Gon yawned as he shuffled across the dining room in his slippers. Slippers were fun! Having a pair of shoes specifically for wearing inside, in the morning, and when he wanted to feel warm and cozy was so fun! Not to mention his sleep clothes, which were made of literal silk. They were even green!

The raven could get used to living like this, however he knew that he should be taking all of this luxury with a grain of salt. He was still a pawn in a giant game, and no matter how hard the Ants tried to disguise it, Gon knew that he was no more than a shiny new toy for the entertainment of high society.

Gon shook his head, stuffing away such depressing thoughts. It was morning! Mornings were for being positive and beginning days with a good start!

Mornings back on Whale Island had either consisted of work or training. Bisky's training had always been brutal, to say the least, so Gon had learned to love his work! He'd been assigned to work the fields with Mito and Abe. Ging knew that Gon preferred fishing, but he put Gon in the fields just to be a jerk.

Gon's relationship with his father was… interesting, to say the least.

Ging was more like a delinquent older brother than a paternal figure in Gon's life. But he'd never felt like he had a parent missing, he'd had Mito! Mito was better than all the parents in the world combined! It felt like she was both Gon and Ging's mom sometimes!

Gon smiled to himself as he got a napkin from the napkin-table (they had a table in the dining room entirely dedicated to napkins! Now this was high class living!). Thinking back to his childhood on Whale Island always brought a smile to his face. He'd loved working in the fields, tending the plants, and chasing the chickens around the yard.

The only downside had been tax days.

His mornings here were so incredibly different compared to back home, it was insane! Now, Gon could wake up whenever he wanted! He didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn, but he still did it anyway! Gon would wake with the sun, and spend the early hours of the morning training in his room. He'd run through the basics, just like Bisky had taught him.

After that was finished, he'd take a quick shower in his luxurious bathroom and then head to the dining room to meet up with Jispa and Abengane! Life here was nothing but free time and filling meals. It was easy to forget the daunting Tournament Events that hovered at the end of every week.

And had Gon touched on the food yet?! He could rant about the food for hours on end! He had, actually! On three occasions so far! Three days had passed since the first Event, and Gon had adjusted with ease. Everything was so smooth, life was so easy. He almost felt bad about living it this large, knowing that Mito, Abe, and Bisky were all still back on the Island. Ging was probably making Zushi's life a living hell now that Gon wasn't there for him to pick on.

The tan skinned boy sighed happily to himself. He couldn't wait to get back home and tell Ging about all the crazy things that had happened so far! About all the crazy things he'd get to do! Ging had told Gon that the Tournament of Decision was a total drag, but Gon would prove him wrong! He'd have so much fun that Ging would have to admit he was mistaken! That was a really big deal for the guy.

With a blinding grin on his face, Gon turned away from the napkin table and headed over to his spot in the dining room. There were several tables scattered about the large room, with shiny marble floors and intricate wooden ceilings that looked like the insides of some huge monastery. The space had no windows, but was lit by huge crystal chandeliers that reflected off the spotless floor and gave the illusion of daylight. The far wall sported a fully stocked buffet table of whatever had been laid out for them that morning, and they were all free to eat their fill!

Jispa always claimed the table in the middle of the room for their group, it was where Ikalgo always sat whenever he'd eat with the Wingmates! It was about nine in the morning, and the majority of Gon's Wingmates were already milling about the dining room.

This morning they'd been served eggs! Gon loved eggs! There were scrambled eggs, and fried eggs, and sunny side up eggs, and boiled eggs, and poached eggs– it was egg heaven! There were also sliced potatoes, an assortment of melons but into cute shapes, and a huge dish filled with vanilla flavored yogurt.

Gon's plate was loaded with enough scrambled eggs to drown in. He'd gotten a little excited and ran out of room on his plate! But that was alright, once he finished his eggs he'd go back for everything else!

If the Ants kept serving eggs every morning, then Gon would happily be their show pony for all eternity! The raven chuckled to himself, knowing that it was only a partial exaggeration. Until a few days ago Gon had never seen so many eggs before, he couldn't wait to see the look on Mito's face when he told her–

"Watch where you're going," came a silky voice, suddenly appearing at Gon's shoulder. "You wouldn't wanna trip~"

Gon gasped when an elbow roughly bumped him between the shoulder blades. Horror rattled through his bones as he was pushed off balance. He scrambled to keep on his feet, desperate not to drop his eggs! Gon caught himself after a couple of steps, luckily saving his precious breakfast.

He glanced behind himself with a frown, finding Killua strutting off to his own table. He was snickering to himself and giving Gon this jerky look from over his shoulder.

A prickly feeling stirred between Gon's shoulder blades. Annoyance, but also anger.

Stupid Killua.

Gon rolled his eyes and turned back to his table. Ever since he'd danced with him at the party, Killua had been going out of his way to make Gon's life a living hell. The worst part about it was that it wasn't even anything serious! It was all tiny stuff that Killua knew would get under Gon's skin. Like trying to make him spill his eggs, or pretending to stifle laughter whenever they'd cross each other in the halls.

It was incredibly aggravating, and Gon's patience was wearing thin after a mere three days.

