Gon strutted across the center platform of the park he'd found, swinging his and Killua's hands between them. He watched Killua eat his ice cream, content enough to do nothing but this all day long.
Their dance had been pretty bad ass, Gon had to say! Unfortunately, Killua had refused to let him record them performing it. Too bad! But that was alright, Gon would find some excuse to publicly perform the ice skating dance with Killua at some point.
A single cone of chocolate ice cream was an easy sacrifice to have Killua dancing with him on the ice for an hour! Besides, watching Killua enjoy chocolate was a treat all on its own.
He's so cute.
"Don't stare at my ice cream like that, you're the one who decided not to get yourself any," the assassin complained, narrowing his eyes at Gon as if he was scared he'd get his ice cream stolen.
"I'm not staring at your ice cream, Ki-llu-a," Gon chirped, "I'm staring at you!"
"You're so shameless it's painful."
Gon giggled, stepping closer to Killua and tucking himself under the taller male's arm. Killua fake grumbled, relenting as he slung his arm across Gon's shoulders, pressing him close. The hybrid sighed, leaning against Killua's body as they walked. Killua could act annoyed and standoffish all he wanted, but Gon knew that he secretly was having just as much fun as he was!
He was just embarrassed, was all.
Gon found himself with a new mission: make it so that Killua was no longer embarrassed about doing coupley things.
There was only one surefire way to accomplish that goal! To constantly shower Killua with love and affection until he finally relented and accepted the fact that he was deserving of love and praise! Although, he had a few other ideas about how to break the ice~
But that was for later.
Right now, Gon was taking Killua on their first date.
"Do you like the park, Killua?"
"Yeah," the Valkyrie mumbled around an ever shrinking mountain of ice cream, "It's really pretty. I like how peaceful it is. Thanks for bringing us here."
"Of course!" Gon chirped, threading his fingers with the hand Killua had wrapped around his frame.
The park really was beautiful. The second Gon had seen it, he'd known that he needed to bring Killua there. Similar to the rest of Hallah, the park consisted of an array of overlapping bridges and corridors. However, rather than passing through city streets and urban caverns, this park was secluded from the rest of the mess and the noise.
It was located in a spherical cavern crafted from black metal, the entire belly of the place pitch black and criss crossed with dozens of pathways winding around and through the place. The park was populated by alien willow trees that glowed purples, blues, and deep pinks against the pitch of the enclosed park. It was so pretty inside, and so quiet too.
They'd had to pay to get in, and there were very few other people walking the skinny pathways and bridges. It was like him and Killua were all along together in an endless space just for them, and Gon loved that. It made this feel special, and he'd needed to share this beautiful place with the one he held dearest in his heart.
"You look really pretty, Killua," Gon murmured, peeking up at his now-boyfriend.
The hybrid smiled as that familiar pink dusted the assassin's cheeks. The multicolored glow from the trees was reflecting in his silvery hair, making him look like some sort of ethereal alien being. His eyes twinkled in the dark, and reflected the dull light that Gon's gave off whenever they met gazes.
Gon had always been taken aback by Killua's beauty, but now he could actually appreciate him without worrying about coming off as weird.
The hybrid smiled as he watched Killua lick at his ice cream, his cute little tongue snaking up to chip away at that enormous sugary mound. He'd gotten four scoops on a single cone, and Gon was very impressed with Killua's ability to keep all four scoops in line without them getting all drippy or falling off.
The Valkyrie peeked down at Gon from the corner of his eye, watching the hybrid watch him. Gon gazed at the emotions dancing in Killua's eyes, soft waves that scintillated like the distant stars. A loving heartbeat that pushed and pulled like the gentle waves off the coast of Whale Island.
"You want some?" Killua asked softly, holding his cone before Gon's face.
The horned male grinned, his chest melting at the adorable gesture. He didn't like chocolate, or ice cream for that matter, but if Killua wanted to give him some then he'd accept the gift in a heartbeat.
Gon leaned forward and licked from the cone. He didn't like the sugary taste from the chocolate flavoring, but the thin sweetness from Killua's saliva was enough to make him hum in appreciation.
"I can taste you on the cone," Gon giggled, licking his lips as he watched Killua lick directly after him once he'd returned to his ice cream.
That adorable blush deepended in color. "You're so gross," Killua grumbled.
