Killua grumbled as he tossed and turned in his sheets. The party had lasted till four in the morning, and he had spent the day struggling to catch some rest. He had drifted in and out of sleep for twelve hours now, and at 4 in the afternoon he was feeling particularly groggy.
That damned hag really knows what she's doing. That party wiped me out completely for the day.
Circe said that we were going to meet her lead today, but will we still be able to?
Gods, I'm so tired.
Killua's mind wandered back to the night before. He and Gon had danced for hours on end, occasionally taking a break to raid the display of food or horse around on the various balconies. It had been so fun… just like always.
Once they began the second dance, Killua had been able to calm down a bit. He had stopped constantly blushing, and had focused on having fun rather than overanalyzing the fluffy feeling in his chest whenever Gon would look at him.
Over the course of the night, Killua had re-trained himself to be used to Gon's constant physical contact. Only in a higher concentration than he had gotten used to in the forest. Once he had grown accustomed to being in constant contact with the other boy, Killua had been able to calm down. He felt as if the two of them had gotten even closer after those hours of dancing and having fun.
For the past several days they had been all business, never having time to truly horse around. However, the party had allowed them to get back into the rhythm that they had built up during the journey through the forest.
This party had proven to Killua that the two of them would continue being friends no matter what serious situation they got themselves into. It didn't matter where they were or what important stuff they were doing, Gon was still his best friend and they were still on an adventure to find Gon's father.
Killua found a smile slipping over his face.
Stuff like that kept happening, Gon always made him happy, but now he made him even more happy than before. Just thinking about the goofy hybrid could bring a smile to his lips and a happy tilt to his eyes.
Do I make Gon this happy? Or… is it just me that gets this happy?
"It's just you," Illumi's voice whispered into his mind.
Killua frowned, and a dark cloud crossed over his previously cheerful mood.
The assassin's ear twitched as he heard the doorknob to his room turning, and he glanced over at the door to see who was making the mistake of bothering him. Rather than finding a person to yell at, however, the second he laid eyes on his visitor his mood instantly brightened.
"Good morning, Killua!"
Gon.
He sat up and smiled at his friend, "More like good afternoon."
Gon laughed, "That's true!" He threw himself down onto the bed at Killua's side. His hair was floppy and bedridden, sticking out rather than up almost as if it was wet. The hybrid squirmed about in the pearly white sheets until he got himself comfortable.
Killua laid back down beside him, and fought the urge to scoot closer.
"How did you sleep?" the Valkyrie asked.
"Like a rock! I was out the second my head hit the pillow! What about you?"
Killua stuck out his tongue, jealous of how easily Gon could fall asleep. "I slept like shit. I've been in and out since I laid down."
"That sucks! Come to think of it, you do look pretty tired!" Gon declared.
Killua sat up and gave him a scrutinizing look, "What's that supposed to mean, idiot?"
Gon smirked, "You just look really sleepy."
"How so?"
"Well for one you've got these horrible eye bags-"
Killua wrapped his arm around Gon's neck, and strangled him in a chokehold.
"AHHH, K-KiLlUA, I can't- BReATHE!"
"Don't be rude then!" Killua snarled playfully into his ear. Gon's spiky hair tickled Killua's cheek, and everywhere their skin touched felt all warm. The Valkyrie waited until his friend had turned a lovely shade of blue before he let go, a cat-like smirk on his face.
Gon sucked down air, and then glared at Killua.
He shoved the Valkyrie, "You're an asshole!"
Killua shoved back, a grin on his face.
Gon growled low and puppy-like in his throat, and got ready to pounce. But before Killua could be tackled someone knocked on the door.
"What?!"
"Come in!"
The two boys said at the same time, Killua's response rude while Gon's was welcoming.
Circe walked into the room, and greeted them with a small wave, face stoic as usual. "Greetings Killua, Gon. I came to retrieve you for our outing today."
"That's still happening?" Killua asked.
"Yes, most of the palace workers are sound asleep so it would be in our best interest to leave now before they start to stir. You will have to dress yourselves, as all of the handmaids aside from myself are still sleeping. I'll meet you at the front gate in thirty minutes."
"Yes!" Gon cheered, "I can't wait to get out of here!"
With a nod, Circe exited the room.
"She didn't tell us where we're going," Killua grumbled. "How are we supposed to know what to wear?"
"Just put something on!" Gon declared.
"If only life were as simple as you~~" Killua purred as he flicked Gon in the forehead.
"Ow! What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're an idiot~~" the silver haired boy cooed as he patted his friend on the head.
Gon stuck out his tongue, "Whatever! I'm gonna go put some clothes on! I'll meet you in the hallway! Don't take too long!" He waved over his shoulder as he dashed out the door. Killua waved back with a lopsided smile on his face. He caught himself still smiling at the door after Gon had long since left, and he slapped his cheeks. Stop doing stuff like that!
