Killua's eyebrows raised, he was impressed. This mall place was actually pretty cool! It was located on the 150 and ½ floor, and had a pretty sick view of the city. It was 150 and a half because it was a subfloor. The subfloors made up the patchwork architecture Killua had learned to associate with Heavan's Arena, and this particular sub floor protruded from the side of the skyscraper, making room for more windows and skylights.
The entire mall was laid out in an easy to navigate way, it was just a long as hell rectangular expanse with three levels of stores. The stores were on the left and right walls, with multiple escalators, elevators, and staircases used to get up to the second and third floor balcony-hallways that bordered each side. The main floor was a grand expanse of tables, fake plants, fountains, and kiosks.
Everything was made of some marble looking substance, and turquoise tinted windows lined the ceiling in a geometrical wonder. Shadows dappled the tile floors in orderly patterns, and humanoids were EVERYWHERE. The mall extended so far that Killua could barely make out the end of the room! The far wall was made up of an enormous window gazing out over Yorknew City, and there was a casual recreational area occupying that entire final stretch of the mall.
"Wha– THERE'S SO MANY STORES!" Leorio yelled. He was frozen on spot, yellow eyes reflecting the light shining down from the skylights. "How are we ever gonna find the places we need to go!"
"We all got maps as soon as we arrived," Kurapika pointed out as he read his.
"We have to go to EVERY store!" Gon exclaimed, hopping from foot to foot as he took in the vast expanse of consumerism.
"Yes!" Killua agreed, standing next to Gon as they prepared for a challenge.
"Well how the hell are we gonna do that?! There are two huge walls covered in stores that are three levels high! We'd be stuck on one side! Make that one LEVEL! You'd need a lifetime to make it through all these stores!" Leorio ranted.
"Am I being underestimated?" Killua deadpanned. Gon snickered at his comment.
"No matter," Kurapika said, putting his map into one of those hidden pockets of his. "If we want to visit every store we'll have to start now. Although, it would be beneficial if we skipped the stores that sell wares meant specifically for females or humanoids of particularly inhuman features. We would be unable to find anything of use in those stores."
"Yeah, and I guess we don't have to go into all of the food stores and bookstores," Gon added.
"And I won't be caught dead in a sex store," Killua commented casually.
"What–" Kurapika sputtered. "They do not have those here!"
"Yes they do," Killua said, pointing on his map.
Kurapika leaned over the Valkyrie's shoulder to inspect the map. "Bloody hell. What were they thinking allowing places such as that to do business here?! This is a family attraction! There are children everywhere, who in their right mind–" The blonde trailed off, muttering to himself in disgust. Killua snickered.
"I don't care if you think you're being underestimated, there's no way in hell we make it through every single store! Even IF we only go to the stores that apply to our physiology!" Leorio retorted. "And like I said, how are we gonna navigate between floors and sides?! If we're trying to make it to the far wall then we'll make it there six entire times before we're finally done!"
"There are plenty of staircases, and there are bridges between the second and third floors on either side. It shouldn't be an issue," Kurapika said.
"Let's hurry and get started right now!" Gon called out, already dashing over to the first store. Killua watched his friend run off in surprise, then laughed and chased after him. Kurapika and Leorio were close behind, and so their day of shopping began.
…
"We still haven't found a bathing suit store," Kurapika complained.
"We haven't found ANY stores! Those two little shits keep dragging us in and out of places and never actually buying anything! I was gonna get that new briefcase but they dragged us away before I could get it off the shelf!" Leorio yelled.
"Oh shut up, old man," Killua said over his shoulder as they crossed the first bridge connecting the third floors on either side. They were about to finish their first section! There were 135 sets of bridges (one on the second floor and one directly above it on the third) and therefore 135 sections! They had cleared their first one in only 20 minutes! They had been making great time, and Killua wasn't gonna let that grumpy old Goblin ruin his fun! "Besides, none of those stores were any good."
"I thought the one with the banana logo was quite dashing," Kurapika mumbled.
"We will not be wearing frilly hetero garbage like that!" Killua ordered, marching into the next store.
"What's 'hetero garbage?'" Gon asked.
"Uh–" Killua stumbled over his words, feeling Kurapika smirking at the back of his head. "It just means boring people," he grumbled.
"Are you sure that's what it means?" Kurapika said. Killua glared at him, and the Elf held his hands up in surrender.
I can't explain that to him. Cause then I'd have to explain why heterosexuality is a "bad" thing… and that would mean coming out which I am NOT doing. I'll just have to leave him in the dark for this one.
Killua snuck a glance at Gon, who had dropped the subject immediately. He was darting in and out of the shelves, eyeing up every candle in the store they were in. It smelled like wax and a million sweet scents mixing together. There were several small cups of coffee beans lying around to reset one's sense of smell, and a bunch of middle aged women were walking around and selecting candles.
Kurapika seemed to be enjoying himself, right in character for a mother like himself.
Leorio looked bored out of his mind, not surprising.
Gon looked like he was having the time of his life, like he always did.
Killua followed Gon around, making sure not to lose him in the shelves. It wasn't that he couldn't explore the store on his own, it was that he wanted to be where Gon was. He didn't want Gon to get lost, and there were a million places for him to get lost. However… Killua knew that the real reason he wasn't leaving Gon's side was that he just loved being around him.
He was always so happy… and dragged Killua along into his happy moods right along with him. Before he had met Gon, Killua had always been grumpy. But now that the cheerful hybrid was around, the Valkyrie experienced true joy on a daily basis.
I'm so grateful that I met him…
This happy-go-lucky feeling that he shares with me… is one of the reasons I like him so much.
Killua smiled as he watched his friend pick up a candle and smell it. His amber eyes sparkled victoriously as he gazed down at what he had found.
"I'm getting this candle!" Gon declared, shaking Killua out of his sappy thoughts. The silver haired boy felt his cheeks heat up, and he felt like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Why do you need a candle?" Killua asked. This would be the first time any of them actually bought anything.
"You'll see!" Gon said with his tongue stuck out. Killua quirked an eyebrow, and followed the tan boy to the register, where Kurapika was purchasing a couple candles of his own
The four left the candle store and moved on to the next. Gon led the way with Killua ever at his side and Leorio and Kurapika trailing after them. When I first discovered what these feelings are, I thought I could just make them go away. I couldn't believe that I actually liked Gon that way… but when I saw him fighting and we started doing everything together like we always do… I realized that this isn't just some petty crush.
Killua swallowed.
These feelings are so strong… they honestly scare me.
Now that I know what this is, I've been analyzing what exactly they are and why they are there. I've been thinking deeply about these emotions, and trying to find out why I can't just see Gon like a friend. The truth of the matter is that they run so deep… it feels like I've ALWAYS liked Gon, like my whole entire life. I just… I'll keep myself extra aware of these feelings. I'll figure out how this works, and I'll find out why this is happening to me—
Gon's face lit up in one of those beautiful grins, and Killua's chest gave a lurch. He darted into the next store, energetic as ever. Killua's chest filled with an affectionate feeling as he watched his hyper friend skim the shelves and racks. Here I go again.