"You're much sweeter than ice cream, Ki-llu-a!" Gon declared.
"Yeah, and you're… uh… much cuter than…"
"What was that?" Gon asked with a grin, leaning forward to try and catch Killua's words when he trailed off.
"It's nothing," Killua protested, shoving more ice cream into his mouth to avoid answering the question.
"No, I didn't quite catch what you said," Gon prodded, giggling as he watched the assassin squirm in reluctance to admit what he'd been thinking.
"It's embarrassing! I'm not telling," Killua pouted.
"That just makes me wanna hear it even more!"
"...I… was saying that you're much cuter than… than a, uh, a button."
"A button?"
"...Yeah."
"Awww, Killua! Thank you!" Gon cheered, wrapping the flustered Valkyrie up in a side hug. "You're cuter than a button too!"
"Don't act like it's all nice and stuff," Killua complained half-heartedly, sighing against Gon's hair as they walked. "That's such a stupid thing to say."
"I don't think it was stupid!"
"Well of course you wouldn't."
"I think it was really nice! And really adorable!"
"I am not adorable," Killua grumbled.
"Yes you are!" Gon protested. "Your nose is really cute, and it's always so sweet when you sneeze in your sleep. And so is your face when I get you chocolate! And I love the color your cheeks turn when you blush, and–"
"Gon! Stop it," Killua whined, pushing at the hybrid's face. "I can't take this many compliments at one time!"
"But I wanna tell you how cute you are!"
"Well… yeah, but… I'm gonna, like, die or something, so just shut up about it, okay?" Killua mumbled.
"Okayyyyy," Gon whined dramatically. "But you started it."
"I did not!" Killua retorted.
Gon giggled, loving how quickly and pettily Killua would jump to the offensive. "You're the one who said I was cute like a button!"
"Well, you said that I tasted sweeter than ice cream! I was just countering!"
"Killua's cute when he lies~"
"I'm going to suffocate you with this fucking ice cream if you don't stop."
Gon's laughter echoed throughout the park, he was having way too much fun!
…
"Stop it. You did not."
Gon just giggled like the little shit that he was. "Yes, I put in a reservation for two?" he addressed the waiter, completely ignoring Killua who was having a bit of a fit behind him.
"Would you be Mr. Freecss?" the waiter asked - an Alien with navy blue skin and a splattering of white freckles.
"Yup!" Gon chirped.
"Right this way, sirs!" the waiter announced, picking up a couple of menus and leading Gon and Killua into the depths of the restaurant.
"You did not book us a reservation!" Killua hissed, hiding behind Gon as they were led to their table.
"I sure did!" Gon chirped, clearly proud of himself.
"At a fancy assed restaurant too?!"
"Yup!"
"I love you."
Gon hummed, reaching his arm back to tuck Killua beneath it. "Love you too," he murmured, kissing Killua's fluffy white crown.
Killua couldn't believe this. He couldn't fucking believe this! It was right out of a fucking romance novel! Holy shit, Palm's stupid assed books had been telling the truth! Was Killua seriously eating at a fancy restaurant with Gon?! Who he was in love with?! Who he was dating?! Who was the most adorable person alive?!
Yes, it was all real. And Killua was going to implode.
Gon's eyes never left him. He watched Killua from across the table the whole time as they ordered drinks, read the menus, and ordered their food. It was making Killua feel so incredibly special. It had made him feel a little bit on the spot at first, but he was starting to get used to the whole DATING GON thing.
"How did you even find this place?" Killua asked, gawking around the restaurant and wondering how the hell Gon was capable of being so damn smooth.
The place was so beautiful on the inside. It felt like the inside of a grand palace. The walls were made of wam bricks, the floors carpeted in a red filigree. Fireplaces burned around every corner, and sweet smelling plants dangled from pots suspended from the ceiling. There were candles on every table, and Killua sipped lemon spiked water from a crystal wine glass, watching as Gon played with the fine silver cutlery.
"I saw the neon sign from the balcony!" Gon chirped. "Then I looked it up in the brochure Ging was looking at this morning, and knew it would be the perfect place!"
"You really did spontaneously plan this entire date just this morning, didn't you?"
"Yup!"
Killua rolled his eyes, chuckling. "You're a mess, you know that?"
"Maybe, but I had to take you on at least one date before we get all busy!"