But it didn't matter. Gon had tons of experience with ignoring annoying people thanks to Ging. He knew that Killua was only being a jerk to him to try and intimidate him, and Gon wasn't going to give him the satisfaction! Killua wanted a reaction, but he wasn't getting one!

Swallowing his anger, Gon set his plate down at his spot between Jispa and Abengane. He was going to enjoy his breakfast! And Killua Zoldyck wasn't going to stop him!

Killua leaned broodily against the equipment shed of his Wing's training field. Knuckle, Shoot, and his pets were busy with dragging out the bench press for him. Killua wouldn't waste his time lifting bulky shit if he didn't have to. Besides, he had more important things to do.

(By "important things" Killua means staring at Gon from across the field).

It's bothering me. It annoys me to no end.

Gon refuses to give me the respect and fear that I deserve. Maybe it's because he's too fucking stupid to understand. No, that's most definitely the reason. I confirmed it at that trivial party the other night. Intimidation tactics don't seem to work on him. At least not outright.

He's far too stubborn and thick-skulled for something so forward.

Gods, he pisses me off.

Fine, he can be a difficult target if he wants to. I'm the best at this game out of anyone on this cursed earth. If he wants to play, then I'll give him a game he'll never forget…

Killua paused his thoughts, frowning.

But not because of Gon.

The young Zoldyck rolled his eyes, "Come out, brother. Your lurking annoys me."

With a swish of silky black hair, a slender male dropped down from the roof of the equipment shed. He touched down next to Killua, the drop of his feet not making a sound. Illumi Zoldyck straightened and brushed a nonexistent speck of dust from the shoulder of his silken tunic.

"Lurking?" he snorted, "You sell me too short, Kill."

Killua leaned on one leg, fixing his brother with a steely glare. "What are you doing here," he snapped.

Illumi sighed, crossing his arms. He looked like a mirrored, older version of Killua in that moment. "I'm simply dropping by to check on my dear brother. It is your first Tournament after all. You were supposed to be given at least two more years before entering–"

"-Tell father to stop underestimating me," Killua snarled. "I could have entered five years ago. This frilly crap is beneath me. I'd call it a total waste of time if it weren't for the job."

"Twelve years old? In the Tournament of Decision?" Illumi mused. "Not even grandfather could have pulled something like that. We don't doubt your abilities, Kill. We just want to see how you're doing. Mother worries, you know?"

Killua's eyes flashed. He bit the tip of his tongue, "To hell with mother."

Illumi's empty black eyes blinked. He watched Killua's face, fishing for any sort of shift in expression. He was given no such trophy. Illumi flicked his eyes away from Killua, instead following his gaze out onto the field.

"Do you have any intel for me?" Killua snapped. "If not then do yourself a favor and get off my back."

Illumi clucked his tongue, "So rude. If you must know, there have been no new developments. It's the same as it ever was. The Inner City remains quiet."

"Typical," Killua huffed. "I hope you'll give me something substantial to do soon. Working the inside bores me."

Illumi quirked a brow, "Inside? You're on the front lines. I wouldn't consider the Queen's court free of obstacles and facade."

"Venting, are we?" Killua smirked.

Illumi's lips puckered in a frown, but just slightly. He found the object of Killua's attention, and watched from afar as Gon Freecss participated in a fast paced sparring match with Uvogin. They both had grins on their faces, typical of Uvo, and incredibly telling of Gon when measured up with the older male.

The inky haired man glanced down at Killua, and watched him watch Gon.

A waver in those icy blue depths. Hardly noticeable, but there nonetheless.

"Kill," Illumi cooed, "That's the boy you're tied for first with, right?"

The silver haired boy stiffened. "What are you getting at, brother?"

"Nothing in particular…" Illumi hummed, tapping a slender finger against his chin. "I was just wondering why you hadn't taken care of him yet."

Killua bit back a snarl. Illumi had hit a nerve, and he'd done it on fucking purpose.

So that's what this is about. Mother and Illumi can shove it up their asses, this isn't any of their damn business! Do they seriously believe that I don't have this under control?!

"I know what the fuck I'm doing, brother," Killua snapped. He clenched his fists at his sides, he was aching to kill something.

A shiver ran up Illumi's spine from his younger brother's tone. He didn't show it, of course. But still. He opened his mouth to respond, but Killua interrupted him.

"I like to play with my food."

Across the training field, Gon and Uvogin's sparring match ended with the younger male just barely pulling a punch that would have pounded Uvo's skull in. Boisterous laughter and cheers echoed all the way across the green, Uvo gostled Gon's shoulders and Jispa hopped excitedly from foot to foot.

A dark shadow across his eyes, Killua stalked away from Illumi, eyes trained on Gon.

That's right, brother.

Get your nose out of where it doesn't belong.

He doesn't get it. He doesn't know Gon like I do.

Breaking him won't be so simple. I'll wear him down over time, slowly eating away at his senses. I can already tell that his temper is on thin ice after these past few days. I know what the fuck I'm doing. I know how to break people, no one can stand in my way. I'll destroy anyone who dares to oppose me. Just watch. You'll see.

You and mother.

I'm worse of a monster than you'll ever dream of becoming.