Look at him… he's so incredibly cute. He's so happy and carefree, like a puppy.
"Killua look!" Gon commanded as he grabbed an odd looking knick knack off one of the shelves.
"What the heck is that?!" Killua laughed, walking up to judge the thing with Gon.
Here he is… showing me things and looking at me with that face.
He cares about me… Killua's stomach gave a flip.
But as a friend. He sees me as his best friend, not anything less. But also not anything more. Little does he know, but my heart lights up whenever I see him, and my stomach gets hot whenever he touches me or changes in front of me. He trusts me so much… and I'm thinking all these not-friend-like things about him.
I'm betraying his trust.
I shouldn't be thinking like this…
Gon exited the store and a small child with a horn on her forehead waved excitedly at him. He waved back with the kindest grin in the world, and the little girl's face lit up in glee. Killua's cheeks turned pink, and his tail curled around his leg as a shock of warmth assaulted his chest. He found himself smiling and watching his friend with soft eyes as he shook the girl's hand.
But he's just so… Gon. I can't help it… I'm just a shadow, deprived of light my whole life.
I can't help but suck up every once of light he casts my way.
…
It was finally lunch time, they had been walking around for four entire hours now. Luckily, they had made it through half the mall and the afternoon would be dedicated to completing their goal! The group had still only actually bought things from the candle store, as Killua hadn't happened across any clothing stores he approved of.
The four of them were sitting at one of the many tables on the first floor food court. They had gotten their food from a fast food place on the second floor, and were having a quick meal break before finishing their quest.
"-And since that fish didn't have that blue and red dorsal fin, THAT'S how I knew it was a fake!" Gon concluded. The hybrid and Leorio had been arguing for the past half hour about a stuffed fish the Goblin had wanted. Gon had declared it a fake and had gotten himself into a heated argument with the store owner, and had just finished his speech about why it was a fake.
Killua sipped his soda in contentment, he felt a warm sense of pride in his chest. He couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment in Gon's place whenever the horned boy demonstrated his impressive knowledge of all things nature.
I could listen to him talk about fish all day.
The passion in his voice when he talks about fishing and fish and foxbears makes me feel all warm inside. I want to hear everything he has to tell… every story and every once of know-how that makes him who he is.
"Fine. I guess that's an acceptable explanation," Leorio grumbled.
"Finally accepting defeat?" Kurapika teased.
"Yeah, yeah. Might as well give the kid the win," he said, punctuating with a wave of a french fry.
"You mean admit that Gon is the professional on the subject and you have no place arguing with his expertise?" Kurapika asked with a sly look at the Goblin.
"You could say that," Leorio muttered before shoving a huge bite of greasy food into his mouth.
Kurapika laughed and cut another bite off of his sandwich.
Weirdo. I can't believe he eats sandwiches with a fork!
"Anyways," Leorio said, changing the subject. "When the hell are you gonna finally let us actually buy something?!"
"Whatever do you mean?" Killua asked innocently.
"You know what I mean! You two have been dragging us in and out of stores and not letting us stay long enough to get anything! What's the point of all this mall walking if we can't even spend a single bronze?!"
"We're looking for the perfect place!" Gon explained with his mouth full, a couple scraps flew out of his mouth and onto the table.
"Don't talk with your mouth full!" Killua ordered as he shoved Gon's shoulder with his own.
"Blehh!" Gon gurgled as he opened his mouth wide and showed Killua his half chewed burger.
"Gross! Don't do that, you uncultured swine!" Killua retorted as he shoved Gon away by the face. Gon snickered and washed it all down with a swig of his water.
"Who drinks water with their fast food? Nerd," Killua teased as he squirted more mayo onto his own burger.
"It's healthy!" Gon argued. "And besides, I'm not just drinking water. Your milkshake is right there!" He picked up Killua's chocolate milkshake and took a long drink just to spite him.
"Asshole," Killua grumbled around the thick red straw when Gon handed it back to him. "You better not backwash into it."
"You can't backwash through a straw!" Gon declared as he took a pickle off Killua's opened burger and threw it into his mouth.
"You'll find a way, it doesn't matter if someone told you the sky was blue, you'd turn it red just for the challenge," Killua shot back, leaning across Gon to steal one one his chili cheese fries.
"Aw, you know me so well!" Gon said. The two boys stared mischievously into each other's eyes for a couple of seconds, before breaking up into laughter. They felt Leorio and Kurapika's eyes on them, and then turned back towards the other two and simultaneously asked, "What?"
"It's like you two share a brain!" Leorio said.
"Oh really?" the two boys asked in unison, giving Leorio twin evil grins.
The Goblin shook his head and returned to his food, giving up on questioning it.
"It's amusing watching the two of you eat, is all," Kurapika explained. "You share drinks and eat off each other's plates without a second thought. You even collaborate while ordering so both of you are happy with the two meals you are sharing."
"Oh? Hadn't noticed," Gon and Killua said, once again in perfect unison.
Kurapika chuckled and shook his head.
"What's so funny?" they asked again, smiles growing as simultaneously as their words.
"How are you doing that?!" Leorio demanded around a mouthful of fries.
"Doing what?"
"That!" the Goblin yelled.
"We don't know what you're talking about."
Kurapika giggled behind his hand as Leorio shot back and forth with the two trouble makers. "Don't talk at the same time like that, it's creepy!" Leorio ordered.
"How is it creepy? We're not doing anything wrong," they said, barely able to keep their grins in check.
"How long can you even talk at the same time?! There's no way you can just keep going without messing up!" Leorio cried out, about to jump across the table at them.
"'Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.'"
Leorio and Kurapika stared at the two boys in shock. Gon and Killua were in hysterics, and had to hold each other up to keep from falling out of their seats. "What the–" Leorio sputtered.
"You had that memorized? Why?" Kurapika asked, astonished.
"You never know when you might need a little pocket-literature," Gon and Killua choked out while laughing.
"YOU CAN'T JUST RECITE SHAKESPEARE LIKE IT'S NOTHING!" Leorio screamed, gathering several strange looks.
"Don't scream like that old man," Killua complained with a grin.
"Yeah! You might scare somebody!" Gon added.
"I might scare somebody– oh you stopped, thank god."
"Can you… read each other's minds?" Kurapika asked, completely serious.
Killua was about to lose it. He met Gon's gaze, and they looked at each other for a moment. Let's trick them.
Killua quirked an eyebrow. What do you suggest?
Gon blinked at him and grinned. This'll be enough!
The two of them burst out laughing, and their victims leaned across the table in horror.
"I don't believe this," Leorio grumbled, a bit of a goblinesque growl slipping into his words. "You definitely had all that talking at the same time planned out!"
"Believe what you wish," Gon and Killua said, once again in unison.
"That's it!" Leorio leapt from his seat and charged the two boys, who jumped out of their chairs and ran away. The Goblin chased the hybrid and the Valkyrie around the food court seating area while the Elf massaged his temples in exasperation. Gon and Killua's laughter echoed against the hollow walls and tall ceilings, and Killua loved every second of it. Having someone to mess around with like this, was so incredible. Gon being his best friend was in and of itself one of the reasons he liked him this way.