"Yeah… well, thanks for doing all this," Killua said shyly, fidgeting with the silken table cloth.
Gon's eyes softened, "Of course! I just wanna make you happy."
"Well… it's working, so… yeah."
"Yay!" Gon cheered, holding his hand out across the table for Killua to take.
The assassin smiled softly, lacing his fingers with Gon's. He'd never get over the sight of their joined hands. This was everything he'd ever dreamed of. Killua had never thought it was possible for a person to be this happy.
"Killua, I wanna do the whole courting thing right," Gon mused, head cocked to one side. The silvery tear drop of his earring sparkled in the light as it swayed. "With humans, like on Whale Island, courtships are usually really simple. The couple agrees to be dating, and then just generally spends a lot of time together on dates and stuff. Once they get really serious, then they introduce each other's family and consider marriage or something like that, but all in all it's usually pretty simple. But I wanna go by your traditions, and make sure that I'm being a proper partner to you! How do courtships work for Valkyries, Killua?"
The silver haired male blinked, and paused his spreading butter across his slide of bread. "Oh. Well, it's super serious business, for my subspecies at least. Valkyries choose one permanent partner in life, and that person is known as your Mate. Most species use a mating system rather than a marriage system, and that's how it works in the Dragonite Clan. If a guy takes interest in a girl, then he'll try to win her affection. The time the guy spends trying to win the girl's affection is all the courtship really is, and once she accepts then the guy will ask the approval of the both partners' parents, and a Mating Ceremony will be held to bind them for life."
Gon leaned across the table, invested. "So, the two of us are courting until you decide you like me back?"
"Sort of," Killua snorted. "Or at least, that's how it would be if I were a commoner. I'm a member of the Royal family, so it's different for me."
"How?" Gon asked, eyes glittering with curiosity.
"Don't act so excited," Killua chuckled, "It's super annoying! In order for a Dragonite Clan Prince or Princess to ascend the throne or take a permanent position in the court, he or she must be mated and married. That way the bloodline is secured," Killua made a fake gagging motion. "The only Dragonite Valkyries that ever marry are royals, because it's a political binding. So first, I'd have to select a girl to court, and then I'd have to seek my parents approval to hold a Mating Ceremony to solidify the relationship. When I'm crowned, my mate would be crowned alongside me, marrying us in the process and locking us up for life. You can't take back a mate, but you double can't take back a marriage."
"A girl?" Gon asked, "But I'm a guy!"
Killua snorted, "Exactly! The whole system is totally homophobic! It has to be a guy and a girl, apparently. Which is exactly why that entire system sucks ass. My parents would never accept you, and never allow us to mate. But fuck them, I don't care what they say."
"Wait, how's the Mating Ceremony work then, I thought you needed your parents approval to hold it?"
Killua felt his cheeks begin to redden. "It's not really a ceremony, Gon. The whole mating thing is about holding bloodlines and making sure we all procreate no matter what. All you have to do to become mates is, like… sleep together. So,, recreational sex isn't a thing in my Clan, it's actually a crime punishable by death."
"Wait, does that mean we're mates already and skipped the whole courtship thing?!" Gon exclaimed, looking horrified.
"No!" Killua reassured him, he'd be laughing if he didn't still have to explain it… "That's not… that doesn't, like… that doesn't count. In order for two people to be considered mated, they have to have, like, real sex."
"So I have to fuck you up the ass?"
"Gon!" Killua gasped, mortified.
"What? That's how it works, right?"
"Well, yes, but that doesn't mean you just blurt it out in a public fucking resturant!" Killua whispered harshly, face flaming as he shielded his face from both sides.
"So what counts and what doesn't?" Gon asked.
Killua whined in utter embarrassment, how was he so casual talking about this awful crap?! "The entire standard for mating in the Dragonite Clan is based on the loss of virginity, namely female virginity and the securing of a pregnancy. The textbook term is 'penetration,' which I hate saying cause it makes me sound like my stupid assed bother, but anything that doens't involve that doesn't count."
"Ohhhhhhh."
"You get it now?" Killua grumbled, distracting himself with his lemon water.
"Yeah! That makes me feel better!"
"How come?" Killua asked.
"I'm glad we didn't hurry up and become mates right away! I'd rather take the time to just date for a little while, that way it feels like I'm winning your heart the right way."
"Gon, you already did that though," Killua countered. "My heart's already yours… in your words."
