chrollo blinked.
"Oh, yeah. Franklin, Shizuku, Machi, and Pakunoda left, though Machi and Pakunoda will be back tomorrow."
"Oh, great." Kurapika sounded less than thrilled by the prospect, and Chrollo muffled a laugh.
"Not a fan of them?"
"Something like that," Kurapika said, paused, then continued. "Pakunoda hasn't said anything to you about me, has she?"
Chrollo opened his mouth to say she hadn't but remembered that she had, in fact, mentioned him a few times. When Kurapika raised his eyebrow at him in suspicion of his prolonged silence, Chrollo spoke.
"She did. She was kind of disappointed that she couldn't see if you liked her gifts or not."
Kurapika's eyes widened a bit in surprise, and then he frowned contemplatively, his eyebrows furrowing as well.
"Oh, I… maybe I should wait until she gets back then? So she could be here—"
"No worries. She's already tasked me with giving her a report on it. She just wants you to be able to enjoy Christmas properly." Probably.
"Now I feel bad, that I disliked her," Kurapika confessed, and Chrollo had to laugh at that. Everyone liked Pakunoda, so it was certainly a first for him to hear that someone didn't feel that way.
"And why is that?"
Kurapika flushed.
"She can read minds; it's a little unnerving to have to deal with," he defended, and Chrollo had to admit, that was a sound reason to be weary of her. He patted him on both of his shoulders reassuringly.
"I'm pretty sure she can't actually read minds, but she refuses to tell anyone straight up for the sake of keeping up the role of being an enigma. Just give her time though. She doesn't use her powers for anything but helping people, promise," Chrollo said with a smile, and Kurapika gave him a speculative look.
"You sure?"
"On my honor."
"What honor?" Kurapika snorted, and Chrollo mocked being offended, giving him a scandalized face as if he'd been slapped.
"Why, how dare you! I'll have you know it's on my honor of being a gentleman!"
"Then your honor has been sullied," Kurapika said with acting indifference, playing along with Chrollo. "Tainted, if you will, since the holiday party."
"And what is it that I—" Chrollo began, then stopped when he remembered the peck he'd given Kurapika under the well hidden mistletoe at the office party, affronting the blonde with his improper timing. Chrollo felt his smile drop for a second then blinked. Oh, right.
"See? You know what you did wrong," Kurapika said with satisfactory tone in it. Chrollo sighed with a laugh of disbelief, the response bringing back his smile.
"Can I change my answer then?" Chrollo asked hopefully, and Kurapika mused a bit before he gave him a small smile that made Chrollo's heart beat fast and his hands become clammy. Very attractive Chrollo. That'll make his knees weak: sweaty hands and long, awkward pauses.
"Sure, why not."
"Then, I'll do it on…" Chrollo hesitated, not really knowing what he could actually swear upon, unsure of if his answer could be wrong or not. He didn't have time to contemplate on his options though, so he blurted out "on my honor as your friend."
Kurapika paused..
"Is that... what we're calling this now?"
"It's the best I've got right now," Chrollo confessed. "It doesn't have to be that if you don't want it to be."
Another pause, and it had Chrollo on his toes. When the silence persisted, he began to think on how he might've misstepped in his words; maybe it was when he assumed Kurapika would be fine with the label of friendship? Fine with anything more than just a fellow associate? Or maybe it was when he assumed if Kurapika had ever wanted any kind of a relationship with his boss in the first place. Before he could think on it further, Kurapika spoke.
"No it's… that… that works." It was said with an exhale of air that made Chrollo chuckle quietly in relief. Kurapika cracked a smile before he added, "I believe you this time."
"This time?" Chrollo asked with a mischievous smile, and Kurapika rolled his eyes at him.
"Don't push it."
"Alright, I won't. But if it's any help, it gets easier to ignore with time. What Pakunoda does, I mean." Chrollo said, going back to the much safer topic of his adopted family member. "After a while, she just sounds like a half drunk aunt giving unwanted advice while she sips on her fourth glass of wine."
"That's awfully specific," Kurapika said with a light laugh. Chrollo couldn't help but smile at him. Kurapika continued. "How many people have you had to console like this before?"