…
Killua gasped, his eyes sparkling in wonder. "Holy fucking balls yes!"
"What is it?" Leorio complained. "We've been speed running this goddamn mall for three fucking hours! Are we finally stopping long enough to BREATHE?!"
"We are!" Killua declared, hands on his hips. "It's the CHOCOLATE STORE!"
Gon glanced over at Killua from where he was standing beside him. Those sapphire eyes were glimmering with wonder. His friend had been so deep in thought today… and Gon was glad to see him happy like this. The hybrid faced forward with a grin on his face to match Killua's.
"Let's go! This place smells good!"
"Smells good? You're kidding!" the Valkyrie cackled. "This place TASTES good! Everything is made of chocolate!" The silver haired boy hopped up and down on his feet with an energy not unsimilar to Gon. He then darted into the store and the tan boy had to run to keep up. Kurapika and poor Leorio groaned in exasperation before hurrying after the two of them.
The store was made of brown marble (I didn't even know brown marble existed! And I've been all over the place! Yorknew City really is incredible! I love it even more every day!) floors and walls. The ceiling had a spin off of grand royal palaces from the Highlands, with sparkling false gold tiles and shimmering crystal chandeliers. The store was stock full with chocolates of every kind. There were hundreds of different flavors, and there had to be a billion different products! It was one of the larger stores they had come through, with shelves and shelves of chocolate and multiple chocolate fountains. There were huge bins full of it, and even a dude over in the corner making it from scratch and filling up more buckets!
Killua looked like he was high off the sights alone. His pupils were getting huge and he was even starting to drool! The look on his face was so aggressively joyful, Gon had never seen the mercenary so excited about anything ever!
The pale boy whipped his head in Gon's direction, his tail wagging behind him. His grin was blinding, and he was so happy that his cheeks were a little pink. Seeing Killua so happy made Gon's chest feel a little bubbly… huh. That was kinda weird.
Killua suddenly squealed (yes, squealed) and grabbed Gon by the hands, dragging him around in a hyper active dance. Gon laughed out loud, following along with Killua's uncharacteristically cheerful mood in delight. The Valkyrie stopped the dance and grabbed Gon by the shoulders, locking their gazes with a sudden war-expression on his face.
"Gon."
"Yes?" Gon asked, feeling an oddly light-feeling smile spread across his face, almost on its own.
"It is absolutely crucial that we purchase every single ounce of chocolate in this establishment."
"Now, now."
Gon and Killua turned in unison to face Kurapika, the voice of reason finally arriving.
"We are not blowing every bronze on chocolate. We still have clothes to buy, bathing suits to buy, admission to the water and trampoline parks to buy, and not to mention important purchases along the way! Killua, you are allowed 300 gold in spending money for this store. No more than that."
"Only 300 gold?! What the fuck, Mom!" Killua protested. Gon sweatdropped and smiled sheepishly. Killua sure was passionate about chocolate! The blonde sighed with his eyes closed and planted his hands on his hips, he opened his mouth to speak but Leorio beat him to it.
"Don't complain, you little shit!" the Goblin ordered. "300 in gold is almost double what I won entirely! Don't go complaining about that amount cause it's an ungodly sum of money to be spending on CHOCOLATE, of all things! If it were ME, I would have only allowed 50 BRONZE! Kurapika is being overly generous, if you ask me! Listen to your mother!"
Killua scoffed and backed down, pouting. "Fine. I'll listen. But that doesn't mean I'll like it!"
Leorio snorted. "Wouldn't expect you to."
Killua promptly flipped him off. He then grabbed Gon by the hand and dragged him over to one of the many shelves. "Come on, Gon! We have chocolate business to attend to!"
Kurapika chuckled as the two of them disappeared, and himself and Leorio went off to tour the store at a normal pace.
Gon felt like he was on a roller coaster ride as he followed Killua around the store. The Valkyrie darted from shelf to shelf, from display to display. He had procured a shopping cart at some point, and occasionally would toss something (or somethingS) into it. He chattered passionately and incoherently about what he was doing the entire time, and he was moving so fast and talking in such a word-vomit manner that Gon could barely keep up!
"Chocolate bunnies? Easter lookin' ass. Who the fuck would want rodent chocolate? It's not even in season right now!"
"Chocolate spaghetti? Weird as hell, but also YES! I'd take their entire stock but MAMAPIKA is a buzzkill." He screamed "Mamapika" so that the Elf heard him from across the store, and the blonde responded with a: "Don't yell in public, child!"
"Don't be a hypocrite, mother! Look at the example you're setting for your son!" Killua shot back. Gon snickered as the other shoppers glanced about in confusion at the two voices coming from opposite ends of the store.
"Lemon flavored chocolate? Who in their right mind– millennials. That's the only explanation for such an abomination."
"Dark chocolate? Yes, YES, finally a store with CULTURE! They know how to stock their shelves! They have it made with sea salt, alien salt, and FUCK they have it salted with BLOOD! Elven, human, Gargoyle, Vampire– ew. Crusty shit."
"Killua, you probably shouldn't eat Elf-blood chocolate," Gon voiced. "Kurapika is here, and he'd probably be a little offended by you eating his species right in front of him."
"I suppose," Killua said dramatically as he put the box of Elf-blood salted chocolate back on the shelf. He picked up a box of human-blood salted chocolate, and then froze and looked over at Gon.
The hybrid smiled. "You can eat that, I don't care."
"You sure?" the Valkyrie asked with a quirked eyebrow. "You're part human."
"Yeah. But only PART human."
"Thanks, bestie!" Killua chipred. Gon's grin grew when he heard Killua use the moniker. He had called it stupid earlier, but the hybrid was so happy at the moment that he had adopted it! It was such a cute name!
Gon continued following Killua around, the shopping cart getting fuller by the second. Occasionally the Valkyrie would hold up two options for Gon to choose from when he couldn't decide, and he'd even lecture Gon on why one product was "unholy" while another was "the shit." The hybrid was in way over his head when it came to keeping up with Killua in a chocolate store, but he loved being in here with his friend so much!
Something about seeing Killua so happy… it made Gon happy.
But not a normal happy… a warm happy.
Huh. Weird.
Gon shrugged it off. It was probably nothing!
"You haven't picked anything up!" Killua suddenly declared. Pointing at Gon as if accusing him of some horrendous crime. The shopping cart was dangerously close to overflowing, and the two of them were on the way to the cash register.
"Yeah, I don't like sweets so much," Gon said casually, looking around to see where Kurapika and Leorio were.
"What?!" Killua said, stopping in his tracks. Gon ran into his back.
"We've had this same conversation like five times!" the hybrid laughed.
"But it doesn't make me any less horrified whenever I hear that you DON'T LIKE SWEET STUFF! Come on, you like chocolate, at least, right?"
"Not really, actually. It's one of my least favorites–"
"SHUT UP! You can't be serious!" Killua yelled. He grabbed Gon's shoulders, jostling him. "You have to like chocolate! I refuse to accept this! You have to get something! There's no way you don't like chocolate! GET SOMETHING! I command you!"
