AN: that took an annoying amount of time to write! almost 20k words, what is my problem, this hands down the longest chapter


This… is bad for my health.

Water park day was in full swing, and Killua was already suffering. The four of them were following Mamapika to the water park, which was located on multiple different floors. The water park was the main attraction at Heaven's Arena, apparently. There were multiple entrances on multiple different floors, and the multi-level adrenaline trap had both indoor and outdoor sections. The indoor sections were on a bunch of random levels, and some of the outdoor slides had indoor stairs. The waterpark was connected to too many levels for Killua to remember, but he did know that they were using the entrance on the first floor proper. It was the main entrance, and would bring them to the official start of the park rather than starting out in the middle or directly from a slide (which was possible because of the weird-assed layout).

The reason Killua was suffering?

Gon. That was the reason he was suffering.

They were all dressed in their freshly purchased water park clothes, and Gon was wearing…

He looked really hot, okay?

He had on a pair of black swim trunks with green inner fabric, and nothing on over it but a Hawaiian shirt. And it was unbuttoned! The shirt was a cheery pattern of flowers with tons of pink and green and yellow, and it played off of Gon's tan skin, making it pop. He had on a pair of leather and cork sandals that Killua had picked out for him yesterday, and a pair of aviator sunglasses were resting on his head.

Killua was a complete mess. Not only did Gon look amazing in those clothes (I mean, I picked them out, so of course that's the case) but he had his chest and stomach just out for everyone to see! Sure, tons of other dudes and ladies were walking around in showier clothing on the way to the water park… but why did Gon have to do it too?

The silver haired Valkyrie had to make a conscious effort to look at Gon's face when he spoke to him instead of his toned chest and stomach. Killua was feeling extra gay today, and it was not fun. Why couldn't he just turn off the gay thoughts?! That would be so helpful!

Killua was wearing those black swimming trunks with the pink palm trees, and unlike some people, his overshirt was buttoned! He was wearing a short sleeved, pink button down that was made of that water resistant fabric stuff that bathing suits were made of. It was a swim shirt of sorts, and Killua was more than glad to cover up. He always got an annoying amount of attention whenever his shirt was off. As a Valkyrie, he was naturally jacked. Killua really wasn't in the mood for all the flustered male and female attention.

Besides… if Gon wasn't gonna look at him that way then what was the point…

Stop thinking things like that! Just cause you like him doesn't mean he has to like you back! He's your friend… isn't that enough for you?

It was… Killua swore it was.

The Valkyrie sighed and swished his tail. Gon and Kurapika were in the front of the pack, chattering about how the water filtration system worked, with Leorio and Killua trailing along behind. The Elf was wearing a pair of floral patterned swim trunks and a black swim shirt (just like Killua's) which was BUTTONED UP. Leorio was only wearing swim trunks and sandals, showing off his shimmering green scales. Killua didn't care if Leorio didn't wear a shirt… it was just Gon that made him all squirmy inside.

"Listen up, everyone!" Kurapika said, gathering the attention of the other three. "We are about to purchase our tickets. As we agreed, we are all going to buy an all-access pass for the day. Which means we can stay as long as we want and ride any slide that we want. Here, I'll pass out your cards."

The blonde dug around in the huge pool bag he was lugging around. He looked like some sort of mom! He had stuffed the bag with sunscreen, towels, first aid equipment, their cards, water bottles, and even a metal bottle of blood for Killua! He handed Leorio, Killua, and Gon their cards, and together they entered the line at the check in desk.

"Are you excited, Killua?" Gon asked, squirming from foot to foot.

Killua looked at his EYES and responded, "I guess."

The hybrid gave him a knowing look. "Don't act like that! You know you're excited!"

"Somewhat," Killua said with a sigh, looping his hands behind his head. Why does he have to look so attractive today… I never had this problem before! But I guess that's because all he ever wears is that awful green getup…

This waterpark day would be a real testament to Killua's ability to conceal his feelings.

If he couldn't do this much… then he guessed he was just screwed.

The four signed into the water park and paid for their all access passes. They were each given a neon pink rubber band to signify their purchase, and were let into the park. The second they crossed through those turnstiles and walked out into the Yorknew City sun, Killua was made aware of just how big this water park was… and of just how big of a money maker the Phantom Troupe had turned this place into.

"You said this place used to be just a plain old fighting arena like several months ago right?" Leorio asked, voice wavering.

"Yes," Kurapika responded, an unreadable strain in his voice.

Killua glanced over at him, but was unable to see the Elf's eyes because of his sunglasses.

"Who are these Phantom Troupe people and why are they so damn successful?!" Leorio shrieked.

Kurapika sighed. "The Spiders are quite resourceful… I must give them that."

He said that more to himself if anything…

"Hey, Gon–" Killua found his side empty, and voice of that usual spine-chilling aura. "Gon?" The Valkyrie did a 360, searching for his friend. Where did he get off too?

Oh. I should have known.

A grin cracked across Killua's face, and he felt his eyes getting all dopey and lovestruck. Gon was dancing from foot to foot as he read the slide map. He would point at it, look back and forth between the actual slides and their depictions on the map, and he would talk to literally anyone in his vicinity about whatever it was he was gushing over this time.

The Valkyrie trotted over to his friend, his tail swishing behind him affectionately.

"Gon, quit bothering random people," Killua scolded as he shoved his way through the crowd to stand next to his best friend.

"Killua!" Gon cheered, not phased in the slightest. "I was just talking to this guy about the map!" He glanced over - er, UP at some random dude. "This is my best friend Killua!" Gon told him proudly.

"Oh, really? He doesn't seem like as nice of a guy as you, if ya ask me," a rumbling chuckle met Killua's ears, and he looked up, up, up to figure out who this rando was. The dude was enormous, clearly a pure-blooded Titan. He wasn't a Gargantuan Titan, but a smaller sub-species known as a Humanoid Titan. The dude had deep tanned skin, even darker than Gon's, and wild brown hair that stuck out in every direction. He was ripped as hell, and towered over Gon and Killua. He was wearing a pair of baggy black pants and a white tank top that was honestly too small for him. His chest could be seen because of the stretched shirt, and was covered in chest hair. His face possessed sharp and wild features, it was almost animalistic, and he seemed to have a smirk permanently plastered onto his face. He had striking green eyes that seemed to penetrate Killua's soul.

This dude was powerful, powerful enough to set Killua's Valkyrie senses on edge.

Who the hell was this random assed dude, and why did Gon pick HIM out of all people to fraternize with?!

"You don't seem very nice either, buddy," Killua said with a hint of a growl.

The Titan laughed out loud, throwing his head back and cackling. "You're feisty! I like it!" he boomed as he ruffled Killua's hair. The Valkyrie hissed and shoved him off, the enormous man just snickering at him. And Gon, the traitorous bastard, was snickering with him! The huge brunette leaned his arm on the hybrid's head, and stood as if he were leaning against a bar. Gon continued his giggling, clearly enjoying the attention.

"Gon, who the hell is this guy?" Killua asked, getting a little ticked off. And definitely not because this dude was getting close to Gon when KILLUA was the only one who was allowed to be close to Gon cause Gon was KILLUA'S–

"This is Uvogin!" Gon chirped. For some reason the name sent a chill down Killua's spine.

Why could that be?

This Uvogin dude saluted Killua with two fingers. "Nice to meet ya, Keeruya."

"It's Killua," the Valkyrie corrected, not any less annoyed. He crossed his arms and stuck one leg out, tail swishing behind him in displeasure. "What, are you two buddies now?" the silver haired boy asked, mood darkening by the second.

"Well, Gon? Are we buddies?" Uvogin asked as he looked down at the male he was leaning on. He sensed Killua's hostility, and was playing off it like a cue ball.

"Yeah! Of course!" Gon answered as he looked back up at the Titan.

Killua frowned, getting really anxious all of a sudden. He wasn't used to feelings anxious, and accidentally let a little of his blood lust slip.

Gon glanced over at Killua, understanding flashing in his amber eyes as what his friend was feeling clicked. The Valkyrie blushed, and looked off to the side, trying to hide his face. He didn't like flashing his emotions like that… especially through his blood lust! And now Uvogin was looking at him with a raised eyebrow, just great!

I swear, I wanna rip that stupid smirk off his face–

"We can all three be buddies!" Gon declared, giving a little hop. Uvogin chuckled as he was jostled by Gon's movement.

"Why?" Killua retorted. "I don't see why this guy is anything special."

Uvogin chuckled darkly, those green eyes twinkling as if he knew something that Killua didn't. It only made the Valkyrie hate him even more.

"Don't be like that, Killua!" The Titan drawlled, getting his name right for once. "We can all be friends! Like three peas in a pod! Or three legs on a three-legged spider!"

"I don't see what crippled insects have to do with anything–" Killua began, but was interrupted when Gon and Uvogin bordered him on either side and started dancing in circles with Killua dragged in tow. Their arms were laced around Killua's shoulders, and there was no escape from the physically superior humanoids.

"Hey, the hell?!" Killua sputtered, face flushing as the three, no, the two of them made a huge scene and gained a bunch of weird looks. Uvogin and Gon just laughed, clearly enjoying themselves… as well as Killua's embarrassment.

Come to think of it, Uvogin reminded Killua a lot of Gon… a bigger, more aggressive Gon.

Killua couldn't decide if he hated that or liked that.

"Uvogin, quit messing around! We have shit to do!" The three, the two, stopped their shenanigans and turned to face the voice. It came from a grumpy looking pink haired lady. She was a female Fae, and was wearing some sort of flowy yet form fitting white getup.

"Alright, I'm coming!" he boomed, getting several bystanders to flinch. "No need to get yer' panties in a wad," he mumbled so that only Gon and Killua could hear.

The Valkyrie snorted. He hated encouraging anything about this annoying guy… but he had to admit that he liked the refusal-to-respect-authority vibe about him.

"Well then, I'm off!" he declared with a clap of his hands, reminding Killua of Kurapika in a way that made something tickle in the back of his mind. He felt like there was something he was missing here… "I'll see you two around?" he asked with a sharp-toothed and crooked grin. He had that twinkle in his eyes again.