The hybrid's cheeks flushed; the sight made Killua's stomach flutter. Reached across the table, recapturing Gon's hand.
"Gon, I've been in love with you for what feels like forever now. So, by Valkyrie standards at least, you already succeeded in courting me before you even started… it might seem a little rushed but," Killua leaned across the table, ignoring his burning cheeks and locking eyes with Gon, "I'd take you as my mate right this very moment. I love you, Gon. I wanna be with you forever."
Gon's face burned a wild scarlet, and his jaw hung open. He squeezed Killua's fingers in his own, at a loss for words for once in his life. "Killua, I– Gods, you can't say stuff like that or I'll lose it right here and now… Believe me, I feel the exact same way, I wanna mate with you right now! But, I just… feel like we should wait a little longer? Savor the moment? I don't wanna rush into it with you… I wanna take our time and really love you before we take that big important step. I wanna prove my love to you, and even if you already return my love… I want to make it special, you know? I won't get a chance to court you like this ever again, and I wanna make the most of it, if that makes sense."
"Yeah," Killua breathed. "I'd like that."
"So… are you my unofficial mate then?" Gon asked with a grin.
"I guess so," Killua said, blowing his bangs out of his eyes.
"Know that I'm not rejecting you in any way," Gon said, voice turning playful, "I'd jump at the opportunity to properly mate with you and make you mine~"
"Okay, that's enough out of you," Killua grumbled.
Gon giggled, rubbing his thumb across the back of Killua's hand.
Unofficial mates? Yeah… Gon was gonna be his mate. Something about thinking that made Killua smile.
…
The two of them chattered amongst themselves until their food was delivered, and then they spent the better part of half an hour going back and forth over trade agreements. Gon could have half of Killua's pasta, but only if he offered up two filets in return! Three slices of alien squash came with a small portion of dipping sauce automatically, and there was no way in hell Killua was trading extra for something that should have come with his purchase!
Once they had finally split their two shared meals, it had been a race to see who could finish the main course first. Gon had won, unfortunately, but he'd ordered Killua a slice of chocolate cake as an apology for the audacity of winning!
"Here," Killua hummed, feeding Gon a slice of cake across the table. "Do you like it?"
The hybrid furrowed his brow, thoughtfully swallowing it down. "It's really sweet."
"I know! Isn't it great?" the Valkyrie snickered, shoveling more moist goodness down.
"Not my favorite, but I'm glad you like it!"
Killua playfully rolled his eyes, "No sweet tooth, I can't believe you."
"You already knew that, Killua!" Gon snorted, washing the sugary taste from his mouth with a sip of water.
"Maybe, but I'll never get over it."
"Oh! I know!" Gon exclaimed all of a sudden.
"What?" Killua asked, affection stirring in his chest as he watched Gon's eyes sparkle.
"I have a really great idea for a game!"
"A game? In the middle of dinner?"
"A talking game!"
"Do tell," Killua giggled.
"Well, now that we're dating, what's something the other person doesn't know about you? Like, I'll tell you something you don't know about me, and then you do the same! That way we get to know each other even better!"
Killua blinked, "That's actually a pretty fun idea. I'm shocked you were able to come up with it in that pea brain of yours~"
"Aw, come on Killua!" Gon whined, "I'm smart!"
The assassin quirked an eyebrow.
"Sometimes…"
"It's okay, you're just a cute little dummy," Killua cooed, leaning across the table to pat Gon on the head. "Although, I don't know how you're even going to participate, you talk so damn much all the time, how is there possibly something I don't know about you already?"
Gon furrowed his brow, clearly deep in thought. "Uh, lemme think for a second…"
Killua smiled across the table at his almost-mate. He loved that, how they'd already agreed that they were mates. Or at least, that they would be. Killua had always known that he'd stay at Gon's side for the rest of his life, but now it was going to be official. He knew that humans didn't take mates, and it was so kind of Gon to go by Killua's species' rules.
"Oh! I know!" Gon declared all of a sudden. "There's one story I haven't told you yet!"
"Oh really?" Killua drawled, leaning his chin on the heel of his hand. "What is it?"
"It was back on Whale Island!"