Gon chuckled and held his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright! I saw some strawberry chocolate over there that caught my eye, I'll go get that." Killua followed Gon with the cart in tow as they back tracked to the fruit flavored chocolate shelf.
"Strawberry chocolate? Dude. What the hell."
"I thought you liked all chocolate!" Gon said as he picked up a couple bars.
"Yeah, I like all CHOCOLATE. Not that fruit shit you've got there."
"Strawberry is good!" Gon protested. "It's a natural sweetness rather than a sickly sweetness like normal chocolate." The two of them began walking back towards the cash register.
"You did not just call chocolate 'sickeningly' sweet!" Killua exclaimed. "And it is TOO a natural sweetness! Chocolate comes from cocoa beans, which are natural!"
"Not entirely," Gon shot back. "Strawberries are fruit and come sweetened already. But with chocolate, you have to add all kinds of sugar to keep it from being all bitter. Dark chocolate is a more natural chocolate, without any milk or cream added. However, there is still sugar added so it isn't just the straight cocoa beans that it comes from! Since strawberries already are sweet, they don't have to add as much sugar when making it, or at least with this brand. Look! The proof is right here on the nutrition label! That's why I like strawberry flavored stuff, it makes chocolate taste less like straight sugar."
Killua eyed Gon with a scrutinizing gaze. "How the hell do you know so much about chocolate?! Your knowledge is indeed impressive, but you're using your expertise to condemn your craft!"
Gon snickered at Killua's sudden scholarly tone of voice. He gazed over at Killua and stuck out his tongue. "Back on Whale Island, we didn't really have many opportunities to import stuff. Or export it for that matter." Gon felt his eyes go all soft with nostalgia. "Because it was a human island, and humans are so looked down upon, none of the humanoid civilizations wanted anything to do with us. Because of that, we had to grow all our own food and make all our own stuff. We made all sorts of different things, so naturally chocolate was one of them. I'd always spend my time around the adults asking them to teach me how to make their stuff, so that's how I know all that."
Gon glanced over at Killua, who was watching Gon with a soft light in those sapphire eyes. "Did you spend all your time around the adults cause the kids cast you out?" he asked in a quiet tone.
The hybrid rubbed the back of his head and forced a smile. It wasn't often that he had to force a smile… but this subject always made him sad. "Yeah."
Gon kept his eyes pinned on the floor. This was such a raw subject, and it kinda hurt to talk about. He couldn't meet Killua's gaze like normal, because whenever he thought about it… a hybrid like him, in the eyes of society at least, didn't belong at the side of such a high ranking pure blood.
Killua suddenly scoffed, and Gon looked back up at him in surprise. "Well this isn't the island so don't worry," the Valkyrie grumbled. He had his chin tilted up so that Gon couldn't entirely see his face, but his tail was wrapped lightly around the hybrid's thigh. The tail motion was a gesture of comfort. Gon smiled up at his friend, whose cheeks were a little pink.
"Thanks, Killua," Gon murmured.
"Idiot… there's nothing to thank me for," the silver haired boy mumbled in response. Sapphire eyes peaked down at Gon from beneath silver lashes, and the hybrid held his gaze. Killua's eyes were softened, and not hiding his emotions for once. It was nice… seeing Killua's unbridled feelings. Gon couldn't help but be grateful… that such an incredible humanoid had accepted him of all people as his friend.
Killua's eyes are so blue… I haven't been able to really look at them since back in Domonique's quarters in the Neko-Palace. If you look really closely, you can see that they're a little bit purple. His eyes shimmer, like when water reflects light. They are swirling with blue and hints of purple… even some silver. A Valkyrie's eyes really are one of the most beautiful sights…
"Holy shit, Killua what the hell!"
Leorio snapped Gon out of a bit of a daze, and the hybrid broke Killua's gaze to turn his attention to the Goblin.
"What do you mean?" Killua asked as he started unloading his cart onto the counter at the cash register… The cashier was looking a little overwhelmed.
"You have so much! You're gonna make yourself sick if you eat all that!"
"Come on, old man. This isn't nearly enough. You have no place to complain when I'm gonna have to ration my chocolate intake!"
"Ration? But Killua, there's like more than 100 pounds of chocolate here! I'd think this would last you like a month!" Gon exclaimed.
The Valkyrie looked back over at him, tail swishing mischievously. "One month? You insult me. This will barely get me a week!"
"I don't think so."
Leorio snapped his head in Kurapika's direction, eyes sparkling as if he were a dying man looking at that first glass of water in weeks. "Oh thank god! The voice of reason arrives!" The Goblin hopped over to Kurapika's side and stood at his shoulder. "You tell 'em, buddy!"
The blonde sighed in exasperation as the taller male leaned his elbow on his shoulder and snickered in Killua's direction. "Killua, you are not eating all of that in one sitting," he said.
"I wasn't going to," Killua shot back, helping the poor cashier get all of the chocolate into bags.
"Well you aren't going to eat all of that in a single week either," Kurapika ordered with his hands on his hips.
"So? Why should I listen to you?"
"Because I am your mother," the blonde said darkly, commanding respect. He even released a little bit of aura! It was a lower rank than Killua's, but the Valkyrie responded to it all the same.
Gon watched with a smile as Killua sighed, swished his tail, and looked over at Kurapika. Finally meeting his gaze instead of being absorbed in the chocolate. "Fine. What are your orders?" he grumbled in a sarcastic tone. But Gon knew he was ready to listen to Kurapika! He just didn't like authority… even if he actually respected it.
Kurapika crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "You are allowed no more than two chocolate products a day. That should get you three entire months. More than enough. In fact, I am being generous as multiple products you are buying contain up to 10 servings in one package."
"Only two? How can I live like this!" Killua complained.
"It's for the best, Killua!" Gon chirped.
"That'll be 300 gold," the cashier said tentatively, clearly not expecting Killua to actually be able to pay for all this.
With a cat-like smirk the Valkyrie swiped his card and began collecting his bags.
Kurapika judged him, unamused. "Exactly 300, huh? You managed that even with tax. I would have expected at least a couple of bronzes under." Killua snickered, and Gon along with him. So that's why he had been selecting his chocolates so specifically! He hadn't wanted to waste a single bronze when it came to chocolate.
…
"I don't like that look," Leorio complained.
"Quiet! I'm assessing what we have before us," Killua commented. He looked the store up and down. It looked acceptable. It was enormous, had some nice fabrics, and catered to multiple different aesthetics. There was a bathing suit section, so that would appease Kurapika. It even had clothing with tail slits, which was a nice find.
"You better approve of this place!" Leorio whined. It's almost 5:30! We're running out of time to hit every store, fit dinner in, and get enough sleep for the chaos that is bound to go down at the water park tomorrow!"
"It'll be fine, Leorio!" Gon interjected. "We only have five sections of the mall left! We're so close!"
"That's what worries me," Kurapika sighed. "If Killua doesn't select this clothing store then we likely will not find one at all. With only five sections left, and at least 100 stores just like this one already rejected, I sincerely doubt that we will find the perfect one with only five sections left to draw from."