"Yeah! I'll keep an eye out for you!" Gon cheered as he waved energetically at the Titan.

Killua only grunted, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Uvogin laughed again, and with a wave that was strikingly similar to Gon's, disappeared off after that grumpy pink-haired lady.

Killua watched him disappear, and then turned to interrogate Gon about why the hell he liked that piece of work when Kurapika appeared and interrupted his train of thought.

The Elf suddenly jumped to a stop at the two boys' side, panting as if he had been running. He looked around, eyes clearly darting back and forth beneath those sunglasses.

Killua opened his mouth to ask what the hell was up, when Leorio shoved his way through the crowd and beat him to the punch.

"What the hell," the Goblin stopped to pant. "Kurapika! Why'd you just run over here like that?! Oh, hey Gon and Killua!"

"Hey!" Gon chirped

"Yo," Killua said at the same time.

The blonde calmed down with a sigh, and scratched the back of his head. "It's… nothing. Just thought I saw something."

Huh. Weird.

He looks like he just saw a ghost… a ghost that fucked his boyfriend.

"Kurapika! Kurapika! Can we go into the park now?!" Gon all but yelled.

The blonde shook his head, clearing away whatever fog he had just been in. "Of course."

"Killua!" Gon yelled into the Valkyrie's face, taking his shoulders and shaking him about. "We have to go on ALL the slides! All of them! Look!" he pointed aggressively at the park around them. And Killua looked with a smile on his face. The park was huge, with ginormous water slides in all different shapes and colors jutting out in all directions. There were several other attractions, like that lazy river and a thing called a wave pool that Killua had seen an advertisement for on the way here. The entire place was paved with a smooth looking concrete that was slimy looking and splattered with water from the wet humanoids darting across it. The enormous Heaven's Arena tower bordered the entire south side of the water park, and there were several large staircases leading into the arena itself. There were even sections of the Arena made up of windows through which Killua could see indoor pools and slides. Huge lines and rickety staircases dripping with rust and water decorated the place and made it look like some sort of jungle. According to the map there were a ton of places to eat, along with a ton of swag shops and tables for chilling out in the sun. Palm trees lined the concrete paths, and flower boxes and garden islands dappled the entire outdoor section. The air smelt of a mixture between sunscreen and chlorine, and Killua could already feel the sun starting to burn his exposed arms and face.

"Yeah!" Killua agreed as Leorio and Kurapika gawked at the expanse of the park. "Better yet, I say we have a little competition~"

Gon's grin turned to a smirk, and he got that look in his eyes. Killua's stomach flipped, and his heart sped up. "What are the stakes?" Gon asked, always ready for a competition. Especially one with Killua. The thought made the silver haired boy's heart sing.

"There are a shit ton of slides around this place," the taller boy said as he slung his arm around Gon's shoulder and turned him to face the park with its mountain range of waxy plastic slides. "They have them rated on danger levels and fear levels, so that means that some of them are super wild! I say we go on all the slides, just like you said, but we race to see who chickens out first!"

Gon gave an excited little hop. "Yes! I'll beat you, you'll see!"

Killua barked a laugh. "As if! Remember, I spent my freetime flying back in the day, nothing can faze me!"

"Maybe so, but that was a while ago! I bet you've gotten used to the ground!"

Killua "pfft"ed. "As if! We both know who the pussy is gonna be, and it's you," he accused while flicking Gon in the forehead.

The hybrid rubbed his forehead and gave Killua a disapproving frown. "Killua, that's not a nice word."

"What, 'pussy?'" the Valkyrie purred with a cat-like smirk.

"Yes!" Gon exclaimed. "Quit saying it!"

"Pussyyyyyy~"

"Cut it out!" Gon ordered as he slapped Killua upside the head. The Valkyrie snickered as they started wrestling around.

"Alright, that's enough," Kurapika said, breaking up the first wrestling match of the day.

The two boys stood at attention, grins still plastered across their faces.

"Before Leorio and I lose you two in this place, we need to find a table to leave our stuff at! Come on, we need to secure a good one before they all are taken," the blonde walked off down one of the paths, eyes darting back and forth and searching for the perfect table.

Killua snickered. "It's a mom battle, Mamapika versus all the other Karens on the prowl!"

"I'm not a Karen, child," the Elf sighed.

"Really? You've never asked to 'speak to the manager?'"

Kurapika's ears reddened and his shoulders rose up a bit. "Maybe once or twice–"

"-HA! I called it!" The silver haired trouble maker exchanged a high five with Leorio, while Gon looked on in confusion.

"Killua, what's a 'Karen?'"

The Valkyrie lost it, his laughter echoing against the metal staircases suspended above the paths. "It means a bitch-ass old lady who causes problems for normal members of society," he choked out.

"Ohh, so it's another one of the insults you use all the time?"

"What– what do you mean 'insults I use all the time?'" Killua demanded. Leorio was having trouble breathing.

"Well, you always called the Neko-Girls 'hags,' and you said that Rohan had a tiny dick!"

Leorio howled, getting a slap across the head from Kurapika and several annoyed glances from the people waiting in the lines.

Killua sputtered, "You word it as if I'm some jackass! I just call it like I see it!"

"Oh, you're a jackass alright!" Leorio choked out.

"What?! I'm a realist! Not a jackass!"

"A 'realist!'" the Goblin wheezed, having to lean on Kurapika for balance.

Killua glared at the lanky male. "Gon, am I a jackass?!" he demanded, only expecting creative criticism from the hybrid.

"Well…" he trailed off, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish expression on his face.

Killua dramatically gasped, and was about to attack when Kurapika interrupted.

"Alright, alright! We all know that Killua is the problem child, now quit bothering him about it! Leorio, stop riling Killua up, and Gon," the hybrid perked up in surprise. "Don't say 'dick,' it's a vulgar term."

"Well what else would I call it?"

Killua and Leorio both opened their mouths to answer, and Kurapika whipped around and bonked each of them over the head with a pool noodle. "No."

The Goblin and the Valkyrie dissolved into hysterics, and with a roll of his eyes Kurapika dragged Gon to the front of the group with him. "Don't let them corrupt you, Gon," the Elf ordered. The hybrid chuckled, "Okay, I'll try… Can I carry anything for you?"

Kurapika might as well have melted. A soft mom-smile spread across his features, and he handed Gon the stack of pool noodles and his murse (man-purse). "Yes, thank you, Gon."

"Happy to help!" the horned boy chirped as he took the things into his arms.

"Try-hard!" Killua accused in a sing-song voice.

Gon looked over his shoulder, and with his hand positioned so that Kurapika couldn't see, flipped Killua off! With an innocent smile on his face!

Killua and Leorio were dead.

Gon kept walking as if nothing had happened.

"What are you two laughing about?" Kurapika demanded, looking behind him at the two trouble makers in the back (unaware of the trouble maker in disguise walking beside him).

"Oh," Killua started.

"Nothing!" Leorio finished.

With an exasperated shake of his head, Kurapika turned back around to continue his search for a table.

"Perfect!" Kurapika declared as he slammed the pool bag down onto the table. The metal gave a clang, and the Elf started unfurling the umbrella. Leorio immediately dragged out a chair and plopped down at it, not bothering in the slightest to help Kurapika. Gon and Killua were about to run off, when the blonde suddenly grabbed both of their collars.

"Not so fast!" Mamapika declared.

The two boys turned back around to face the Elf, Gon with a look of guilt and Killua with a look of mildly bridled annoyance.

"You two need to put on sunscreen! Also, I would advise against wearing those shirts around. It is more than likely that they will be ripped on the larger slides, and they will make you too hot as the day progresses."

Kurapika you fucking traitor.

"Okay! Is it spray or lotion sunscreen?" Gon chirped.

"I have both!" the Elf declared proudly, setting out several bottles of both spray and lotion sunscreen in multiple SPF numbers.

"Why'd you get so much?" Leorio snorted.

"It never hurts to be prepared," the blonde shot back immediately.

"What do the numbers mean?" Gon asked as he picked up two different bottles.

"The higher the number, the more sunscreen protection you get. Based on how much time you've spent in the sun, Gon I would advise that you use SPF 25. Killua, you are pale as a ghost so unless you want to be burnt to a crisp you need to use SPF 90."

Gon nodded as Killua stuck his tongue out at Kurapika.

"Hey Killua," Gon asked, holding up both spray and lotion for SPF 25. "Which one do you think I should use?"

"Uh…"

An unwelcomed mental image of Gon lathering sunscreen all over his toned body surfaced in Killua's mind.

"Spray," Killua choked out. "It's easier," he added just in time.

"Okay!" the hybrid exclaimed before tossing the lotion back over to Kurapika, who was currently arguing with Leorio about how even though he had scales he still needed sunscreen. Gon then shamelessly shucked his shirt off over his head, not even bothering to turn around! Killua felt his face flush at Gon's bare chest and stomach, and forced himself to look away.

Stop it! Stop it!

No more gay thoughts!

Killua slowly unbuttoned the front of his shirt. He slipped it off his shoulders, feeling self conscious. He still wasn't quite used to having his tattoos fully out for all to see… not to mention the fact that Gon was right there, and just the thought of Gon seeing him shirtless and maybe getting flustered over it made Killua's stomach flip–

"What the flying fuck!" Leorio suddenly screamed.

"Not so loud!" Kurapika complained, covering his ears and stepping away from the loud male.

"Killua, why the hell are you so jacked?!"

The Valkyrie felt his face heat up again as three sets of eyes trained on his muscular frame. The amber ones were the set he was most aware of.

"I really don't see why you're so surprised," the Valkyrie grumbled, uncomfortable with all this attention.

"It isn't fairrr," the Goblin whined. "You're a skinny little bean pole! Why do you get to be so buff under all that baggy clothing?!"

"Years and years of training," the Valkyrie deadpanned.

"I've had the same amount of training! We should be the same!" Leorio complained.

"Somehow I doubt that," Killua muttered. A million little memories flashing across the front of his mind.

"Killua's spent his whole life training!" Gon declared, and Killua startled when he leaned on his shoulder. "Plus he's a Valkyrie! So he's bound to be stronger than you!"