"Not many, to tell the truth," said Chrollo. His voice came out a lot softer than it had been, and he realized that he hadn't take his hands off of Kurapika's shoulders. Kurapika didn't seem to notice, and if he did, he didn't mind. Chrollo took in a steadying breath. "Most people find her charming and reliable."
"Did you?" he heard Kurapika asked, and his response felt a little too fast.
"No."
They were staring at each other now, and Kurapika was becoming gradually aware of how close they were. Before Kurapika could say anything about it though, Chrollo let go of his shoulders and took a step back, diverting his eyes elsewhere. He cleared his throat.
"Sorry," he said, not really sure of what to do with his hands anymore, so he quickly decided to shove them into his pants pockets. He wanted to say something more, maybe apologize again for making things so awkward, but faltered in even doing that. He sighed inwardly at himself. What is wrong with me today?
"Hey, Kurapika?" Bonolenov asked, getting Kurapika's attention. "Are you gonna open your presents? Because if not, I saw a present from the boss that I'd love to nab—"
"Don't," Kurapika said quickly, almost drawing everyone else's attention in the room, but he caught himself before he continued, lowering his voice back to a normal volume and keeping his tone neutral. "Sorry, I'll move them out of the way. I was going to open them after I slept a little, if that's alright."
Bonolenov blinked before he grinned at him.
"Exhausted from entertaining the princess this morning?"
"You could say that," Kurapika said, allowing a small smile to make its way to his face. "Her retainers were quite desperate for a few more hours of sleep, and I can't say no to people in need."
"Well then, I say good tidings to you, dear knight. I hope delaying your reward was worth it," Bonolenov said with a mock bow, and Chrollo rolled his eyes. He forgot how dramatic the rest of his family was. At this point, Chrollo just really hoped Kurapika never has to meet his blood family. They're even worse.
Kurapika waved Bonolenov off so the man made himself scarce, retreating back to the living room to finish whatever he was doing. Chrollo smiled at him when Kurapika's attention was back on him.
"Taking a nap like the elderly are we? Or, perhaps, taking my advice?"
"Don't let it get to your head. I've been up way too long and you know it."
"So you are taking my advice," Chrollo said as if Kurapika hadn't just denied it. "This is a first; I should celebrate!"
"Do you ever stop talking?" Kurapika said, a smile on his face despite his words.
"Only when I'm with someone I enjoy being with," he laughed, freezing when he realized too late that he could take it as an implication. He didn't give Kurapika a chance to react, instead changing the topic of conversation to give himself an excuse to walk away. "A-anyway, let me get your presents for you; I'll meet you in the guest room alright?"
"Oh, uh, alright," Kurapika said, not commenting on the stutter either out of basic courtesy or because he didn't notice it. Chrollo really hoped it was the latter option.
He quickly collected the few gifts Kurapika had received and headed off to the guest bedroom, actually surprised that Kurapika was there, sitting awkwardly on the edge of the bed.
"Ready to open presents?" Chrollo said as a way of letting the blonde know he was there. Kurapika jerked out of his thoughts, giving him a dubious look when he composed himself.
"No, not really."
"And why not?" Chrollo asked, closing the door with his foot as he walked over to Kurapika. The blonde sighed.
"I just— I don't deserve—"
"Oh no, we're not doing that," Chrollo interrupted, sitting down next to Kurapika. "I know I asked but that is obviously such a bullshit excuse." Kurapika glared at him, mouth turned down into a thin frown.
"It's not an excuse."
"It is, and I'll tell you why," Chrollo said, turning towards him. "You are worthy of more than just these presents, and more than what you've been dealt with in life. You deserve everything this world has to offer you, especially the things you want. I don't know about you past, and I don't need to to know that you have a birthright to being respected, loved, and cared for as a member of this family. These presents are only the first part in all of that, and if anything, I want you to accept them because it's the least that you are owed."
Kurapika sat with his mouth open and eyes wide, and it took Chrollo very little time to feel awkward maintaining eye contact with him. He looked away, instead returning his focus to the presents in his hands, counting five of them in total. A small bounty in comparison to Taj's gift total, but it was enough to prove his point.