Killua crossed his arms (free because he had dumped all of his chocolate store bags on Leorio) and placed his finger on his chin.
"Ooo! He's never made that face before!" Leorio exclaimed. "Gon, what does that face mean?!"
"It means he's considering approving!" Gon declared with an excited little hop.
"Well, child?" Kurapika prompted.
"This place is perfect! We'll get our clothes here!" Killua answered with his hands planted on his hips and his chin upturned in victory.
"Oh thank the gods!" Leorio groaned.
"Perfect!" Kurapika said with a clap of his hands as Killua led the group in. "Now before we all go off in different directions, we need to select our bathing suits first." The elf passed out shopping baskets to each of them.
"Bruh," Leorio said. His hands were completely full, and he had no way to take the basket from Kurapika. The blonde chuckled. "Well, you'll just have to come with me then so I can hold your basket."
"Asshole! OR you could take some of these bags! Better yet, we could make Killua, the little shit who BOUGHT all this crap, carry his own bags!"
"Come along, Leorio!" Kurapika called over his shoulder as he walked off with Gon and Killua. The Valkyrie snickered and followed the Elf's lead with a spring in his step. Kurapika could be a real trouble maker when he wanted to!
The four of them arrived in the bathing suit department. There were tons of racks and shelves covered in knee length shorts, Hawaiian shirts, and various t-shirts and tank tops. Most everything was made of this slippery feeling fabric that smelled kinda rubbery. They even had flip flops over here and leather sandals, as well as sun hats and sunglasses.
Kurapika turned to face his followers, like a camp counselor stopping to instruct his charges. "Now, have any of you worn an actual bathing suit?"
All three shook their heads. Killua had never needed to buy anything like that. He actually knew what a bathing suit was, unlike Leorio and Gon. However, on Kukuroo Mountain there were specific clothes that the Valkyries had to wear. He had never had a need for a bathing suit when he had his clothes picked out by his mother every day.
"Well, I'll help you," Kurapika said. "A male bathing suit consists of swimming trunks, like so." The blonde held up a pair of those long-ish shorts - er, swimming trunks. "We may only be going to the water park for one day, but I suggest that we each select at least two bathing suits, just in case. You each need to pick out swimsuits, overshirts, shoes, and sunglasses. Got it?"
"Uh…" Gon trailed off.
"Yeah, yeah, we got it!" Killua said. "Come on, Gon. I'll help you pick your stuff out cause there's no way your pea brain can remember all that." The Valkyrie dragged Gon away by the wrist, bringing the two of them to a different rack. The trunks over there had all been super tacky! Kurapika could dress like a grandpa if he wanted, but not Killua!
"Pick a couple out, Gon," Killua instructed as he started hunting the shelves for swimsuits with tail slits. "Okay!" the tan boy responded.
Killua found a section with swim trunks designed for tailed humanoids. He picked out one that was black with a pattern of pink palm trees, and another that was blue with a pattern of white sharks. Everything was patterned, which was kind of annoying. Nothing was just a single color either! Swimming clothes were so weird. Killua grabbed a few more, only two pairs were nowhere near enough!
"I did it!" Gon exclaimed, skipping back over to Killua. He held out the two pairs of trunks for Killua to see, a proud expression on his face.
"Did you make sure they're your size?" Killua asked.
"Well, yeah. I'm not that stupid!"
Killua inspected his friend's choices. He had grabbed a pair that were completely dark green with a single orange stripe down each side, and another pair that were a gradient of light to dark green with a pattern of black palm trees.
"Acceptable," Killua mumbled.
"What was that?" Gon asked.
"Oh nothing. Come on, let's get some shoes."
…
After they had all found their water park clothes and gotten approved by Kurapika (he had decided that 12 bathing suits was way too much, and had made Killua select only five) the group had split up to go shopping for casual clothing. All of them had spent all of their recent time traveling, and were in need of some new clothes.
Killua was hunting the racks and trying to find some clothes that he would actually wear. His wardrobe was just sad at the moment, and with all this money he had laying around it was about time he completely reset it. He had already grabbed a new navy turtleneck and baggy white t-shirt, that outfit was too good to scrap.
At the moment he was trying to pick out some pants. This clothing store was the coolest one so far, but the clothes they had here in Yorknew City were different from anything Killua had ever seen before. There were no animal hides or leathers at all! Everything was factory made and nothing was hand sewn. Not to mention the style of clothing was completely different, and far more casual and focused on appearance instead of sturdy and focused on utility.
It was futuristic clothing in an old timey world. Some of it looked like something that would come off an alien planet!
Killua selected several pairs of baggy jeans rips and in various shades of dark colors. He also snatched a couple pairs of leggings, some new shorts, and a few pairs of sweatpants. Next he had to find some shirts and make sure he had some good outfit combinations…
"Wow! That's a lot of clothes, Killua!"
The Valkyrie turned to his shopping buddy, who had vanished for the past few minutes to go on a clothes hunt of his own. "Well, yeah. I have a wardrobe to find! I've been operating on the bare minimum ever since I left the Hidden Oasis, this is my chance to get back in my natural swing!"
"You really like clothes, huh?" Gon chuckled.
"Who doesn't? Lemme see what you found."
The two of them switched shopping baskets to inspect each other's choices. Killua looked through Gon's basket and was immediately horrified. He had only picked out one pair of pants and two shirts! And EVERYTHING was green! All the clothes clashed, the shades didn't even match!
"What the cinnamon toast fuck is this?!" Killua yelled.
"Uh. Clothes?" Gon asked, confused.
"You call these clothes?!" Killua demanded shaking one of those hideous shirts around in the air. "Honey, this is a fucking disgrace!"
"'Honey?'" Gon asked with a snicker, not listening to Killua's rant at all.
Killua sputtered, realizing what he had just said. But he didn't have time for a flustered breakdown right now! He had to fix Gon's sins before it was too late! "Come on, we're getting you some REAL clothes," Killua growled as he threw the shirts and pants in the other direction.
"Uh, shouldn't we put those ba–"
Killua wrapped his tail around Gon's waist and dragged him back to the pants section. Once they arrived, Killua set their baskets down and steepled his hands in front of his face. He sighed, shut his eyes, and prepared for a battle. A battle to get Gon to wear normal clothing.
"First of all, the single outfit has to go."
"What?! But these are my favorite clothes!" Gon exclaimed.
"They're your ONLY clothes!" Killua yelled, correcting him.
"So?!"
"So EVERYTHING! Get your ass over here," Killua ordered, pushing Gon to the enormous shelf of jeans. "What's your size?"
"Small."
"Fuck you."
"What did I do?!"
"Have a bigger ass than me! I'm an XS, and even an XXS in some brands!"
"Well how is that my fault?!"
"The audacity. That's how it's your fault."
Gon groaned, and railed off into an exasperated growl. He dragged his hands through his hair, and Killua smacked those hands away. "Quit complaining! Now pick a pair of jeans!"
"But I already did! And you threw them across the store!"
"Those jeans sucked ass! Now pick something else!"