Killua swished his tail at Gon's words. He really liked hearing Gon brag about him.

And that was exactly what he was doing.

Bragging.

For Killua.

Leorio turned his attention from Killua to Gon. "Oh come on, how can you sound so happy when– OH MY GOD, NOT YOU TOO!"

"What?"

"You're just as jacked as Killua is! If even more so! No, you're definitely more so! What the fuck! I hate life!"

"Come on, Leorio. You know they have a higher ranking blood than you. This is just the way of things!" Kurapika said in an attempt to comfort the Goblin.

"Well that doesn't make it fair!"

"Life's not fair, old man!" Killua called out in a sing-song voice.

"Did you hear that, Killua?"

"Hear what?" the silver haired boy asked, turning to meet Gon's gaze.

"Leorio said I'm stronger than you!"

"Oh, as if! You know he's delusional! Don't let his stupid words get to your head!"

Oh, he's definitely more muscular than I am. But maybe if I refuse to look as well as refuse to acknowledge then I won't have another gay panic over it.

"If anyone's delusional it's you, jerkface!" Leorio shot in Killua's direction. "Gon's clearly more buff than you are!"

"Shut up, old man. It's none of your damn business!" Killua retorted. Gon snickered, clearly enjoying the chaos.

"It definitely is my damn business! If I'm gonna sit here and have my Goblin pride ruined then I decide to make the call about who's beating me the most! Kurapika! Tell him! You're the only one he'll listen to!"

Killua and Leorio both turned on Kurapika, dragging him into their latest bickering match.

"I have to side with Leorio on this one," he answered, not looking up from where he was setting towels out and reorganizing the contents of the mom-bag.

"What?!" Killua snapped.

"See?!" Leorio yelled, getting up and marching over to the two younger boys. He grabbed Gon by the shoulders and tugged him away from Killua. He picked him up (being far taller) and set him down before the Valkyrie. The horned boy giggled the entire time.

"Look!" Leorio commanded. "He's literally the definition of masculinity! This right here is what the peak male form looks like!"

Killua scoffed and looked in the other direction.

Fucking Leorio! This is not what I need right now! I already know that, but I can't just admit that I think Gon is stronger than I am! That would be like– like saying that I think he's the hottest being I've ever seen! Or like telling him that the black swim trunks make his skin glow! Or like telling him that his eyes look so beautiful right now because the sun is reflecting off them and setting them off like amber kaleidoscopes–

"Quit looking away, you jackass! I thought he was your best friend, can't you give him a little recognition?!" Leorio scolded.

"It's okay, Leorio!" Gon chirped.

"Huh?"

"I already know Killua thinks I look really strong!"

"What the hell? How?"

What the hell? How?!

"Look at his tail!"

Look at my–

"See the way it's twisting around at the tip? And how it's kinda low to the ground and close to Killua's right leg? It means he's thinking something and doesn't wanna admit it! Also he's trying to hide his face in his hair so I know he's embarrassed!"

"Shut up! Fuck you!" Killua exclaimed, grabbing his traitorous tail in his hand and going to hide behind Mamapika.

"Love you too, Killua!" Gon called out playfully.

"What? How did you know?" Leorio sputtered, still looking back and forth between Gon and Killua. Usually everything went over Leorio's head… but at the moment Killua's reaction couldn't help but tickle something in the back of his mind.

"I just know Killua really well!" Gon bragged. "I've spent enough time around him that I can read his tail! The time in the Neko-Village helped to cause everyone had tails! He might be good at hiding his emotions on his face, but it's impossible to hide them in his tail!"

"That's freakin' incredible, Gon! ..Can you tell me what some of his tail stuff means?"

Killua grumbled and leaned his forehead on Kurapika's shoulder, groaning in embarrassment and annoyance. His tail was still gripped in his fist. The blonde chuckled good naturedly and reached up to pat his head. Killua flicked an ear and glared up at the other male through silver lashes.

"You hear that?" the blonde said softly so that Gon and Leorio wouldn't over hear. "Gon says he loves you~~"

"Shut uppp!" Killua exclaimed, pushing Kurapika away and marching back to hide behind Gon instead. The Elf just cackled, yes. Cackled. Like an evil witch-lady.

"Mommmm, can we go already?" Killua whined. He and Gon were squirming from foot to foot as they waited to be released. They had sprayed each other down with sunscreen, but Kurapika had told them that they needed to wait for it to dry before running off. Killua also knew now that sunscreen did not taste good… because of course himself and Gon had gotten into a sunscreen fight and had started using it for violence rather than UV protection.

Kurapika had confiscated the spray sunscreen after that.

Luckily, Killua wasn't having any problems with Gon yet! He was proud of himself, actually. He had expected to be a blushing mess around Gon with his shirt off, but something about how close they were made it so much easier. It was almost as if Killua was already entirely comfortable around Gon now, and that he didn't need to readjust to being around him at all. Who would have thought that coming to terms with his feelings for Gon would have allowed him to calm down around him?

Well… Killua was still hyper-aware of Gon and the amount of skin he was showing, but he was able to mess around like usual as if nothing was the matter.

I hope I'm not getting too comfortable and letting my blush-resistance go to my head…

Kurapika sighed and stood up, finally moving away from his mom-supplies. "Yes, it should be dry by now. But don't run off too fast! Leorio and I want to go on the slides with you as well!"

Killua and Gon stumbled to a halt, having to catch each other to keep from face planting.

"Well why didn't you lead with that?!" Killua retorted.

"Yeah," Gon agreed with a sheepish smile.

Instead of sprinting off as the two younger boys had planned, the four entered the crowded pathways at a normal pace. On the way to the first slide, Kurapika gave the whole "don't forget where the table is" speech. Killua breathed in, scenting the air. Everything smelled like sunscreen, sweat, chlorine, and metal. His feet were bare, and the hot concrete burned them a little bit. Gon was walking in an irregular pattern, jumping from splotch of water to shadow to splotch of water to keep from burning his feet.

There was a nice breeze in the air, but it was still humid as hell outside. The Valkyrie supposed it made since, what with Yorknew City residing on a huge savanna and all. The climate was hot, and it was so hot outside during the day that the distance was all hazy. It was a complete opposite from the Neko-Village, which had been so cold that Killua had started wearing tail-muffs.

Killua felt curious eyes on him, and many of them.

I'm fairly certain that everyone knows I'm a Valkyrie now. I've got all my defining features out, from my tail to the entirety of my sealing tattoos. The only way someone wouldn't know is if they were painfully dense… like Leorio or Gon.

And yet… I don't feel anxious or afraid.

I have Gon to thank for that.

The first slide they selected was a pretty tame one. It was a set of slides, actually. The park was divided into multiple attractions, and this one consisted of four slides ending off in a four foot deep pool. There was a green slide, a purple slide, a blue slide, and a yellow slide. They looked pretty boring compared to the others, if Killua was being honest.

But then again, Killua had never been on a water slide, let alone a slide in the first place, so he supposed he wasn't really one to judge.

There was one giant staircase for the slides, and at the top you had to pick which one to ride on. The four of them entered the line, which wasn't bad, to Killua's surprise. They ascended a few levels of stairs before they were stopped up by the line, and it seemed to be moving relatively quickly.

Gon hopped up and down, his bare feet tapping against the dripping concrete. It was cool under the shade of the stairway, but still hot as hell, and Killua was more than ready to get wet. "I'm going on the green slide!" Gon declared.

"Shocking," Killua teased.

"I'm gonna go on the purple one!" Leorio said proudly.

"No, you're not!" Killua exclaimed, surprising the Goblin. "I'm going on the purple one!"

Gon and Kurapika chuckled. Killua had been quick to judge Gon about selecting the slide of his favorite color, yet here he was in a death stare with Leorio so he could ride the slide of his favorite color.

"Okay, okay!" Leorio squeaked. "No more aura! I'll just go on the blue one!"

"Good!" Killua said victoriously.

"I suppose I'll ride the yellow one," Kurapika murmured.

The four chattered about their first time on a water slide on the way through the line, and once they got to the top Gon was all but vibrating with excitement and impatience. "I bet I beat you to the bottom~" Killua taunted.

"They're all the same, and only let us go down at the same time, so there's no way that would work… but I bet I'll have more fun than you!" Gon countered.

Killua cracked a laugh. "How are we supposed to measure the amount of fun we have?"

"I guess you won't know until you lose~"

"Hah! As if!"

The life guards motioned for the next set of four, and Gon and Killua were at their slides in a flash. Gon even cracked the concrete a little! Leorio and Kurapika followed at a normal pace, Kurapika chuckling at the hyper boys and Leorio starting to look nervous about the slide.

They were body slides with no tunnels, so floats or mats weren't required. Killua grabbed onto the frame of his slide and sat himself down at the top. The water was comfortably cool against his legs, and the gentle pull of the current tickled his tail and pulled at the fabric of his swim trunks.

"Ready.." the lifeguard prompted.

Killua peeked at Gon over the frame of his slide, and the hybrid met his gaze with a challenging grin… although the expression was less challenging and more excited.

"Go!"

Using the frame of his slide, Killua slung himself forward as fast as he calculated was possible without flying over the edge. He didn't know what he had been expecting, but this was shockingly fun! It wasn't as fast as he had hoped, and the lines between the different panels of slide were uncomfortable against his back, but the slide was so fun! Killua laughed out loud as he was slung around curves under the other three slides. It was over all too soon, and Killua shot out into the pool at the end, falling into the water with a splash.

Killua stood up in the water, shaking his wet hair like a dog. Still laughing in joy, he glanced over at where Gon had come out. The hybrid was jumping up and down in the water, his joyous energy barely contained by his body.

The two of them met gazes and immediately yelled "That was awesome!"

"Let's do it again! But I wanna try your slide, Killua!" Gon yelled.

"Hell yeah!" the Valkyrie agreed, feeding off Gon's excitement and getting even more excited himself.

"Wait up!" Kurapika cried out as the hybrid and the Valkyrie scrambled out of the pool and sprinted back up the stairs.