He doesn't talk about Whale Island much…
Gon leaned back in his chair, his finger tapping against his chin with his eyes turned up towards the ceiling. "When I was a little kid, I usually spent my time with the adults, cause the other kids didn't like me. I'd always go down to the market with Mito, and help her and the fishermen sell what they'd catch. But I didn't really like fish that much, I hated the smell and just the fact that they were fish in the first place."
"You? Hating fish?" Killua asked, shocked.
Gon nodded, "Yeah! I used to hate them so much that I refused to eat any fish meat at all. That was because, whenever the merchant ships would come into the docks, the market would get too busy for me to stay and help out. It was always because of the fish. Fish is Whale Island's number one export, so the merchants would always come for the fish, so I hated all the stupid fish because they were the reason I had to stay home from the market every weekend."
"What did you do when the merchants came?" Killua asked, finding himself leaning closer across the table. He loved hearing about Whale Island, about how Gon had grown up. He didn't talk about Mito or his homeland much, there was too much bad blood revolving around him and the islanders. Killua wanted to hear all about Whale Island, because that island was close to Gon's heart.
"Abe would entertain me over the weekend, cause I was shunned by the other kids and they'd always bully me. Abe is Mito's grandmother," Gon quickly explained. "I was a really hyper kid, I always wanted something to do. So I felt super restless whenever Mito made me stay home from the market. Playing was no fun when there were no other kids to play with, so I always drove Abe up the walls," Gon trailed off, chuckling to himself as his eyes glazed over with nostalgia.
"She tried to get me into sewing and embroidery, but I wasn't patient enough for stuff like that. I couldn't sit still, and I moved too fast and always messed up whatever I was trying to make! One day, Abe was cooking in the kitchen…"
…
Gon blew his cheeks out, bored out of his mind. He kicked his tiny feet in the air, staring up at the ceiling and counting the knots in the wooden boards. Counting was boring and made his head hurt, so Gon decisively flipped back onto his hands, and slung himself to his feet.
He skipped across the living room, and then jumped up onto the window sill. He stuck out his bottom lip, frowning at the enormous masts visible over the treetops and down the hill. Merchant ships dotted the bay, with dozens of traders from the other human villagers all coming to Whale Island to haggle for fish.
Mito never let Gon come with her to the market on trading days, it wasn't fair!
Sure, Gon was really little, but he was really strong for his age too! He could help carry the fish onto the ships no problem!
Gon whined dramatically, his breath fogging the glass so all he could see was his own reflection. Gon pouted, looking into his stupid orange eyes. Why'd they have to glow like that? Why couldn't he just have plain brown eyes like Mito, Abe, and Lark?
The young boy felt at the little nubs on his forehead. Mito said that they'd grow into horns one day. But Gon didn't want horns… Lark said that they made him look like a billy goat…
"Goat boy!" the other kids would always leer at him. They'd throw grass at his face, telling him that he should stay in the stables with the other livestock. Humans didn't have spotted skin! Only stpuid animals like cows and goats did!
Gon hated the other kids…
And even though Mito told him that you should never hate another person… it was hard.
"Gon? Would you come here for a moment?"
The young hybrid perked up, hearing Abe's voice echoing from the kitchen. "Coming, Abe!" he called, scurrying to the other side of the house.
Gon slid across the kitchen floor in his socks, bumping into Abe's legs and hugging around her knees. He grinned up at the elderly woman, "I'm here! Was I fast?"
"Yes, sweet boy, very fast indeed," she cooed, reaching down to ruffle Gon's wild hair. Her eyes were kind, her face wrinkled and soft. It was almost as if Abe could tell whenever Gon was getting sad about his blood, she'd always call on him and give him something to do!
Gon loved Abe, she was his favorite.
Mito would have been his favorite, but she liked to make Gon help with the laundry, and he didn't like the laundry! Gon still loved Mito, of course, but Abe snuck him sugar cubes under the table at dinner!
"Gon, it seems I've run out of the mushrooms I need to finish making this casserole!" Abe explained. "Can you go out in the forest and find some more for me? You can do that, can't you?"
"In the forest?" Gon asked, fiddling with Abe's dress. "But… that's where Lark and the others are right now… They're always mean to me whenever I come outside…"
Abe patted Gon's head, "That's alright, you don't have to go to the part of the forest the others play in."
"But Mito said that the only place I'm allowed to play is the clearing by the creek! And that's where Lark always is!"