With a whine, Gon pouted his way over to the shelf. Killua watched with his arms crossed and one leg leaned out, tail swishing behind him judgmentally. Gon reached for a pair of green crushed velvet pants, and Killua hissed at him. "No!"
"What's wrong with these?!" Gon demanded.
"They're ugly as fuck! I'm letting you pick out a pair of pants to dictate what style of clothes I get for you, so hurry up and pick something that isn't atrocious!"
With a dramatic moan, Gon grabbed a pair of olive green jeans. They were skinny jeans with ripped knees and were frayed at the bottom. The hybrid held them up for Killua, and the Valkyrie nodded.
"Good, now watch a pro at work."
Killua marched up to the shelf, still pissed off that Gon had a bigger ass than him, and started searching for more pairs of jeans that sort of matched that same aesthetic. He grabbed some pairs in mostly black and gray, but a couple in blue and even a pair in maroon.
"Baggy jeans?" Killua asked while holding up a pair.
Gon shook his head, "I like tight pants."
"Noted. Alright, if the baggy jeans are a no then we're all set. Come on, we're getting shorts now."
Gon followed Killua over to the next section of the store, and waited while he sifted the racks and shelves. The Valkyrie held up a pair of baggy, knee length, khaki shorts that were sort of cargo. The horned boy shook his head.
"Too long," he complained.
"Well damn. I'm getting these though," Killua mumbled as he threw them into his basket.
Gon was a lot more picky with his shorts than with his pants, and Killua had to make sure to only pick out super short shorts. He only allowed black and gray though. No green.
"But these are literally my shorts!" Gon complained. "Why can't I get them?"
"That's exactly why you can't get them!" Killua retorted. "Your pants and shorts should be dark and blank. No crazy colors! If you want to wear green, you can wear green shirts! But no green pants. It looks tacky."
Gon stuck out his tongue. "That's just your opinion."
"Well my opinion is better than yours."
"Look at that guy over there! He's wearing green pants!"
"Those are camo pants! That's different from neon green!"
"My shorts are not neon green!"
"They're grass green, and that may as well be neon! All you wear is that color and I'm putting a tasteful stop to it!"
"Fine, but if you're killing my shorts then we have to go get some camo pants in exchange!"
"Fine!"
They picked up a pair of camo cargo pants on the way to the shirts.
Surrounded by a jungle of shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, hoodies, and tank tops, Killua stopped Gon for a very important lecture. "Okay. We have your pants. Now comes the important part. We have to make sure we find shirts that match your pants. This is what brings the entire outfit together! The pants are made to bring out the shirt, so we have to make some good choices here. There is a special case for different pants like the maroon jeans and the camo pants. Those need a shirt that compliments them because they are the star of the outfit."
"I'm confused," Gon mumbled.
"Okay, fine, let me reiterate. One article of clothing has to be the star of the outfit! Or at least, that's how I like to think of it. Most of your pants are plain, so that means we have to find good shirts that go well with your pants. The pants are there to compliment the shirts, so we have to make sure your wardrobe goes together with plenty of different combinations and outfits."
"Okayyyy, that makes slightly more sense. I still don't get why clothes are so important though, it's just clothes!"
"Just clothes!" Killua exclaimed. He slapped his hand over his chest. "I'm hurt. I really am. Clothes are your most prominent form of self expression!"
"Isn't my personality my most prominent form of self expression?"
"Shut up."
Gon stuck his tongue out.
With a scoff, Killua led Gon on a hunt for shirts.
…
An hour later, Killua was finally okay with Gon's new wardrobe. He had picked out shirts that were both tight and baggy. Gon had pushed a couple of waistband-length shirts, and even a couple crop tops. All power to him. It did make so much sense for his style though. Killua had even convinced Gon to get some new shoes! He had picked out multiple pairs of canvas shoes, as well as a couple designer tennis shoes.
At the moment the two of them were back to looking for shirts for Killua. Occasionally Gon would hold something up and ask if Killua liked it. Most of the time he was asking ironically because he KNEW that was sweater was ugly as fuck, but he asked anyways just to annoy the Valkyrie. Other times he was serious, and that's when Killua had to face palm and explain to him why corduroy was an absolute no-no.
Killua peeked at Gon out of the corner of his eye. The other boy was sifting through a rack of sweatshirts, fingers deftly flipping from hangar to hangar. "Hey… Gon?"
"What is it?"
"You were really flexible with me picking out your entire wardrobe."
"Yeah, I know." He turned away from the rack to face Killua. "I trust you. I know you'd pick out good stuff for me!"
Killua's stomach gave a familiar flip, and heat rushed to his cheeks.
God, quit being such an idiot!
You already know he trusts you… nothing about him saying it out loud should make you this happy…
You just picked out his clothes. It's not that big of a deal.
"I found something for you, by the way!"
Killua glanced back over at him, knowing full well that this was going to have to be another rejection.
Gon held up a long sleeved baggy t-shirt. It was a pale purple, and the fabric was nice. The design was simple, and stitched onto the right breast in black thread were a pair of feathery wings. "Isn't it great? It has wings on it so it reminded me of you! I also thought the color would bring out the flecks of purple in your eyes! I even found a shirt to go under it so you can layer it!" Gon held up a long sleeved black collared shirt made of shimmering silk.
Killua just stood there. Staring at the shirt. He was frozen, he really didn't know how to–
Gon blinked after several awkward seconds. "Uh, if it's awful you don't have to–"
"-nO!" Killua exclaimed, suddenly shaking off his stupor. "It's amaz– er, it's incre–.. I love it." The silver haired boy gently took the two hangers from Gon's hands. His face was so red, but he was feeling too warm inside to care. "Thank you… so much."
"Oh yay! I'm so happy you like it!" Gon hopped a little in victory.
He picked these out for me, and they are exactly what I would wear.
I didn't even notice he had these, and they're too different from the clothes in this section, he must have been carrying them around for a while now. He really went through all that trouble of hiding them just so he could surprise me…
Ah! Stop being so sappy! It's just your friend finding some clothes he knows you'd like! Stop reading into things so much!
But look at him… he's standing there and looking at me with those beautiful honey eyes…
Oh my god, the way he hops up and down when he hears I liked the clothes he picked out– he's too adorable. I just wanna—
Killua wanted to cry. Overcome with a strong wave of affection, he stepped forward and wrapped Gon up in a tight hug. He crushed him against his chest and inhaled against his black-green hair, absorbing that earthy pine and citrus smell. Gon made a little noise of surprise at the sudden burst of affection, but soon looped his arms around Killua's shoulders, hugging him back.
Killua squeezed Gon against his chest. His heart swelled and he felt so warm and bubbly inside. His face was red as a tomato, but he was so incredibly happy. His heart was dancing in his chest, and he felt like leaping for joy.
Gon…
Wait, Gon.
Oh shit, I just suddenly hugged him! What the hell!
Killua quickly released him and stepped back. "S- uh- sorry," he sputtered. Going from melting in affection to stumbling in embarrassment in an instant. "I, uh, thanks for… this."
I wanna fucking die.
Can I just die now?
Gon giggled, the sound so light and carefree that it sent Killua into a warm spiral again. "You're welcome! You really like it, huh~?"