Gon and Killua each went on all four slides three times before finally having enough. Leorio and Kurapika struggled to keep up, the other two lapped them twice. The younger of the four waited impatiently for the Elf and the Goblin to get out of the pool.

"Come on!" Gon complained.

"Hurry it up, old man!" Killua exclaimed, looking too happy for Leorio to scold.

Kurapika got out of the water and walked over to Gon and Killua, squeezing his hair out a bit. "Where are we going next?" he asked.

"We wanna go on the big red one!" Gon exclaimed, giving a little hop of excitement.

"Okay then!" Kurapika said. "Leorio! Come on!" he yelled to the Goblin.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" he yelled back, dragging himself up and out of the water.

"Come on, before other people start to go over there too!" Killua commanded, the only warning Kurapika and Leorio received before Gon and Killua took off running for the next slide. The four ran across the pathway, and Killua grabbed a four person float before they rushed up the stairs.

"Um," Leorio said. "This one is really big."

"Yeah!" Gon agreed.

"No shit," Killua retorted. "That's why we're going on it! The description says there's a drop in it!" An evil smile crossed the Valkyrie's face, and Leorio paled.

"A drop? What's that mean?"

"Honestly, Leorio. What do you think it means?" Kurapika sighed.

"We're gonna drop?!"

"Yep, now come on!" Killua ordered as they reached the top. The life guards helped them set their float into the mouth of the slide, and all four piled in.

"No! I am not going backwards!" Leorio declared.

"Alright, I'll go backwards then," Kurapika offered as he stepped into the back facing spot. Leorio sat across from Kurapika, and Gon and Killua sat on either side. Their feet all rested in the middle of the float. One pair a dark and ruddy tan, one pair pale as daisy petals, one pair a warm apricot, and one pair green and scaly.

The lifeguards slung them into the slide, which was a dark tunnel lined with colorful LED lights. Killua gripped the handles and had a staring contest with Gon as the ride got started. They were trying to see who would scream or react first.

"Why's it so dark– woah!" Leorio yelled as they whipped through the first curve.

"This one is rather fast!" Kurapika said with a joyful laugh as they were slung back and forth and round and round.

"AHHHHHH, FUCKKKK, FUCK FUCK FUCK!" Leorio shrieked as the circular float turned around and he was facing backwards.

Killua lost the contest when he burst out laughing, and Gon was quick to follow.

The three of them (Leorio was just screaming) cheered as they sped through the slide, and then all simultaneously screamed when the drop arrived and the float suddenly fell a couple of feet before continuing.

Killua laughed with Gon at their overreactions, and once again the slide was over all too soon. The float shot out into the ending pool, and the four were splashed with water… though Leorio got the most wet, being facing backwards.

Buzzing with adrenaline, Killua raced Gon out of the water, laughing like a madman all the way. "Let's go again!" Gon cheered.

"No! Absolutely not! That shit was terrifying!" Leorio argued.

"Oh come on, old man–"

"-Why don't we try the two pink slides over there instead?" Kurapika offered, always holding the olive branch.

"Come on, mom! I had such a good insult!" Killua complained as the group trotted to the next attraction.

"And that's exactly why I interrupted you," Kurapika chuckled as he ruffled Killua's fluffy white hair.

"OO! OO!" Gon yelled. "This one is a two person slide! I'm going with Killua!"

"No room for argument there," Kurapika said contentedly. "Leorio, looks like you're with me."

"Do I have to?" he whined.

"It's fun!" Gon declared. "Yes, you have too!"

Leorio moaned dramatically as Gon and Kurapika picked up their floats, and before Killua knew it they were at the top of the staircase. The lines were super annoying, but with Gon there to horse around with they always went by so fast!

Leorio and Kurapika got on the hot pink slide, while Gon and Killua got on the magenta one. Gon set the float down, and made to get in the front seat when the lifeguard stopped him.

"They heavier humanoid must sit in the back," instructed a green skinned alien through a blocky speech translator device strapped to their face.

"Oh! Okay!" Gon gave Killua a smirk. "Looks like I win."

"What? How do you win?" the silver haired boy complained as Gon sat in the back seat.

"I'm heavier than you! And that means I'm bigger! So I win!"

"Oh, cut your bragging!" Killua said as he stepped into the mouth of the slide to get into the front seat. He used Gon's face for balance as he climbed into the float. "We both know I'm taller than you, you're just fat!"

"I'm not fat!" Gon shot back. "You're just a bag of bones!"

"Do I look like a bag of bones to you?" Killua retorted as he turned around in the float to glare at Gon.

The hybrid snickered. "A little."

"Liar!" Killua declared as he poked Gon in the forehead.

"Please face forward," the alien lifeguard asked.

"Quit causing problems, child!" Kurapika ordered from across the platform.

Killua jokingly flipped the blonde off, and Gon snickered. He then complied, and faced forward sitting all the way down. The Valkyrie put his hands on the handels, and waited for the alien to press the button to turn on the conveyor belt.

"Please place your legs here," they instructed.

"Oh, sorry!" Gon responded, and slipped his legs under Killua's arms.

The Valkyrie startled at the close contact, and relaxed back into his seat. He was unsure of where to put his tail, but it wrapped around Gon's leg on autopilot.

"Enjoy the ride!" the alien cheered as they pressed the "go" button.

The float slid forward and down the first slope, Gon and Killua cackled as they slid around the first curve.

"WoAAhhh," they exclaimed, voices forced to be low and loud. They repeated the cry on every curve, and could barely manage to make the next joking cry with all the laughing they were doing.

Again still, the slide was over too fast. Gon and Killua rode that slide seven times, and the ones beside it 12 times. Kurapika and Leorio were dragged on two more attractions before they ran out of gas, and the blonde called out to the boys to stop their running.

"What for?" Gon asked.

"Yeah! We have crowds to beat! The longer we wait the more likely it will be that the straight down slide will get a line!"

"You say that as if a straight down slide is a good thing," Leorio retorted.

"I know, Killua, just give me a moment," the Elf said. "You two are full of energy… and Leorio and I are finding ourselves unable to keep up with you! So we are going to go to the lazy river and let the two of you sprint around as much as you like."

"Oh thank god!" Leorio exclaimed.

"Okay! See ya later–" Gon started, only to be interrupted when Kurapika hurried and grabbed the two boys' shoulders before they could disappear in a cloud of dust.

"Hold on! I'm not done yet! Bring these with you," the blonde dug through his fanny pack (I still can't believe he's wearing that damned thing! I have the drippiest mom ever!) Kurapika handed Gon and Killua the cell phones they had purchased the day before. Each of them were in a waterproof cell phone sleeve attached to a lanyard.

"Why?" Killua asked as he took the device.

"For communication! It will be much easier to find the two of you if we can just call," the blonde clarified. "I'll have my ringer on, so just call whenever you're ready for lunch."

"Okay!" Gon chirped as he hung the lanyard around his neck.

"And don't wait too horribly long for lunch!" Kurapika added. "I'd prefer not to be waiting on the two of you until sunset."

"Yeah, yeah, we know, Mamapika," Killua said as he put his own lanyard around his neck.

"Goodbye!" Kurapika called out as the two boys sprinted off. "If you feel your sunscreen wearing off make sure to add another coat! Don't cut the lines! And most importantly BE CAREFUL! ..They can't hear me, can they?"

"Nope, they're long gone by now," Leorio sighed.

Kurapika sighed in utter relaxation as he leaned back against his float. The lazy river was enormous, so everyone was comfortably spread out. He did not condone the Spiders and their actions… but he had to admit that they could make one hell of an amusement park. The water was turquoise and clear. It was the perfect temperature, cooled by the chilled concrete and warmed by the shining sun. Palm trees and other imported tropical plants hung over the manmade river, and gentle jets pushed the floats and their occupants along.

This was far better of a time than chasing Gon and Killua around and going on slides.

Kurapika pushed his sunglasses back up his nose from where they had slipped down due to sweat, and closed his eyes. He was ready for a nap.

"Yo, Kurapika?" Leorio asked, ruining the peaceful moment.

"What is it?" the blonde sighed, he had to admit that he was a little annoyed.

"So… about Killua…"

That tone in his voice…

The Elf sat up, no longer annoyed.

"What about him?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"He just…" the Goblin trailed off, brow furrowed as he searched for the words. "Ya know what, imma just be completely straight forward: do you think he has the hots for Gon?"

Kurapika swallowed a giggle. Maybe he was a little bit like a schoolgirl… "Why do you say that?"

The Goblin groaned in exasperation. "Ahh! It's hard to explain! Don't go thinking I'm weird or anything for thinking this! But there's just something about Killua. Like, today! When I was lecturing him about Gon's physical perfection? He was acting kinda weird! And now that I think about that, I think about all these other little moments and I'm starting to think that maybe he's got it for Gon!"

Kurapika leaned his sunglasses down and sat up in his float to look over at Leorio. "Ah, so you finally caught on?"

"Wha– you KNEW?!"

"Yes, I'm his mother, of course I knew."

"Well I'm his… uncle, or whatever, so why didn't he tell me?!"

"Just goes to show that he likes me more than you," Kurapika quipped.

"Oh shut up! Of course he likes you, you're his mother! He has too! AH, this isn't the point! Killua is seriously all hot and bothered for Gon?!"

"I… really wish you hadn't worded it like that, but yes."

"Holy shit!"

"Holy shit indeed."

The Goblin sat up in his float, grinning with his hand on his chin. It seemed that Kurapika had a fellow friend-shipper, as Killua liked to call it. "I KNEW he was gay!"

"Who said he was gay?" Kurapika asked, quirking his eyebrow.

"Oh please, I have a sense for these things! My gaydar is flawless!"

"A straight man? With a flawless gaydar?" Kurapika leaned back against his float. "I'm not convinced." Besides, we all know that my gaydar is the best.

"Um! I am bisexual, for your information!"

Kurapika sat back up again. "Hold on, really?"

"Well, duh! It's written all over my shitty chair posture!"

The blonde gave him an annoyed look. "Ah yes, the only defining aspect of bisexuals."

"Hey! Don't question the gaydar!"

The Elf rolled his eyes. "Back to the initial issue, yes, Killua is gay."

"Score! What about you?"