"Chrollo, I can't—"
"Please," he implored, taking ahold of one of Kurapika's hands. "If not for yourself, then for me."
Kurapika closed his mouth and his brows furrowed together, the emotions flitting across his face seemingly at war of what to do. After a few more seconds of silence, Kurapika squeezed Chrollo's hand and nodded.
"Okay."
Chrollo was washed over with relief, a smile coming onto his face as he squeezed Kurapika's hand back.
"Thank you."
"Why? I'm not doing this for you," Kurapika scoffed, but Chrollo saw a crack of a grin on the blonde's face before it straightened out to feign an indifferent appearance.
"Is it for yourself then?" Chrollo pushed, placing one present on Kurapika's lap. Kurapika rolled his eyes at him.
"No, I'm doing it for my cat," he said, and Chrollo gave him a bewildered look.
"You have a cat?"
"Did I neglect to tell you?" Kurapika smirked, inspecting the present in his hands. "His name is Emperor. He's very demanding and requires a lot of energy to take care of, but I still love him."
"I can't believe you didn't tell me."
"And why would I? It wasn't important to our work, so you didn't need to know."
"I'd have to disagree," Chrollo retorted to himself. Kurapika didn't respond, instead carefully undoing the wrappings on his present. When he pulled back the last fold of paper, he looked amused.
"An ugly Christmas sweater? You shouldn't have."
"You and I both know your sweater for the holiday party wasn't ugly enough," Chrollo commented, and Kurapika laughed.
"Maybe so, but I don't really think it's a necessity to have an actual ugly sweater."
"But that's why it's fun to get these kinds of things! You don't need them, but they can make you happy nonetheless."
Kurapika smiled.
"Stop being so cheesy. Pass me the next present."
The next gift was from Machi, surprisingly. It was a t-shirt that had the logo of some foreign candy. Chrollo recalled that Machi had said it was called "bungee gum" or something of the sorts, not that Chrollo cared. He was just happy that Kurapika smiled and shook his head as if he couldn't understand the purpose of it.
The next three presents were all from Pakunoda, gifting Kurapika a box of chocolates, a book, and two pairs of socks, one with candy canes and the other with cats. Kurapika laughed at the assortment of items.
"Well, I don't know what else I could possibly get after this," he said. "I've gotten all the Christmas essentials: unwanted clothes, candy, and some new reading material."
"Are you saying you don't want this present then?" Chrollo asked, holding aloft the last box. "I can always take it back; it could be a gift to me! From me!"
"Don't be ridiculous," Kurapika said, making a grab at the box. "If this is just as bad as your ugly Christmas sweater, I think I'll be doing the world a favor from keeping it out of your wardrobe."
"You wound me Kurapika," Chrollo said dramatically, dipping his hand a little lower to allow Kurapika to take the present from him. Kurapika snatched it and blinked when he flipped it around in his hands, eyebrows furrowed together.
"It's so light…"
"Were you expecting a brick?" Chrollo asked, and Kurapika gave him a pointed look. "What? I won't tell you what it is; you have to open it yourself."
Kurapika hesitated then opened the present slowly, peeling back the wrapping paper as gently as he could. Underneath it was a flat, black, rectangular box, that had no distinguishable designs of any sort on it. Kurapika only looked more confused.
"I don't get it," he whispered to himself, turning the box over as he did. The box split in two, the lid sliding off in one of his hands, the bottom holding two thin pieces of paper with lines of gold on them.
Chrollo held his breath as Kurapika picked up one of the papers and inspected it, his eyes going wide after only a few seconds of holding it.
"How did you get your hands on these?" Kurapika voice came out in a whisper, and Chrollo failed to hold back the smile forming on his face.
"I may have pulled a few strings," he said, and Kurapika shook his head in disbelief, his eyes still glued to the paper in his hand.
"These tickets start at up to $10,000 a piece! How you managed to get two..." Kurapika trailed off, putting the ticket back in the box and then sighing. "I don't know if I can–" he paused, eyeing the ticket again before hastily picking it back up. "Wait, does this have my name on it?"