"Oh shut up!" Killua exclaimed, his voice cracking. Tempting fate, he turned to face Gon… who was smirking at him with a stupid smirk that made him look so mischievious and–
Stop. I did not just think of him as–
I was not about to think that that smirk makes him look–
But it was too late. Killua had already thought about it.
When he smirks like that, it's the same smirk he makes when he's about to wipe the floor with someone. And it looks so- so hot. He's so hot– and pretty, and handsome, and beautiful, and those are just a bunch of synonyms, and he's so dangerous and violent but also so sweet and angelic at the same time and I just–
Killua turned around and marched in the other direction, putting some distance between himself and his friend… who was just staying over there and laughing like a total jackass. Once Killua was hiding behind the next rack of clothing, he took a deep breath and attempted to get his heart rate back down and his face to stop flaming.
"Gay panic?"
Killua jumped five feet in the air. "Holy FUCK Kurapika, what the hell was that for?!"
The blonde just laughed, like a jackass.
Killua shoved the Elf, and then hid his face in his hands… which were still holding the shirts Gon found for him and oh GODS he was such a sappy mess–
"Gay panic intensifies."
"Shut up!" Killua squeaked out, glaring at the evil blonde from between his fingers. "I am not having a gay panic!"
"Then why are you over here hiding from Gon? And why are you blushing like that? And why do you have that really soft look in your eyes like–"
"Stop it!" Killua yelled, the blush having spread up to his ears and down his neck. "I do not like Gon, and this is not happening right now!"
Kurapika sighed and gave Killua a sympathetic glance. "Come on, child. Let's go do some therapy shopping. You still have some shirts to find, yes?"
The silver haired Valkyrie paused for a moment, peeking at the Elf in suspicion. Waiting for another jab… which never came. "Yes."
"Come on, then," Kurapika beckoned.
"What about Leorio? Aren't you carrying his basket for him?"
"I left it back with Gon. Along with your basket which you left over there when you ran–"
"Okay okay, let's just go over there!" Killua interrupted, marching to the other side of the shirt department.
Killua and Mamapika fell into a comfortable silence as they sifted through the racks and shelves. The mercenary was able to regain his composure, but he was not able to get over his embarrassment of just up and hugging Gon out of nowhere. Where had that wave of affection even come from? It had felt like Killua's heart had been about to explode! He had been overwhelmed by Gon's stupid adorable face and had just wanted to grab him and kiss him right then and there but—
Killua stopped in his tracks and covered his face back up with his hands. "Oh godssss, why am I like this."
Kurapika rested his hand on Killua's shoulder. "Tell me about it."
"I don't wanna."
"I'm you gay friend, you can tell me anything."
Killua removed his hands from his face and all of a sudden it all just came spilling out. "Gon's so stupid and adorable! Why does he have to look at me like that?! Why does he have to have such pretty eyes and why does his skin have to remind me of chocolate and why do his stupid face markings have to look so cute and why do his stupid horns have to look so hot at the same time and why is he so nice to me? Like, why does he have to be so accepting of every aspect of my personality?! I'm a fucking Valkyrie! Who in their right mind befriends a Valkyrie?! A Dragonite Valkyrie! I'm a runaway prince! My psycho brother is no doubt tracking me down at this very second yet he insists that he helps me stay hidden from him! Why does he have to always know what to say to make me happy?! How dare he be so kind to me! How can he just sit there and look at me with those sparkling amber eyes and say my name like that and be around me and by my side and only think of me as a friend? Who has the audacity to make me this happy and messy inside?! How dare he be so– so– how dare he be so Gon!"
Killua ended off with tears prickling at his eyes and his face red all over again.
"Wow. That was a lot," Kurapika murmured.
"Wow, you're so helpful and encouraging!" Killua snapped, blinking hard to get rid of those stupid tears.
"I apologize for wording it like that," Kurapika said in his patented 'mom-ing voice.' "It's just that you feel for Gon so much. You clearly care about him a lot… this crush runs a lot deeper than you'd see on the surface."
"And that's exactly the problem!" Killua choked out. "He's my first friend, my best friend and my most important person. He- he always cares about me and just wants the best for me. He's so nice and just so accepting of everyone and everything around him. He's everything I could ever ask for. He's my everything… he's my light…" Killua trailed off and ground the heels of his hands into his eyes. "Fuckkk that sounded so corny."
"It's alright, you can keep going," Kurapika encouraged.
"And he, and he makes me laugh and makes me so happy and warm inside. He makes me like life again… and he makes me excited for the next day. And he's really strong, like really strong. He loves fighting, and he's such a little psycho about it… but I can't help but admire that. It's just so… he's just so… Kurapika!"
Killua snapped his head towards the blonde and trapped his tawny eyes in his desperate sapphire gaze.
"I shouldn't be feeling this way! He's my friend, and he trusts me with his life! But here I am thinking all these gay thoughts about him, he doesn't even know all these things I'm thinking, all these non-friend things I'm feeling! I need to just… stop. Why can't I just stop? But… he's… he's Gon, I could never… I could never not feel this way about him."
"Oh, Killua."
Killua could hear the pity in his friend's voice… and he hated it. He hated feeling this weak. He hated not being able to just have fun with Gon… without all this emotional baggage being dragged along with him. "Kurapika. This crush is so horrible. How do I get rid of it?"
Kurapika placed his hands gently on either of Killua's shoulders, and turned him so that he would look back his way. "Killua, baby. These are not feelings that you can just erase entirely. Gon means the world to you, and there is nothing you can do to change that. You are not wrong or gross for liking Gon in the way that you do. He is an incredible person, and it is only natural that you would. Don't beat yourself up about it. If it is meant to be, which I am certain it is, it will be."
"Did you just call me 'baby?'" Killua sniffed.
Kurapika glared. "Yes. You're my baby now, and I intend to defend my child."
"Maternal instincts activate," the Valkyrie teased.
The blonde gave Killua another glare. "Stop trying to change the subject."
Killua inhaled and exhaled shakily, and then turned serious again. "You said that 'if it's meant to be it will be,' and that you think it is meant to be… what do you mean by.. Do you mean Gon and I getting together?" Killua's voice sounded so small and weak, and he hated that so much. He hated that these feelings always made him so vulnerable… but at the same time he wanted nothing more than to be able to be vulnerable around Gon. He trusted him with everything… and he wanted to give him his everything.
"That is what I meant. I believe that you and Gon are perfect for each other. Even if it may seem impossible now, you cannot give up hope. You make Gon happy. Just look at him over there. Whenever he talks about his life back on Whale Island… he always sounds so dejected. But you can cheer him up with a snap of your fingers. The two of you balance each other out. And I believe that that is a sign that the two of you belong."
Killua was blushing. Again. "Don't say stuff like that! You're making me all… hopeful. And we both know you're only saying that cause you ship us together… stop shipping your friends, Mamapika.. We both know that Gon is straight. He could never like me back. He'll never… see me that way."
Kurapika gave Killua another one of those compassionate looks. He really was just like a doting mother hen. "You sound so negative, and so sad at that. We both know that Gon is a little fruity–"
"-Don't say that you sound like Hisoka."