Abe chuckled, mischief twinkling in her warm brown eyes. She knelt down before Gon, "If you don't tell Mito, then I won't either!"
Gon grinned, and the two trouble makers hurried over to the front porch. Abe sat on her knees so that she was at Gon's height, and placed a stout little mushroom in Gon's hands. "Here, bring this so you know what you're looking for," Abe instructed.
The young hybrid nodded, running his fingers across the mushroom's smooth head and bringing it up to his nose to take a deep sniff. Gon turned his nose up and shut his eyes. He inhaled deeply, scenting the air to try and find a scent that matched on the wind coming in from the sea.
"I can smell some!" Gon chirped, giving an excited little hop. "I can find them for you, Abe! Don't you worry!"
The elderly woman smiled, rubbing Gon's little back. "Of course you can! Now, before you scamper off into the woods, let me tell you a secret."
"A secret?"
"Yes. I'll let you stray from where Mito allows you to play, but only if you follow a path of my choosing."
"A path of your choosing?"
"Yes," Abe chuckled, booping her little echo on the nose. "Your father, Ging, used to play in the forest all the time, just like you."
Gon gasped in awe, his eyes immediately taking on a wondrous sparkle. "Ging?"
"Mm-hm."
"Where did he like to go?" Gon breathed, dancing from foot to foot as he gazed out at the trees with a new wonder ignited in his heart.
"Your father's favorite place to go wasn't down towards the sea where Lark and the others play," Abe explained, tilting Gon to face the north side of the island rather than the south. "Ging mapped out the entire island one summer, and his favorite place was up towards Mt. Nami. He'd head directly for the mountain, following the scent of the species of mushroom you hold in your hands right now."
"Woah," Gon gawked, staring up at Mt. Nami, the dead volcano that was the highest point on all of Whale Island. He'd never been allowed to enter that part of the forest; Mito had always told him he was too young to go off on his own, and that he could only play in the clearing with the other kids. "What did he do up there?" Gon asked, desperate for any clue he could get his hands on about his absent father.
"He liked to fish."
"He fished?!" Gon retorted, immediately disgusted. "Why would he wanna do something dumb like that?!"
Abe cracked a laugh, "There's more to fishing than the trading at the market, Gon! I'll tell you what, head north for Mt. Nami and follow the scent you've locked onto. You'll know Ging's special spot when you see it, and you might just find something you like."
"Something I like?"
"Yes, child," Abe cooed, giving Gon a kiss on the cheek.
…
"So I did what Abe said, and I headed north following the scent of the mushrooms she needed me to find," Gon explained to Killua. "The second I entered the north side of the forest… I just felt like I belonged. I'd always been confined to the other kid's side of the forest, and the clearing near the creek. But something was different this time.
"I was able to explore, and carve my own path… that day, hiking through the forest to find Ging's favorite spot, was the day I fell in love with nature. I found Abe's mushrooms, and from that day on, instead of going with Mito to the markets every day, I'd explore the forest every day. I spend weeks on end, just sitting at Ging's special spot!"
"What was the spot?" Killua asked, eyes wide with wonder.
"It was a swamp!" Gon announced.
"A swamp?" Killua retorted, "That fits Ging so well."
Gon giggled, "Can't argue with you there, but it's not what you'd think! The swamp is so beautiful! It's all green, with navy waters and lush plants and colorful flowers! Those mushrooms grow all over the place, and the trees are big with twisting trunks and draped in kudzu like boas on runway models!
"It's the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I found mushrooms that day, but I also found a fishing rod. It was Ging's fishing rod! Had his name carved into it and everything! Once I found the swamp, and found Ging's fishing rod there, my entire opinion of fishing changed, just like that. It's kinda stupid, looking back on it now… I changed my entire personality just to fit the model Ging had left behind.
"...But from that day on, I'd go to Ging's swamp every day instead of to the market with Mito. I spent the entire warm season teaching myself how to fish, and by the time the next warm season came along, I showed the fishermen my skills and got a slot on one of the fishing boats!
"Once I was out on the fishing boats, more of the adults started to warm up to me. People started to like me more, and see me as less of a burden. It didn't stop the strange looks, and it didn't stop the stigmatizing… but once I got into fishing, I had my thing, you know? I got really good at it, and started making my own life for myself, rather than trying to change myself to fit the example the other kids led."