"In gold," Chrollo confirmed, and Kurapika looked like he was reeling from shock again.
"Chrollo—"
"No need to thank me! Just take someone with you and have a good time there. And if you really wanted to, you could even take your cat," he said, turning from Kurapika to start his report to Pakunoda. "I know that they're just a world-famous orchestra that only come around every five years in this region, buuuut I've also heard that they have excellent free food there too, and isn't that what really counts at these types of events? Anyway, with that said, if you do go, you won't have to worry about—"
"Go with me."
Chrollo stopped his movements instantly, his brain short-circuiting at the words.
"I… beg your pardon?" Chrollo asked, glancing back at Kurapika. Did I hear that right?
"Go. With. Me." Kurapika said more resolutely this time, his eyes shining. "It only seems right to take you along."
"Don't be ridiculous, I'm your boss! Don't you have anyone else you want to go with?" Chrollo asked with a half laugh, trying to play it cool. He even waved a hand in the air as if to shoo away the offer, but Kurapika shook his head, determined about his choice.
"It has to be you… please."
Chrollo felt his face heat up at those words, and he was suddenly very glad for the dim lighting in the room.
"I can't—"
This time Kurapika took Chrollo's hand, cradling it between both of his hands and squeezing gently. Chrollo was sure by now that the blonde could see the blush on his face, and he struggled to maintain any form of neutrality.
"Chrollo, please," Kurapika implored again, and Chrollo felt his mask crack, so he sighed and leaned his head onto the blonde's shoulder. He was really excited he was asked, no doubt, but…
"Do you really want me there?" Chrollo voiced his concern, not bothering to lift his head from Kurapika's shoulder. "This is a once in a lifetime event and you want to take me?"
Kurapika released his hand and used them to push him back by the shoulders, making him come face to face with the blonde. Kurapika smiled softly at him, and Chrollo wasn't sure if it was the lack of lighting or his imagination, but it looked as if Kurapika's eyes were glowing red.
"I wouldn't want to take anyone else."
Heat rushed to Chrollo's face instantly and he had to close his eyes quickly to avoid Kurapika's gaze. He took in a deep breath and leaned his forehead against Kurapika's, just grateful that he had something to rest on.
"Do you even hear yourself?" Chrollo muttered, and Kurapika moved his head slightly.
"Did… I say something wrong?" he asked, and Chrollo debated if he really wanted to have that conversation today, decided he didn't, and shook his head.
"No… no, you didn't…" he sighed before saying "I'll go."
"Really?" Kurapika's voice pitched up, unable to contain his excitement. "You really will?"
Chrollo sat back from Kurapika to look at him, and felt his heart skip a beat at how beautiful he was. Even though he knew he was definitely imagining Kurapika's eyes glowing red now, he still struggled to just respond already. It's not like he stole your breath away!
"I'll go," he said again, his promise more sincere this time.
Kurapika gave him a stunning smile before tackling him in a hug, knocking him back onto the bed.
"Thank you Chrollo! This is gonna be so much fun!"
Chrollo smiled at that, bringing his arms around Kurapika lightly to return the hug.
"Yeah, I think so too."
~•~
Two hours later and Kurapika had fallen asleep on the bed despite his dislike for "acting like the elderly," and Chrollo had finally sat down to start his report to Pakunoda. Again.
he thought you and machis gifts were ridiculous but he appreciates the thoughts anyway
Pakunoda responded back almost immediately, not even giving Chrollo a chance to put his phone down.
Somehow it feels like you're leaving out the part where he actually liked the presents.
Chrollo rolled his eyes.
yeah alright you caught me
he liked them
he's really looking forward to reading that book you got him
Pakunoda took a few seconds longer than normal to reply, which Chrollo figured it meant she was very pleased with this news. When she did send back a text, she turned the subject around on him.
And how did he react to the tickets?
Chrollo smiled warmly at the memory, and was glad he was able to respond to Pakunoda in complete confidence with only so little words.
he was radiant