The Valkyrie dragged himself out of bed and into the closet. After rooting through piles and piles of the Neko-Clothing custom made for him, he finally found something somewhat normal. He pulled on a pair of dark baggy pants, a royal blue turtleneck, and a pair of white canvas shoes. It was all lined in fur, of course, but at least it wasn't layered and lace up.
Killua walked into the bathroom, where he brushed his teeth, washed his face, and dragged his hands through his wild white hair a few times. He gazed into his reflection, eyes wracking over his pale skin and sapphire eyes.
He possessed an ethereal beauty, that he knew. He experienced the side effects of that beauty every day (what with the constant female attention he never ceased to attract). However, he had never cared much for the attention of females. Killua couldn't help but wonder if… Gon thought he was attractive as much as the Neko-Girls did?
A painful twinge shot through his mind, and Killua flinched, forgetting whatever his train of thought had just been. More conditioning. Whatever I was just thinking about, it's something brother Ill conditioned me not to. I thought I had dispelled all his influence… I guess I'll have to take care of that barrier. But not right now, Gon's waiting on me. I'll purge that section of my mind of their presence later.
Killua shook his head, clearing any thoughts of his family or Kukuroo Mountain from his mind. It was true, Gon was waiting on him. And they had important investigative work to do. The silver haired mercenary tugged his hands through his messy locks one last time before exiting the bathroom and headed for the hallway.
…
Gon rocked on his heels, it had been 40 minutes now! Killua sure took a long to get ready, Circe was probably gonna be mad. They were 10 minutes late, and sunset was at 5:00 up here so it would be dark in 20 minutes.
He was just about to knock impatiently on Killua's door when it opened and the Valkyrie finally stepped out. Gon grinned, "Killua! I was about to knock on the door and tell you to hurry up!"
The Dragonite assassin blew his white bangs away from his face, "Yeah, well I'm here now so no need to get your panties in a wad."
Gon snickered, Killua is so prickly!
"What are you standing there and laughing for? Come one!" Killua called out to Gon, who was being left behind. His words were harsh, but didn't match his eyes and tone, which were soft and warm. His tail swished behind him in a friendly manner.
With a skip in his step, Gon hurried to Killua's side.
Killua's shirt was a vibrant blue, and made his eyes look even bluer than usual! Like they were glowing! His silver haired friend sure loved clothes! Half of his travel pack was stuffed full of them! Gon found it funny and alluring, usually it was girls that were obsessed with clothes, but Killua was far more obsessed than any girl he'd ever met! He had a feeling that deep down Killua actually enjoyed all the intricate outfits that they were changed into multiple times a day.
Gon had just thrown on the simplest thing he could find: tight, brown leather pants with a green button up sweater and his boots. It was all lined in fur, but Gon didn't mind that! He didn't really mind the lace up clothes much either, it was just a little uncomfortable when they were tied too tight.
After a walk through the winding marble halls of the palace, Gon and Killua finally made it to the entrance where Circe was waiting for them. The dark skinned girl was dressed in a pair of black boots, black tights patterned in plaid, and an intricate white sweater lined in black fur. Her hundreds of braids were swishing free across her back, and her tail was adorned in several silver rings.
She fixed them with an annoyed glare, "20 minutes late."
Gon put his hand behind his head, "Sorry, it took 10 minutes to walk all the way here and Killua took 40 whole minutes to get ready!"
The Valkyrie slapped Gon upside the head, "Way to throw me under the bus, asshole!" He accused with a not-so-annoyed smirk. Gon grinned at him and shoved him with his shoulder.
Killua was about to shove back when Circe cleared her throat.
"No matter, it may be sunset now but that will not stop us from arriving at our destination." The second the words left her mouth, Nerezza and her black and white carriage pulled up before them. "Nerezza is on our side," Circe clarified. Gon and Killua hummed in understanding as Nerezza opened the door and the three climbed in.
Gon sat beside Killua facing forward, and Circe was across from them facing backwards. The sound of Nerezza cracking the reins tickled Gon's ears, and the horses leapt forward with the carriage in tow.
"So," Killua said into the comfortable silence of the carriage. "Where are we going and who is this lead? You haven't told us anything about her, so? Who is it?"
Gon sweatdropped, Killua sounded pretty annoyed!
Circe met his aggressive sapphire gaze without fear, "I was unable to disclose the information before due to risk of eavesdroppers. However, now that we are in the privacy of Nerezza's carriage, I am glad to tell you. We are going to dinner at a restaurant in the most secluded corner of the village. The lead is one of the waitresses, and I have made arrangements so that she will be serving us."