Gon gazed softly down at his and Killua's joined hands, thoughts dancing in those lovely amber depths. "So yeah, that's the story about how I became the wild mountain kid you have today."
"Gon," Killua all but whined, his chest squirming with warmth and the need to leap across the table and kiss the hybrid silly. "That story was so sweet, thanks for sharing it with me. I loved your story, and I don't think it was stupid that you picked up fishing just because it was something Ging did. He was leading a positive example, because of him, you were able to follow in the footsteps of a fellow hybrid, rather than a grumpy human."
Honey eyes snapped to Killua's, Gon's face falling slack in a combination of shock and tenderness. "You think so?"
"Yeah," Killua said with a grin. "You don't talk about Whale Island much… I'd love to hear more about it, if you ever wanna get that stuff off your chest."
"Aww, Killua!" Gon whined. He stood up and leaned across the table to kiss the Valkyrie on the lips. Killua smiled against Gon's kiss, shutting his eyes and drinking in that familiar scent.
"You're so nice I'm gonna cry! I'll tell you all about Whale Island! Anything you want!"
"Yay," the assassin giggled, "I'll be right here waiting. I love your stories… especially the ones from Whale Island. It seems so nice there."
"It is. The people are difficult, but it really is my one and only home," Gon mused, absentmindedly rubbing his thumb over the back of Killua's hand. "I can't wait to bring you there, and I can't wait to meet Alluka! I want to show you my family, and the place I grew up, and I wanna meet Alluka, and see where you grew up… even if it's a dark and awful place, I wanna understand you, Killua."
The assassin gazed into Gon's compassionate eyes. His words spoke right to Killua's heart, turning his insides to mush and making his face fall slack in unconcealed love. "I… I feel the same, I always feel the same…"
I definitely just fell a little harder.
"Killua, what's something I don't know about you?" Gon asked, matching Killua as he leaned across the table. The two of them were lost in their own little world, inches between their noses as they gazed into each other's eyes. Killua loved this moment so much. The knowledge that Gon was all his and that he'd keep having these little moments was enough to make his heart lurch.
"Well…" the assassin stopped to think.
What did Gon not know about him?
He knew that Killua was the runaway Crown Prince of the Dragonite Valkyrie Clan, and that he'd been raised as an assassin and trained to kill. That was the big reveal about Killua and his life… Gon knew about Illumi, Killua's suicidal past, and even Alluka. Everything after Killua had left Kukuroo Mountain Gon already knew, cause they'd spent that time together. Killua wanted to tell a heartfelt childhood tale also, but every story from his childhood was dark and violent…
He didn't want to bum Gon out…
Killua blinked, remembering something…
"Well," he began again, speaking softly and tentatively, "My entire childhood consisted of my assassin's training, and going on whatever jobs my parents chose for me. Alluka was my lifeline back then, and the only thing I'd ever look forward to was being able to visit her at the end of every week… but there was something else that I enjoyed, a real long time ago…"
"What was it?" Gon asked softly.
"When I was little, I loved… art, and music. I'd draw at any chance I got, and even grew my own little flower bed in the cracks of my balcony… But… there's one thing that I loved above all else. One day, I had to go on a mission to an Elven kingdom. It was an assassination job, and one that I took care of with ease. It had been boring, and I had completed the mission with an entire half a day to spare… so I decided to explore the now abandoned palace.
"I explored the halls, stepping over the bodies I'd dropped and scuffing my bloodied boots on the fine carpets… I went in and out of every room, but nothing held my interest. Until I came upon the ballroom. It was just like any other ballroom… but inside was something I'd never seen before.
"It was a huge black statue, it was squat, enormous, bulky, yet elegant at the same time. I approached the statue, I was curious. It stood on thin legs, and was shimmering and sleek like the flesh of my wings. I was shocked, however, by what I found on the other side of the statue.
"There was a bench, and a neat row of black and white bars. The little bars were beautiful, they looked like sparkling bones, untouched by an assassin and unseen by the dirty eyes of the violent world we lived in. I was… enraptured, desperate to understand this incredible thing I'd just discovered…
…
Killua blinked down at the hulking thing, what could this creation be? The white of the bars was polished and clean, clean enough that Killua could see his reflection. The young Prince unclipped his mask, and strapped his weapons to the hooks on his back.
The bench beckoned him, and Killua - ticked that he'd been given such a boring mission and in a mood for rebellion - answered its call.