Kurapika glared at him.

"Ohh, so it's you and Killua!"

"I didn't even say anything!"

"The look said it all."

"Unbelievable," Kurapika grumbled.

"So Killua likes Gon… huh. Unexpected, but also so painfully obvious now that I'm thinking about it. How long has he liked him for?"

"I'll let Killua tell his own story," Kurapika said simply.

"Fair, fair," the Goblin responded, nodding. "Hmm, he clearly has it really bad."

"Yes," Kurapika agreed.

"But knowing him, he's gonna suppress those feelings and hide them from Gon."

"You hit the nail right on the head," the Elf sighed.

"Should we…" a practically wicked grin crossed the Goblin's face. "Try and help him out?"

Kurapika found a smile slipping onto his face as well. "I've been forcing him into unsatisfactory situations every once in a while… although. I do not think Killua would appreciate it if we tried to get involved. As much as I would love too… Killua's mind is too fragile at this point. I fear that if he were to endure too much strain at this critical point in his life, then he might just snap."

Leorio's grin faded, a look of compassion and sincerity filling those yellow scleraed eyes of his. "Yeah… I agree, actually."

He really does care for Killua.

"So…" the Goblin started again. "Do you think Gon likes him back?"

"That, I am not sure. I have always been great with reading people, however Gon is a mystery to me. It seems that Killua is the only one truly able to understand him in full."

Leorio sighed. "They really are meant for each other."

"That's exactly what I've been telling Killua!" Kurapika agreed. "But he won't listen to me. He is convinced that Gon is straight, and that he could never like him back. Speaking of which, your gayday hasn't failed thus far, what's your take on Gon?"

Leorio deflated, "I have no clue. He's impossible to read."

"Unfortunate. I can't get a read on him either. He's just so…"

"Gon," the two of them said at the same time, and then chuckled.

"Well, we'll keep our eyes peeled, right?" Leorio offered.

"Of course, the second Gon shows the slightest sign of reciprocation we'll be on him like white on rice."

"We gotta do this for my home boy Killua!" Leorio cheered.

Kurapika shared a laugh with Leorio. He was hopeful for Killua, he truly was. He was certain that Gon was not straight at the very least, and he just knew that the hybrid would return the Valkyrie's feelings one day. However, when would that day arrive? And was Kurapika's certainty just wishful thinking and a biased opinion?

Only time would tell.

Killua shot through the vertical pool at the end of the slide, water sprayed in all directions and he couldn't keep the grin off his face. He was back on his feet the second his momentum faded away, and skipped (yes. Killua skipped. He didn't believe it either) over to Gon.

"What did you think?!" Gon demanded, the two of them hopping up and down together, balls of adrenaline and hyper energy. "I saw one lady cry when she got off!"

"That was badass!" Killua cheered.

"We need to go on the giant one with the toilet bowl next!" Gon exclaimed.

"Yes! Right now!"

The two of them sprinted away from their previous slide, which had been a tube body slide entirely of loopty loops. The tore over to one of the doors leading to a section of the indoor park. The staircase for this particular slide were inside, as the slide was high as fucking hell.

Gon ripped the door open, and the two immediately shivered at the onslaught of blasting air conditioning on their wet bodies. "There's the line!" Gon declared, pointing to an enormous staircase that was right beside the door.

"Perfect, let's hurry and grab a float– oh fuck."

"What?" Gon asked, running into Killua's back.

"It's a six person ride! We're only two! Even if we went and grabbed the old men it would be only four…"

Gon frowned. "Aw man! I really wanna go… hey! I say we just grab a float and go up anyways!"

Killua snickered, "So we ignore the occupancy limit and give the life guards hell if they don't let us go?"

"Exactly!"

"Perfect idea!" Killua exclaimed, and the two of them high fived before grabbing one of the enormous circular floats. The two of them made to sprint up the stairs, but were stopped by several female voices.

"Wait!"

"Yeah, don't go! Yet!"

Oh, disgusting. Other people, we better hurry up the stairs before we get caught up–

"Hm? What for?"

God freakin' dammit, Gon!

A group of four girls trotted over to where Gon and Killua stood at the foot of the stairs. The Valkyrie swished his tail in displeasure, and glared them down. That didn't stop them though. Because Gon was being a cuddly little puppy like always and making them feel welcome, which they definitely weren't!"

"We really wanted to go on this slide, but we don't have enough people!" an elven girl with chocolate skin and red hair explained. "We have four, and you guys have two, so do you wanna make a group to go on the slide? They only let groups of six on, no more and no less."

"We already tried," added an Alien girl with blue skin and weird looking purple tentacles for hair.

"Can you pleaseee?" begged one of them, a Gargoyle with silvery gray, rock hard skin and purple eyes.

"Yeah, it'll be so much fun!" declared a… well, we might as well be screwed… A Neko-Girl.

They were, indeed, screwed. The Neko-Girls in the village hadn't ever taken no for an answer, and this girl didn't either. She had all but dragged Killua up the stairs when he had tried to be difficult! Now she wouldn't leave his side, and it was super annoying.

Why the hell do Neko-Girls like me so much?!

Circe was cool and all, but this chick is totally annoying! Just like Alvara and Hecate.

"Oh my god, these stairs are so big!" the Gargoyle girl, Fella, exclaimed.

"I know right? Come on, get in everybody!" Declared the dark skinned Elf, whose name was Thorne. She held her phone as high as she could reach, and the other three girls squeezed Gon and Killua into a selfie. Killua refused to smile, until Gon elbowed him in the gut. Then he smiled. But just for Gon, not for any of these hags-to-be.

They were all sixteen or seventeen, and for some reason it excited them that Gon and Killua were eighteen and therefore older than them.

Killua would never understand girls.

And he didn't need to!

"That was such a cute picture!" the Neko-Girl, Catrine, cooed. She was still standing all up close to Killua's left side. Gon was on his right, but even his calming presence wasn't enough to dispel the annoyance that Catrine brought him. She had pale skin and hot pink hair that fell to the small of her back. Her eyes were a shimmering feline yellow, and her ears and tail were black. "You have to send it to me!"

"Oh!" the alien girl, Scythe, bubbled up. "Can we have your numbers so we can send it to you?"

Killua opened his mouth to refuse, but of course Gon interrupted and agreed.

"Sure!" the hybrid chipred. "You'll have to show me how to do it, though. I'm not very good with technology!"

The silver haired boy watched in annoyance as the four girls swarmed Gon and showed him how to access his own phone number, how to enter their numbers into his phone, and how to use the texting app. The five of them giggled as they sent silly messages back and forth, and Killua begrudgingly lugged the float up the stairs, wanting nothing more than for this stupid ride to be over already.

The Valkyrie startled as his phone buzzed against his chest. He fumbled with one hand as he drew it out of its sleeve, and turned it on. He had a message from Gon. The rectangular little notification was oddly satisfying, and Killua swiped up to activate the facial recognition feature. He opened his messages, and clicked on Gon's name, the only conversation there.

Gon: Hello

Killua glanced over at the hybrid, who was snickering while concealed within a forest of females. The Valkyrie could feel a smile creeping onto his face, he couldn't help it! It was Gon.

Killua: Yo.

Gon: Isn't this fun?!

Killua: I'm not even five feet away from you. You could just talk to me, ya idiot

Gon: I know ;p

You should join us over here!

Killua: Why in the flying fuck would I wanna do that?

Gon: Come on, Killua!

You know you'll have fun!

Thorne, Scythe, Fella, and Catrine are super nice!

Killua: Somehow I doubt that.

Gon: If you don't come over here I'll give them your number :)

Killua: You wouldn't

A text notification from an unknown number appeared on Killua's phone, followed by three more.

Hi! It's Thorneeeee

Catrine here!

It's fella!

This is Scythe!

Killua's eyebrow twitched, he struggled to keep his expression composed.

He would not give them the satisfaction.

Killua: you BITCH

Gon: B)

Killua met Gon's eyes, and the hybrid blinked and then smirked.

Come over here~

The Valkyrie swished his tail in displeasure.

I don't wanna.

The hybrid made a pouting face, and the girls were quick to follow. Killua grumbled, and adjusted his grip on the float. He could never say no to that damned face–

He slowly walked over to join the others. Gon and his fan club cheered and hopped up and down in excitement. Catrine immediately glued herself to Killua's side, and for some reason Scythe joined her.

"So what are you guys here in Yorknew City for?" Thorne asked the two boys, quick to start a conversation. "We're visiting the water park for a day on our school break! It's the best one in the entire city!"

Socializing.

Gross.

"Killua and I are fighting in Heavan's Arena!" Gon responded immediately, making Killua vomit a little in his mouth. Why did he always have to be so nice!? But then again… Killua couldn't help but love that aspect of his friend's personality. If Gon weren't the person he was, then the Valkyrie never would have known this level of joy.

The girls gasped, glancing between the two boys in shock.

"No way!" Fella squealed.

"Deadass?!" Catrine demanded.

"No. We're just lying," Killua deadpanned, earning a shove in the head from Gon. The girls giggled at the display.

"What he means is that yes, we are," Gon corrected with an exasperated but playful grin in the antisocial mercenary's direction.

"Are you guys, like, really strong?" Scythe asked with stars in her eyes.

Killua glowered, not liking the way the girls were looking at Gon. He knew that they were looking at him too… but he didn't care about that. Gon was HIS and no one else was allowed to have him.

"What floor are you on?" Thorne asked as the group moved up in the line.

"We're on the 199th floor!" Gon declared. "I had to convince Killua not to leave floor 200 so we could stay on-site and come to the water park and stuff!"

"Floor 199?! That's incredible!" Fella breathed.

"We have a couple of badasses on our hands," Thorne cheered, doing a strange little dance with Scythe… which Gon of course joined in on.

"I'm really glad you stayed on floor 199," Catrine purred almost into Killua's ear. "Otherwise we never would have met you!"

"Yeah, yeah," Killua mumbled, fighting the urge to shove the Neko-Girl off of his arm.

