Disclaimer: I'm broke. Enough said.
Pairing: Killua/Gon
Setting: They're older, still together as friends, and are Hunters. Simple and easy.
Silk and Cedar
Part One: Embarrassing
Even though we've traveled together for years, this was the first time you ever asked me to cut your hair. And I was surprised, really surprised, because you always insisted on doing it yourself—but then you handed me the scissors and sat yourself right on the stool, waiting impatiently and expectantly. This might sound a little strange, but I was so...delighted...I was so, you know, happy!
Your hair is soft and plush to the touch. It feels like...like—what was that kind of fabric you said you loved?—oh! Yeah! Silk. Your hair feels like silk. I've slept with silk bedcovers before; the sheets were cool, smooth, and rich, just like water—but I still prefer the silver silk of your hair against my cheek whenever I get to hug you (you're still taller than me, but only by an inch or two! ...or maybe three...).
You know...I would like to touch your hair more often, hug you more often, share a bed with you more often—but you always say "no!" for some reason. You always say the same thing:
"Wha—! Gon! N-no! I—you—no!—we can't! It's—it's embarrassing, you idiot!"
You're so weird sometimes, Killua. We're best friends, aren't we? What's wrong then? What's so embarrassing? Lately, you've been trying to...to keep your distance from me or something. You're not obvious about it, but I can still tell. You don't want to get close to me and I don't know why. Every time I try to close the gap between us, you just sputter the same thing and step away. Away from me. I'm sorry if I embarrass you that badly, but...but it's just that whenever I'm with you—beside you, near you, by you—I feel stronger. Happier, you know? Well...maybe I'm the one that's so weird...maybe that's how it really is, ne?
...but...don't you feel the same comfort as I do...?
-o-o-o-
"Oi. Gon."
My hands falter, the silver scissors held between my fingers comes to a clipped halt. I quickly blink away my thoughts because I feel he has a way of reading my mind. Standing behind his seated figure and facing the mirror, I look at his reflection...and find him staring back at my own reflection. My mind's still jumbled with worries and questions but I manage a, "Huh?"
He regards me with that okay-what's-wrong-you-better-tell-me-now expression on his face—the one with his left eyebrow arched high and lips quirked in a questioning frown—and asks, "You've been really quiet, Gon...are you okay? What's wrong?"
I smile at him, grateful for his concern, but I don't answer him. I really don't know what to say...or what to ask him...
And so he continues. "Are you upset because of that dead squirrel we saw today?"
It's not funny (that poor squirrel, she was still so young, rest her soul) but Killua...he...he's so blunt! He's as tactless as a kid, even though he always claims to be more mature than I am! He can't really express his concern, umm, properly but I know he's actually worried about me.
He speaks in that careless, yet reassuring tone of his. "Look, Gon—I'm sure it had a quick and painless death, okay? I bet that squirrel never even saw the car coming—"
"Killua!"
"What! It's true. The way its body was positioned on the road—"
I swap him upside the head to discontinue his morbid explanation. His soft hair bristles between and around my fingers as I do so. He gets the hint and promptly closes his eyes (and his mouth), crossing his arms loosely across his stomach. He's wearing that I'm-not-going-to-say-but-you-know-its-true! expression on his face.
I shake my head and cast my attention on his hair again. I am afraid of making any mistakes so I take my time to snip, clip, brush, and comb his hair. The severed strands fall around his shoulders and to the ground like wisps of silver confetti. His shoulders and face soon relax into a peaceful, still manner. I pause for a moment and stare at his reflection...Mito-san said that Killua would grow up to be a "very good-looking gentleman." She was right—and she was wrong. He was very good-looking, but not very much a gentleman. I'm glad his eyes are closed...because if he saw me smiling like how I am right now, he'd probably say:
"You're such a dork, Gon!"
You know, he does that to me a lot—makes me smile for no reason. Mito-san once told me that with Killua by my side she never seen me happier. And she was right. Killua really makes me feel so...you know, happy, comfortable, lucky. I am so fortunate to have met Killua, to have him as my best friend—and I told him exactly that, once, when we were on Greed Island...and then in response, he told me not to say such 'embarrassing things.'
We were just kids then, but I guess some parts of us haven't changed much...
But it's the truth. I'm so grateful to Killua—I want to tell him of my appreciation, show him my gratitude, and express my thanks. But I can't give him much...I can't give him the silk fabrics he likes and I refuse to buy him any chocolate (he always gets more than enough). I can't give him anything...except my words and actions.
And no matter how embarrassing my words or actions may be...it's the only way I can express myself. It's the only way he'll know how much I value his company, his friendship, his loyalty—how much I value him.
So...I'll just have to keep on embarrassing him...
E.n.d. o.f. P.a.r.t. O.n.e.
This is actually my first chaptered story! I'm usually a one-shot writer because I'm so damn lazy...but look at this! Surprise, surprise! Well, I hope you liked this segment of Gon's POV. I'm not sure if he's in-character enough...he was really hard for me. I'm more of the angsty type—and speaking of which, KILLUA IS NEXT IN LINE :spots a silver head scamper out the room: ...but well, not everyone is looking forward to it...
So...whad'dya think? Good, bad? Tell me, tell me! Please critique me! Shame me, praise me, make me cry, make me squeal—I don't care! Just please, pretty please, give me your input! Thanks for reading, folks!