He sat down before the expanse of shiny white bars, feeling as if they were there just for him… Killua brushed his fingers along the bars, gasping in wonder at their smoothness and loving the feel of them against his fingertips.
Sapphire eyes wide with boyish wonder, Killua held his hands over the bars. With one curious finger, he pressed down, and jumped out of his skin when a cheery tone echoed from the depths of the statue.
Adrenaline raging in his veins, Killua blinked in surprise.
A… note? This was an… instrument.
Was it a….
"A piano," Killua breathed, remembering a thing like this he'd read about in a book once.
Killua pressed against the bars - the keys - again, the beautiful sound making his heart thump in his chest. Killua felt each key in wonder, listening as he pressed each on all the way up and down the piano. From the rumbliest of lows to the shrillest of highs, this instrument could create any sound Killua wished of it… all he needed to do, was press the keys.
The young prodigy shut his eyes, recalling a job he'd taken in a ballroom just like this…
It had been a palace belonging to a royal family of Leopard-Cryptids. Killua's mark had been their youngest Princess, to be eliminated at midnight on the ball held in celebration of her fourth birthday. She was just Killua's age, a perfect job for the rising assassin.
Killua had waited up in the rafters, annoyed that Illumi had sent him in three entire hours before it was time to make his move.
He'd watched in boredom as the crowd of feline Cryptids danced about, swaying back and forth to cheerful little tune. It had annoyed Killua, at first. He didn't want to be here, and listening to this stupid garbage music was just ticking him off even more.
But… the longer he listened… the more he realized that…
He didn't necessarily… agree with Illumi about music.
His Big Brother had told him that music was garbage, a hindrance to the peaceful silence that the Gods intended for.
But… then why… did Killua find himself swaying to the beat? Why did the ups and downs of the notes tickle his ears, and beckon him to hum along? If music was bad, then why did Killua think it was so… good?
Sitting before the piano, Killua recalled that lovely song that had been played in that ballroom.
It had been echoing in his mind ever since, unwilling to leave. Killua hummed the tune, swaying back and forth just as he had in the rafters. He wanted to hear it… he wanted to hear that music again. He wanted to experience that lovely feeling that he'd felt as the notes had tickled his ears.
Killua remembered the first note of the song, and felt at the piano keys, searching for the note his soul so desperately ached to hear just one more time…
…
"So, I taught myself how to play."
"You taught yourself how to play the piano?!" Gon exclaimed, utterly taken aback. "How old were you?!"
"Four."
"What?! How?! That's incredible!"
Killua chuckled "Well, how old were you when you mastered fishing?"
"Four."
"See? We're even," the Valkyrie pointed out with a grin. "You loved fishing the second you started, and I loved playing the piano. I taught myself a few other instruments as I stumbled across them, but the piano was always my favorite… Unfortunately, my parents made me stop playing. They said musical instruments were unbefitting of a being of my stature… and burned every single instrument on the Mountain. But I still love music, they'll never be able to take that away from me no matter how hard they try."
"Killua, I'm so sorry," Gon murmured, squeezing the Valkyrie's hand in his own.
"It's alright, there's no changing the past. I was able to reclaim my life once I left Kukuroo Mountain, and my stupid family can't stop me from loving music and art any more."
"Killua, do you still know how to play?" Gon asked, a certain light coming to life in his lovely honey eyes.
"Well, I would hope so. I haven't touched a piano in years… but I'm fairly certain that I still remember a couple of songs…"
"Killua! I'm bringing you to a piano right now!" Gon declared, shooting up from his seat and clutching Killua's hands in his own.
"What?" the Valkyrie asked, confused.
"You love playing piano, right?"
"Right…"
"And your parents stopped you from doing that!"
"Yeah, I just told you that–"
"-Killua, I want to hear you play!"
The assassin blinked in surprise, drawn aback. "What? Why?"
Gon's eyes glimmered with determination, he pulled Killua to his feet, already slipping a pouch of coin from his pocket and setting it down on the table. "Playing the piano makes you happy, and I want you to experience that happiness again! We still have an hour before we have to be back to the apartment, right? Why don't we go find you a piano to play!"
"Gon…"
"Killua?"
The assassin shook his head, chuckling to himself. "You're such an idiot. Come on, let's go find a stupid piano."