I wish it were Gon hanging off of me like this… but he's too busy with Thorne, Scythe, and Fella. Doesn't he know how much it pisses me off to see him acting like that around all these girls? They're clearly flirting with him! But he's too damn dense to notice…

I know that all I'd have to do is just tell him how I feel…

But I can never do that.

We're friends, and I can't take advantage of him that way. I don't want him to feel obligated to like me back. I want him to like me back all on his own! But… I don't need any of that. Gon says that I am his best friend, and that's all I could ever want or need!

Yeah… that's all.

Nothing more..

"Yes! We're finally here!" Gon cheered, hopping up and down as the group of six ascended the final couple of stairs. The life guards at the top grinned at them in greeting, and beckoned the teenage humanoids to the mouth of the slide. Killua set the float down on the conveyor belt, and held it for everyone to get on.

Gon was the first one, of course, never able to contain his energy. Killua chuckled affectionately as he shoved his way past the girls to climb into the spot facing directly backwards. With giggles of their own, Thorne and Fella climbed into the seats on either side of Gon.

Killua pretended not to be disappointed.

Scythe and Catrine sat on either side of Throne and Fella, and the lifeguards stepped in to hold the float as Killua took the spot across from Gon. With girls bordering them on either side, Gon and Killua met each other's gazes from across the float.

The hybrid grinned and kicked Killua's feet to dispel some of his excited energy, and the Valkyrie kicked back immediately, a grin sliding across his features. The girls giggled as they were sprayed by the boys' shenanigans, and the lifeguards gave a cheer as they slung the float down the slide.

Killua didn't break Gon's amber gaze as they slipped around the first curve, moving suspensefully slow for what they knew was coming up around the next couple of bends. The girls shrieked and giggled, riddled with adrenaline as they picked up speed.

Gon threw his head back and laughed out loud as they whipped around a tight curve, sliding up the wall of the enormous tube. Killua laughed, brought to joy by Gon's expression alone. The hybrid really was nothing but a shitty little adrenaline junky. The girls noticed this and fed off of his energy, Thorne and Fella leaning in closer to Gon, who was not scared in the least.

Killua was the picture of calm, only reacting because when Gon had fun he had fun… well… he also liked water slides, okay?

Catrine and Scythe pressed up against Killua just like the other two against Gon, the Neko-Girl even going so far as to wrap her tail around the assassin's waist. Killua found this annoying, but was unable to protest when the float suddenly dropped down a steep incline. The girls screamed, and Gon gave a throaty laugh.

Gon's laugh did strange things to Killua's stomach, and he found himself grateful for the dark lighting in the slide, otherwise the others would see his blush.

From the drop the float slid on into the main event: the toilet bowl. Female screams echoed against the plastic walls as the six were slung back and forth and up and down the walls. Gon was cackling like a mad man, that telltale look in his eyes once again. The drops got Killua's stomach, and he couldn't help but laugh along with Gon.. it was almost as if it were just the two of them.

But that fantasy was for naught.

Thorne and Fella were terrified, and rightfully so, this slide was wacked as fuck. However, they were sitting next to Gon, who vomited positive energy wherever he went. The two girl's fear was wiped away and replaced by joy as they laughed along with the hybrid. They leaned up against him, smooshed against his either side with their arms wrapped around his chest for dear life. Gon didn't grip them back, like the polite humanoid he was, but he didn't push them away either.

Killua found his fun ruined… and his joyous smile dimmed into a strained one. Gon was having too much fun to notice, as well as the girls. And he supposed that was for the best. Catrine was all but straddling his lap, and he knew she was trying to be sneaky about it but the Neko-Girl was most definitely scenting him. Scythe was clinging to him as well, and had tucked her head up under Killua's chin.

Most males his age would be ecstatic with all this female attention… most straight, bi, or pan males, that was. Killua, however, could only think about how jealous he was of Thorne and Fella.

They got to be all over Gon… clinging to his side, touching his toned torso and waist. They were right up next to him, experiencing the full blast of his positive energy, his rumbling laugh vibrating their chests and his warm body slick up against theirs.

Killua wanted to be in their place so much that it hurt… so much that he had to give his aura a tight tug to prevent it from revealing his emotions… Luckily the confrontation with Uvogin that morning had alerted Killua to the loosening of his aura whenever he got too in his feelings about Gon.

The Valkyrie's chest was glowing with a jealous yet passionate fire, and his stomach twisted as he imagined himself snuggled up against Gon like that. He felt his pining for Gon take a sudden double in size, and he bit his tongue to keep his face from getting all lovesick and jealous looking.

The float exited the toilet bowl, and the final turns and curves passed in a daze. The group rushed out of the water, still high on adrenaline and fear, and trotted back out the door and into the outdoor water park. The girls hung around, clearly having no intention of leaving. Catrine continued hanging off of Killua's arm, and the other three girls fluttered about Gon like a flock of birds.

Killua's chest was panging, and he was drowning in waves of possessiveness and jealousy.

This wasn't fair! Killua was the one who liked Gon, and it didn't matter if these girls liked him too because Killua was Gon's best friend and no one else mattered! The Valkyrie's mood darkened, and he was well aware that he was being a total yandere, but there was only one thing that mattered now:

Killua needed to lose these damned hags.

The group of six had walked around for a little bit. The girls wanted to find another six person slide, and of course Gon didn't have any complaints. Killua watched from beneath silver bangs as the sociable hybrid chattered back and forth with Thorne, Scythe, and Fella. Catrine had stayed glued to Killua, and was having a one sided conversation with him.

The Valkyrie was searching for his opening to drag Gon away, but so far nothing promising had shown up.

"Your tattoos are so cool," Catrine praised, reaching up to trace the vines twining around Killua's shoulder.

"Yeah," the assassin grunted, the same response he had been giving for the past fifteen minutes. Unfortunately for him, Catrine was not discouraged in the least by his standoffish attitude. She was stubborn as hell, and clearly not one to drop Killua for the more bubbly Gon.

"They're so dark and powerful, I can even sense a little aura coming off of them!"

"Yeah."

"They make you look so dark and handsome," the Neko-Girl sighed. "They really bring out your muscles."

Killua gave her a side eye.

They do? I just thought they looked like a disease covering my body. I've never really liked them, but Gon always tells me that they're cool… Does he think that they make me look stronger too? And does he think that in a platonic way or a romantic way?

Stop it!

Stop wishing for things like that!

Gon's your best friend! Stop trying to take even more from him than you already have.

This is enough.

Just his presence is enough to fill me with enough happiness to be drunk for the rest of my life.

"What are they for?" Catrine asked, blinking a couple of times in an attempt to mimic Gon's puppy eyes.

"They're for sealing my wings," Killua found himself responding.

Catrine's feline eyes sparkled. "That's right! You're a Valkyrie, aren't you?"

"Yeah," Killua went back to grunting.

"Your wings must be really powerful if it took sealing tattoos like these to lock them up."

"Yeah." The silver haired boy tuned the Neko-Girl out. He had no interest in her advances. She had her tail wrapped around his thigh, which was pretty annoying, but he could tolerate it. Right now he needed to find an excuse to leave these hags in the dust.

Killua refocused his ears on the conversation in front of him.

"-I like to fight with a fishing rod, but it's too bad that it's not an approved weapon for Heaven's Arena!" Gon said to his fanclub trio. How does he not notice that they're being flirty and not trying to be his friends? Gods, he's so dense that it's painful.

"That's too bad!" Fella pouted.

"Yeah, there aren't many rules in the Arena but those that are there don't make much sense," Scythe sighed.

"Like the one about impressing a Troupe member," Thorne added. Gon and Killua perked up at this.

"What do you mean?" Gon asked.

"I'm sure you've already had the rundown on how to earn money," the dark skinned Elf teased.

"Well, yeah, but it was a whole lot of words," Gon smiled sheepishly with his hand behind his head.

Fella giggled and patted his head, "Aw, it's alright!"

Killua swallowed a territorial growl.

"I just don't think it's fair that impressing a Troupe member can earn you so much money," Thorne continued. "It's not like they watch every fight, so it's not an even chance of impressing them! There are so many fights happening every day, and they only show up by chance. And usually only to fights on the 300th floor and up."

"What's so special about the 300th floor?" Gon asked.

"Apparently the fights get super intense from then on out, like, wayyyy more intense all of a sudden," Fella answered.

"I've never watched any fights on the 300th floor and up, seeing people get dismembered freaks me out!" Scythe admitted. "Also the fights on the final 100 floors are always really hard to follow."

"I can't wait to get to the 300th floor," Gon murmured, a fire in his voice.

"Why's that?" Fella inquired.

"Yeah, if I were you I'd be totally scared!" Scythe commented.

"Well, if the fights are really that intense and brutal, then I can't wait to get up there!" Gon said, a hint of an excited growl in his voice.

The girls shivered a little as his aura flared up slightly, and then giggled flirtatiously.

Seriously. Do they have an inferiority kink or something!? What the hell.

"Aw, you're such a little adrenaline junky!" Scythe chirped, leaning against Gon's arm.

"Still cute though!" Throne cooed, linking her elbow with Gon's.

Fella wrapped her arms around Gon's shoulders from behind and hung off of him playfully. The strong hybrid continued walking without wobbling at all. "Do you like pain?" the Gargoyle asked suggestively with a giggle.

Killua felt his tail bristle.

"People do like to call me a masochist," Gon thought out loud with a finger on his chin.

Killua almost choked on air. That was sooo directed at me.

The girls laughed at the admission, clearly underestimating as well as enjoying how dense yet blunt Gon was.

"You're too funny, ya know that Gon?" Scythe giggled.

"I wasn't trying to be funny," Gon commented innocently.

The girls laughed again, leaning closer to him and hanging all over him.

Killua was this close. This close!

"Awww, I never noticed your speckles!" Thorne cooed. "You look like a little baby deer!"

"You're so adorable," Fella praised, squishing her breasts up against Gon's back. Killua noticed the hybrid's ears turn a little pink, and that dangerous mixture of possessiveness and jealousy gathered strength in his gut. It was accented by the all-too-familiar sense of bitterness whenever Killua was reminded that Gon liked girls… not him.

Scythe touched one of Gon's horns with her finger. "They're so sharp!" she giggled.