Killua sighed in exasperation, "And what makes you think that she is a lead? And how did you even find out about her in the first place?"
"She has a connection with the former Warriors. And I didn't find her, someone else found me. A Neko-Woman in a hooded cloak approached me the other day when the two of you were conversing with citizens. She slipped a piece of paper into my pocket. On the paper was the information about the lead."
Killua frowned. "What if that person was Isolde? What if this is a trap?"
"Who do you take me for?" Circe asked smoothly. "You truly believe that I wouldn't notice if it had been Isolde?"
Gon watched the two of them shoot retorts back and forth, feeling very out of place. He felt like he should moderate, but Circe was handling Killua's icy fire like it was nothing! Usually - from what he had seen when Killua had dealt with unsatisfactory customers at the Clawthorne - people couldn't handle Killua's sharp tongue and sharper attitude.
That twinge of jealousy edged at his chest again.
Circe fits with Killua like they are two puzzle pieces. Just watching them… even though they are arguing, you can tell that they just get along. Killua is my first and only friend… but what if I'm not his only friend? What if he and Circe are already friends? They sure act that way. What if Killua ends up liking Circe more than me and chooses to be with her instead of with me? What if-
"Right Gon?!"
Gon was snapped from his thoughts when Killua demanded his opinion.
"Uh.. I wasn't paying attention."
Killua's eyebrow twitched. "Some help you are," he retorted with an exasperated look.
Gon rubbed the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "But, either way, I think that this lead is fine. Circe has proven her trustworthiness time and again already, so I think that this lead holds weight."
The Valkyrie sighed, immediately backing down. "Fine. I guess you're right." He then stuck his finger out at Circe, "But I still want you to tell us important stuff when you find it! Geeze, you Neko-Hags are too much to handle sometimes."
Circe's face was one of surprise, and her cheeks tinted pink before she released a little laugh. Her ears tilted forward happily, "Alright, I will."
Killua nodded, and crossed his arms and legs. He shut his eyes and leaned back into his seat for the ride. Gon watched Killua with an amused expression on his face. The Valkyrie could be so stubborn and impossible sometimes! He could get so selfish and spiteful when he wanted to! But Gon didn't care, he actually liked that about Killua. He liked the way Killua would always tell someone what he thought of them, even if he knew it was something they wouldn't want to hear. Or if it was something you should never tell someone because of how horribly rude it would be to say.
But Circe seemed to like that as well.
That left a slight hint of a sad taste in Gon's mouth. He felt his eyes turning down at the sides, and his mouth getting a bit of a worried wobble. He really didn't want Killua to start liking other people instead of him. And if other people liked Killua just like Gon did, didn't that mean it went the other way too?
Gon watched Circe watch Killua, who had fallen asleep.
There was a soft look in her eyes, an affectionate one. A shy one.
It took all of his restraint to keep his aura from changing or his jaw from dropping, though his eyebrows raised a little. Circe likes Killua! Like, more than a friend!
Gon found this practically mind blowing. He knew girls liked Killua a lot, how could they not like him? He was Killua! But for some reason the idea of someone taking a romantic interest in his friend deeper than just surface level attraction made Gon upset. It made him feel protective, and more possessive than usual.
"You can't have him!" He found himself thinking at Circe.
Gon's brow furrowed, and he looked out the window so Circe couldn't see. This is no good, I can't just decide Killua is mine. He's my friend, not a possession. If he likes Circe back and wants to stay here instead of going with me then-
Ah! The thought hurts! Killua means too much to me for me to just sit by and let him walk away-
But I can't force him to stay by my side, that's wrong.
Aunt Mito… I wish you were here.
If anyone would know what to do in this situation it would be you.
But I'm on my own now - aside from Killua (but that's exactly the issue cause he might leave me- stop getting on tangents! What I'm trying to say (think) is… since I'm 18 and an adult and stuff, I'll have to figure this out on my own. I really don't like the thought of Killua leaving me, but I'll have to think about it.
Gon startled as Killua's head leaned against his shoulder. He looked down at his sleeping friend, who had been slung gently against him on one of the turns of the carriage. Killua looked so peaceful, his silver lashes sparkled against his pale face in the light of the setting sun. Gon smiled, he was so glad he had Killua here with him.
He could feel Circe's eyes prickling against his face, she was jealous.
That's right, Killua's closer with me than with anyone else!
Gon looked back out the window, making a conscious effort not to spitefully meet Circe's eyes. With a smile on his lips, he watched the sunset over the buildings from the carriage window. He made sure not to move and to keep his breathing even so that Killua could sleep. His friend hadn't slept well, and Gon wanted to make sure he got as much as he could now that he had the chance.