"I am not letting Hisoka ruin that term for me."
"..Touche. But still. We don't know anything for sure!"
"And we never will know until we ask! I suggest that you come out to Gon, and because Gon is GON he will tell you his sexuality right back! Then you'll know! And don't say that he'll just tell you he's straight because we BOTH know that Rohan proved otherwise!"
Killua hid his eyes behind his bangs. "You're so passionate about this."
"I am. It is because I believe that you deserve happiness. And you can never be happy if you are keeping yourself in the closet."
The Valkyrie looked down at his feet. Kurapika was making really good points… but his negativity kept setting in, and he kept getting too anxious to even consider telling Gon he was gay… because if he did that he'd be too compelled to tell him how he felt. And he could never do that. Because even on the slight chance that Gon wasn't straight, there was still no way in hell he'd actually like Killua back. He was just too… scared. Scared of losing Gon. Scared of rejection. "I… I'm just not ready to do anything like that. I just realized all this like two days ago… I just wanna… wait it out."
"Alright," Kurapika murmured. "I respect your boundaries. Just know that I really want you to consider coming out to Gon." Killua nodded. "You want a hug?" Kurapika asked. Killua nodded once more, this time with a spreading blush. All this affection was so embarrassing.
Killua sighed as he was folded into Kurapika's motherly embrace. He never thought a dude could be such a mother hen. But here Kurapika was. Destroying gender roles and having such a positive impact on Killua's life.
Where's he been all my life?
I've needed a parental figure all this time… and here he is. Right when I need him the most.
And he's my good friend all rolled into one.
AND my gay friend.
"You're a really good mom, Kurapika." The words were joking in context, but the tone of Killua's voice was soft and sincere.
"I'm glad to be here for you," the Elf responded, a smile in his voice. "I promise I'll always be here for you. Whenever you need me, I'll always be right here."
Killua hummed in response. After a couple tender seconds, he decided to break the moment. "I called Gon 'honey' today."
"What's this now?" Kurapika asked, breaking the embrace with a curious grin on his face.
"It was super embarrassing so don't go looking all excited about it…"
…
Killua sighed as he collapsed onto the couch, surrounded by bags of clothes and chocolate that he had dropped all around him. Leorio and Kurapika were bickering about what they should have for dinner in the kitchen, and Gon was laying flat on his back on the floor by the fireplace.
The hybrid sighed a sigh mixed with a rumbling purr. "This rug is so fluffy and comfortable," he mumbled as he made a few carpet angels in the furry red thing.
"I've never been happier to sit down in my life," Killua grumbled as he stretched his legs up and onto the coffee table.
"Hey, we made it through every single store in that mall though!" Gon exclaimed as he sat up.
"We did, didn't we? And we got these things," Killua commented as he turned on the device called a smartphone. It was so weird! But cool! You could use it to communicate, to play games, and even to take pictures! He had his lock screen set as a picture of all four of them standing at that giant window at the far end of the mall, their victory picture. The Yorknew City night was sprawled out behind them, and the few stars that cut through all the light pollution twinkled in the background.
"Yeah! I'm super excited to be able to take pictures of all the cool stuff we do! It'll be so much easier to remember this place when there are digital records of it!" Gon agreed. "Oh yeah!" The hybrid leapt to his feet. "I have something for you!"
"Really? Again?" Killua asked tentatively. Scared of having another gay panic, but also touched and excited to see what Gon had gotten him… along with a little guilty that he hadn't gotten the other boy anything in return.
Gon skipped over to him with his hands behind his back, dancing through the sea of shopping bags that surrounded Killua like a flock of plastic sheep. He plopped down next to Killua, and the Valkyrie sat up to properly receive whatever this was.
An unwanted intrusive thought emerged in Killua's mind that he had to shove down. It was that the gift would be Gon confessing to him and kissing him… which was totally stupid and sappy.
Gon whipped his hands from behind his back and presented him with…
"A candle?" Killua asked as he cocked his head to one side.
"Yes!" Gon answered with sparkling eyes. "I got it in the candle store!"
"Yeah, well no shit," Killua teased with a chuckle. "Why'd you get me a candle?"
Gon placed it into Killua's outstretched hands. "Because it's lavender-vanilla scented! Just like that Neko-soap! I thought that since there's only so much of that stuff left, and the smell is really nice but it only stays for a little while, you might like to spread it all over the room!"
"Gon…" Killua gazed down at the light purple wax, and rubbed his thumb across the glossy label. "You're so… thanks."
The tan boy grinned one of those blinding grins and wiggled back and forth like an excited puppy. Why does he have to be so adorable… "You're welcome!" Gon cheered.
Killua suddenly shoved Gon, "Idiot! Why'd you have to go and get me something?! I didn't get you anything! Now I feel bad!"
The horned hybrid laughed that musical laugh of his. "Don't feel bad, Killua! You did get me something?"
"No I didn't!"
"Yes you did! You picked out an entire wardrobe for me! This candle is nothing compared to that! So I should be thanking you!"
Killua gazed into those amber eyes in surprise. "Thanking me?"
"Yeah!" Gon's smile suddenly turned mischievous, and he took Killua's hand in his own. He jokingly rested his mouth against the back of Killua's hand as if he were kissing it. "Thank you, your Lordship!" he said against that pale skin.
It was a reference to the Neko-Court nonsense they always made fun of… he wasn't even actually kissing Killua's hand… and it wasn't even a romantic gesture… he was literally just thanking Killua in a joking way… but here Killua was getting all flustered and completely melting because Gon looked so damned handsome and charming right now!
"You moron," Killua grumbled as he pulled his hand back, hiding his flushed cheeks.
"Boys! Dinner!" Kurapika called from the kitchen.
"Yes!" Gon cheered as he launched himself over the back of the couch.
Saved by Mamapika once again.
Killua looked down at the candle in his hand, and at the other hand that Gon had just almost-kissed. His cheeks still hot, and his heart very much not okay.
Gon…
He got me a present AGAIN, and I'm just as warm inside as I was before.
My chest feels like it could burst… I like him so much. He's so sweet and– and– what he just did was so fucking scandalous! Why does he have to play with my heart like this?! This annoying ass crush is bad enough, and he just has to go and be GON and make it worse. I swear my feelings just doubled in size…
Killua sighed and got himself up off the couch. He walked into the kitchen now that his blush had calmed down, and joined his friends at the table. He sat next to Gon just like always… and dreaded the double shower time that was undoubtedly coming. He just wished he didn't feel this way… but whenever Gon looked at him he felt so warm… and Killua found himself starting to think that…
Maybe these feelings weren't too horrible.
He just had to keep them hidden no matter the cost.
AN: there was a Naruto reference somewhere in the first half, it was pretty vague so kudos if you noticed it. I am really on a roll with all these references haha
More importantly! I am all caught up now! From now on I will post new chapters once I get them written. Just a heads up, it's gonna take me a hot second to get the next chapter done cause it's gonna be long af (putting the entire water park day in a single chapter just like with this one, just for funsies). I have a lot more planned out for water park day than for shopping day, so... oof.