"Can I braid your hair?" Fella begged.

"If you want to," Gon agreed. The Gargoyle cheered and started twining her fingers through his damp black-green locks.

"Smile for the camera!" Thorne cheered, and Gon grinned up at the phone along with his fanclub. "Awesome! Your shark teeth are just too cute!"

"Shark teeth? I've never thought about it like that!" the hybrid declared with a laugh.

Scythe poked her finger into Gon's grinning mouth and pricked her index finger on one of his teeth. "Those are sharp too!" she giggled again. The tan boy snickered at all the close contact. He didn't push them away or ask them to back off… and that was really ticking Killua off.

Killua was the one he always rough housed with!

What did these hags have that he didn't?! Nothing!

Except curves and tits… but Killua shoved those bitter thoughts away. He was so much better than they were! Gon didn't need them, he only needed Killua!

Thorne leaned in and kissed Gon on the cheek, snapping a selfie on his surprised expression as she did so.

Nope.

That was the last straw.

Killua slipped out of Catrine's embrace and marched up to Gon. He weaved in between the crowd of girls, and slipped his arm under Fella's and around Gon's shoulders, pushing her off in the process. The Valkyrie pressed himself up against Gon's side, and leaned in close, way closer than necessary.

"Gon, look!" he commanded, pointing off at the tallest slide he could see while pressing their heads close together.

"Hm?" Gon voiced, rolling with Killua's close contact and following his instruction like it was nothing. He was like putty in the Valkyrie's hands… he'd listen to anything Killua told him, and that made his chest warm.

"We've gotta go on that slide!" Killua declared.

"Oh! Great idea! That one looks awesome!" Gon turned his head towards Killua and grinned that competitive grin at him, amber eyes burning with anticipation. From this close, Killua could see every detail of the hybrid's eyes and face. He could see the rough layers of bone making up his horns, the change of skin texture on his speckles, the residue of sunscreen he was starting to sweat off. His hair was damp and slightly floppy, his ruddy tan skin was covered in a sheen of pool water and sweat. His amber eyes glowed, shades of gold and orange and yellow swirling about like magma.

Killua felt his face start to heat up, and he was unable to stop his eyes from flicking down towards Gon's mouth. His lips were full and grinning, showing off those sparkling sharp teeth. Just begging to be kissed–

The Valkyrie quickly played his eye's movement off as just him moving away, and released Gon from his hold.

Shit. That was close.

"That one over there?" Scythe clarified, pointing at the slide.

"Yup, that one," Killua said with a mischievous flick of his tail.

"I dunno," Fella murmured, moving to hide behind Gon again. "It looks kinda scary!"

"Are you sure that one's okay to ride?" Catrine asked with big round eyes as she assumed her place at Killua's side.

"Can we pick another one?" Thorne asked, voice high and begging for attention.

They're pretending to be afraid, just as I predicted. Dramatic attention whore hags.

That won't work on me, bitches!

"Oh, well if you don't wanna go then that's fine!" Killua said quickly, face molding into the perfect mask of false compassion. "We'll just go without you! We don't wanna pressure you or anything."

Killua grabbed Gon's wrist and started making off towards the slide. "Come on, Gon!"

"Wait–" Scythe protested, seeing that they were losing the two boys.

"See ya!" Killua cheered, before darting off into the crowd so fast that it was as if he had teleported.

"Killua, what about–" Gon started.

"-If they don't wanna go then they don't wanna go!" the silver haired boy interrupted, leaving no room for Gon's goody-goody ass to start being guilty.

Killua grabbed a two person float and sprinted up the stairs, making sure that if the girls happened to follow that they wouldn't get a chance to catch back up. The Valkyrie's calves burned as he rushed up flight after flight, arm straining from dragging Gon along.

The mercenary only slowed once they reached the top, finally in the clear.

"You really wanna go on this slide, huh?" Gon asked, chuckling.

"Well, yeah," Killua declared, feeling a little guilty about lying. "Look at this thing! It's awesome!" Well, that wasn't a lie. The slide did look really cool. Well… now that he was looking around…

Killua glanced around as they walked up the last flight of stairs. There wasn't another water park goer in sight, this slide was completely dead… and Killua didn't blame them. He was starting to understand why the girls had acted like that… maybe they really had been scared after all. Killua hadn't really looked at the slide, he had just picked the highest one knowing that they would likely pretend to be scared to get attention and an excuse to be all over Gon and him again. But now that he was here…

There were warning and caution signs all over the place. The fear index was off the charts, and the slide was flagged for loopty loops, straight down drops, dangerous inclines, and even jumps! Yes! Fucking jumps! As in, you fly in EMPTY AIR from one section of slide to the next! This thing looked like a fucking death trap! Killua was starting to regret his decision–

"Hey, Gon–"

"-Oh my gosh, this slide is even better than I realized!"

Oh, well of fucking course.

Gon picked up the pace, all but skipping to the top platform. He had that damned look in his eyes, not just the competitive one, but the one he made when he knew that he would likely die and was excited anyways!

Godammit! Of all the time for your psychotic tendencies to kick into gear!

I'm actually fucking scared this time!

I swear to god, this slide has fucking aura of its own!

I can sense the vengeful souls of those who have died on it!

He really could.

As a Valkyrie, he could sense the violent deaths of other humanoids when he passed over their grave sights. And this devil slide had quite the body count.

"Holy shit, is that a pentagram–"

"Hello!" Gon cheered in greeting to the lifeguards.

"Welcome," greeted one of the lifeguards, a tall and lanky Gargoyle with blonde hair slicked against his head. He had downturned eyes, and no eyebrows. He had a shorter, dark haired companion with a high collared jacket covering his nose and ears. Wasn't he hot in that thing? Another guy sat off to the side in a fold out chair, he was scrolling through his phone and glanced up at Gon and Killua to guage who had come for a dance with death this time. He had dark hair hanging around his face like curtains. A messy stubble dusted his chin, and he looked bored.

"This slide looks amazing!" Gon declared, grinning at the three men.

"Yeah, it is pretty amazing," the blonde Gargoyle sighed, eyes flashing as if he knew something that they didn't.

And it was probably that this slide was a fucking death trap!

"Yes, yes. Amazing. Now, please sign these, papers," the shorter guy said, passing Gon and Killua two clipboards. His speech was broken up and the pauses between words were misplaced and awkward.

Killua's frown grew as he read through what they had just been handed. These were legal papers declaring that Gon and Killua consented to risking their lives and that their family members couldn't sue if they died! Well, his family would do far more than just sue, but this paperwork even prevented violent acts in response to injury or death! It's not like a couple measly signatures would stop a band of psycho Dragonite Valkyries, but the effort was still alarming.

"There you go!" Gon chirped as he handed his signed documents back off. If anything, these legal implications only served to excite him further. Killua groaned as he gave the short dude the clipboard back.

"Perfect!" the blonde called out, a grin crossing his silvery gray face. He giggled a little (yes, giggled. He was clearly having the time of his life knowing that he was about to send two eighteen year old kids to their dooms). He took the float from Killua and laid it on the conveyor belt. This float was different, and looked a little bit like a flat blow-up raft.

"Just, lay on your backs side, by side," the short one rasped.

"Okay!" Gon cheered, and danced over to the float. He laid down in the shallow floatation device, and Killua reluctantly followed. "Do we need to put on any straps?" the hybrid asked.

"Nope! Just handholds and gravity!" the blonde said far too cheerily for the situation.

Gon's grin grew, and he giggled along with the blonde.

The guy with the long black hair stood up and moseyed on over to the conveyor belt.

"You're excited, huh?" he asked Gon, a question in his eyes and a smile starting to pull at the corners of his lips.

"Yeah! This is gonna be so dangerous! I can't wait!"

The long haired man cracked a laugh. "You're really something else, kid! Usually this isn't the ride people go on for fun!"

"Just how likely are we to die?" Killua snapped, getting annoyed… and more scared by the second.

"Only if you get unlucky," the blonde drawled with a lopsided grin.

"You, two seem to be, of the correct weight and, build," the short guy commented, eyes crinkling up as he grinning mischievously with the blonde.

"Hopefully physics will be on your side today," the Gargoyle added.

"What, do you think seeing if people die on this thing is fun or something?" Killua retorted.

"You could, say that," the short one answered as the blonde raised his eyebrows, impressed with Killua's sharp mind. "Now, gird your, loins."

Killua laid back down, knuckles white as he clung to the handholds. Gon held them much looser, sharp teeth bared in a grin.

"Have a nice trip!" the blonde called out after them as he slammed the on button and the two boys were slung around the first curve. The Gargoyle and his short companion darted over to the edge of their platform to watch the two boys float continue down the slide, eyes sparkling in mirth.

"They didn't notice who we are, did they?" the Gargoyle, Phinx, commented offhandedly.

"No, they were completely, oblivious," the short man, Feitan, responded, sounding a little disappointed.

"I liked the one with the horns. He has spirit," said the third man, Nobunaga. "He reminds me of Uvogin. I bet they would get along really well!"

Little did he know, but Gon had already met Uvogin that morning.

And little did Killua and Gon know, but they had come face to face with five members of the Phantom Troupe before even making it to the 300th floor.

Killua's stomach lurched as the float whipped around that first curve and immediately down a straight down drop. The Valkyrie gasped, and gripped onto the handles. Why was the literal first thing a straight down drop?! The fuck?! Were these crazy bitches trying to give Killua a heart attack?! (Yes, actually. That was indeed the entire point of this slide… which Phinks and Feitan had designed themselves).

Gon was laughing out loud at his side, and Killua couldn't help but be a little ticked off. "Stop having so much fun!" he ordered, spine prickling as his wings pushed instinctively against their seals. His Valkyrie automatic instinct was to expand his wings whenever he was in free fall… but nope. That wasn't happening today! And Killua was about to shit himself.

The assassin gave a squeal as the float detached from the slide itself and was just up and falling.

"Woah!" Gon exclaimed as they suddenly came back in contact with the slide when it went from a straight down drop to just a steep decline.

Killua didn't get a chance to catch his breath though, because the second they were back on the slide their freshly gathered momentum was being used to send them up and through a series of loopty loops.

Going upside down on a water slide had been fun when inside a tube, but this was no tube! No, this was an open-ended slide, and their float was in NO way attached to the slide itself. If they lost momentum for even a second then they were as good as dead. Killua's tail couldn't do shit if they were flung from a loopty loop at terminal velocity!

Killua screamed for dear life as they were flung through loop after loop, Gon screamed along with him but less in fear and more in a psychotic glee. The Valkyrie moved his hand from the handle to Gon's, and he gripped the other boy's palm against his own like a lifeline.

After the fifth loop, the two were whipping around a spiraling curve. The slide was flipped completely sideways at this point! If they had hit that last curve at even the slightest of an incorrect angle then they would have flown off!

Killua had to admit that he was crying a little bit as he screamed bloody murder, knowing that he was on a knife blade between life and death. Centripetal force squished him up against Gon, and Killua clung to the other boy in terror. The hybrid's rumbling laughter served to both ground an annoy the ever loving fuck out of him at the same time.

He really needed to stop having so much fun on this death trap!

The slide flattened out again, and the two boys were back on a straight down drop, Gon wrapped his arms around Killua in return and screamed with the other boy as they fell straight down, then reconnected with the slide and slipped straight up.

A shrill cry exited Killua's mouth as they didn't enter another loopty loop, but an open air jump. Even Gon gasped in horror as they hurdled towards the next section of the slide. Killua's heart was in his throat, they were gonna miss it, holy shit they were gonna miss it–

Killua got the wind knocked out of him as they reconnected with the slide, and the constant stream of adrenaline and fear did not get a reprieve, because they immediately entered an assault of more drops, loops, and jumps. There was no rhyme or reason, just chaos.

Until that is, all of a sudden there was nothing but peace.

Killua opened his eyes and looked around. They had entered a giant toilet bowl again, only this one was not for washing up and down the sides but rather around and around like a whirlpool. The current was painfully slow after all that they had just encountered, and only served to fill Killua up with dread for what was undoubtedly to come once they fell through the plain out hole that they were spiraling in towards.

Killua took a shuddering breath, only to realize that he was laying flush against Gon. The Valkyrie froze, his thoughts unable to proceed any further.

He had gotten slung against his friend while in all that mess, but he had been too freaked out to realize just how close they actually were. Killua was laying on top of Gon with his arms locked around his neck. He was stradling Gon's waist, and one leg was actually wrapped around and trapped underneath Gon's. Their hips were pressed flush together, and Killua's tail was wrapped tightly around Gon's muscular stomach. The other boy had his arms wrapped around Killua's back, trapping the Valkyrie in a cage of Gon. Killua was breathing against his neck, and all his senses were drinking up was Gon, Gon, Gon.

The silver haired boy's face gathered heat, and he was frozen on the spot, drowning in closeness to the object of his infatuations. Shit! All I wanted while trapped with all those girls was to be able to be all over Gon like they were but now that I am I can't think straight and I'm a blushing wreck, why can't my brain function–

Killua became aware of a rumbling chuckle coming from the boy he was laying on. He glanced slowly up towards where Gon's face was, and there it was. A grin of pure joy.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Killua demanded, his voice still shaky from fear.

The hybrid only laughed even more.

"Stop having so much fun!" the exasperated Valkyrie ordered, wishing he could reach up and slap Gon but his arms were still paralyzed from mortal fear.

Before Killua could complain anymore, they fell through the hole and Killua was back to squealing like a girl. The float fell straight down, and Killua's stomach dropped in that uncomfortable sensation that he associated with plummeting to your doom.

They reconnected with the slide and were whipped around curve after curve on an enormous spiral slide. Killua whined as his guts were squished against his ribcage, and Gon's laughter got choked and pain-ridden. The pain seemed to wake the hybrid up a bit, and luckily so, because the slide suddenly changed again, and they were sliding at neck breaking speeds in another turn facing another direction. The float hit the curve incorrectly, and they were about to be slung off the slide!

Killua's heart was in his chest, and he tightened his grip on Gon. The horned boy clung to Killua tighter in turn, and with a jerk of his body he flipped their positions and saved them from being slung into open air.

They shot through more curves just like that one, and had to keep rolling around at just the right moment to keep from flying off. Gon was starting to chuckle again, to Killua's annoyance. The Valkyrie was soaked, both in the spray of water and in his own sweat. This slide was absolutely insane, and his entire brain was fixated on not dying. He put the sensitive skin of his tail to good use, using it to sense the upcoming curves and changes in air pressure when they were about to fly off. The constant turns and rolling around was dizzying to the point that Killua's head was spinning. He swore he was gonna throw up–

Out of nowhere, the float shot out of the end of the slide and skipped like a stone across a pool. They spun in circles on the surface of the water, Killua seeing stars and unable to get his bearings. His body was trembling with adrenaline and fear, and his arms were still locked around Gon.

The Valkyrie sat in a daze for a moment, before Gon's laughter starting back up shook him out of it. The silver haired boy cracked his eyes open, and registered the enormous crowd of people standing around the pool and cheering like crazy. Was it really that surprising that they had lived?!

Killua squirmed, and immediately flushed. He was tangled up against Gon, but it felt different than waking up in a dogpile had. Not only did he have these all consuming romantic thoughts about his best friend, but they were clinging to each other with a ferocity that sent a spike of heat through Killua's stomach and lower. They had been forced to cling to each other for leverage while using their bodyweight to keep the float from flying off, and Killua was still crushed against Gon's chest… and more. The hybrid's leg was wrapped around the Valkyrie's waist in an effort to keep them balanced, and this kept their hips locked together. One of Gon's arms was locked around his back, and the other was buried in his crown of fluffy white hair.

Killua gritted his teeth, and wriggled out of Gon's embrace.

The hybrid released him as if nothing were the matter, and nothing should have been the matter! They were just two friends who had ridden on a slide of death! A slide of death on which they had to cling to each other in order to not die! Why couldn't Killua just calm down?! Why did he have to like Gon this way?! And why was the memory of Gon's body pressed flush against his make his head foggy and his his swim trunks tight—

Oh fuck.

Killua jumped off the float and into the water, which was luckily chest deep. Gon jumped off after him, laughing like a madman and dancing about in the water.

Did he notice?! Shit, I was right up against him what if he did–

No.

He's acting too normally.

He's dense but not… that dense.

That. Was. TOO. Close.

Killua shuddered a relieved sigh, luckily, the onset of chilly water and a wave of all consuming fear had been enough to calm his… problem down.

That was so fucking embarrassing.

I want to fucking cry!

And scream!

But mostly scream!

"Killua! Killua! Wasn't that amazing?! That was the most fun thing ever!"

The Valkyrie looked at Gon out of the corner of his eye, but did not turn to face him. His face was still flaming… and he was still feeling oversensitive and jumpy. His heart was still racing, and there was definitely still a heat in his stomach.

"Fun?!" he snapped. "That was not fun! That was a fucking death trap! I don't know why you're so happy right now!" Gods fucking dammit! My spine is prickling, I'm a Dragonite Valkyrie for gods' sake, and there I was screaming like a little girl! That's so embarrassing! Not to mention I got a hard on from my best friend–

"Let's go again–"

Killua whipped around so fast that he created waves in the water. He whipped his tail out at Gon, holding the needle sharp point of the barb a mere inch from his throat. "No," the Valkyrie growled.

Gon held his hands up, an amused and ogling grin on his face. Killua had never used his tail as a weapon against him before. He meant business. But of freaking cause this dumbass could only think about how cool Killua's tail was. He could practically smell the hybrid's thoughts. "Okay, okay!" the dark haired boy protested. He pushed a hand up and through his now drenched hair, shoving the floppy locks away from his eyes.

The gesture made Killua's chest twinge, and he faced the other direction.

Wet hair Gon was making a return.

Why the fuck did wet hair Gon have to be so damn cute.

"Come on, you asshole, let's get out of here," the Valkyrie grumbled. He pushed off the floor of the pool and swam towards the edge, Gon following close behind. The crowd was still cheering and chattering. Thorne, Fella, Catrine, and Scythe were no doubt among them, and Killua wanted to get away before they got trapped with them again.

After dragging themselves out of the water, Killua quickly grabbed Gon's wrist and tugged him away from the pool and out of the crowds. The feeling of the other boy's skin against his own sent sparks up Killua's arm, and he quickly dropped Gon's wrist, settling to trust him to follow without any protest. Luckily he complied this time.

This… is a whole nother can of worms.

I know I'm emotionally drawn to Gon… but now I know that I'm physically drawn to him as well.

Shit! Wanting to kiss his stupid beautiful face is one thing, but getting a boner is another!

The fuck do I do with this?!

This crush thing is a whole lot more problematic than I thought…

I can handle emotional longing no problem, but I don't know the first thing about dealing with physical longing! And I can't fucking ask Kurapika! That would be embarrassing as hell.

And I am NOT jerking off to Gon.

I am not allowing that.

This'll be just a one-time thing… I'll never have this problem again.

Yeah.

It'll all be fine.

"Hey Killua, you wanna go on another slide?" Gon chipred, completely unaware of the turmoil going down beneath Killua's cool exterior.

"No. I'm sick of water slides for today," Killua sighed, both out of residual fear… and out of shame because of what just happened.

Gon skipped after Killua as they walked in the general direction of the lazy river. Killua was on the phone with Kurapika about where himself and Leorio were, and was complaining about the directions he was being given.

Riding all those slides had been so fun! Especially that last one!

Gon rarely got an adrenaline high like that one before! It had been so terrifying! His skin was still buzzing with excitement. He knew it was probably a little weird that he got so excited when he was in danger like that… but it was fine! Killua never gave him too much grief about it.

He kind of understood why Killua wanted to be done with slides for the day… Gon's legs were still shaking from all that mental and physical strain! He couldn't wait to relax in the lazy river with the others.

"Alright, here we are," Killua sighed as he slipped his phone back into the phone sleeve around his neck. They were standing on the edge of the lazy river, with a flower bed separating themselves and the calming attraction. They weren't technically allowed to enter here… but it was probably fine!

"We'll get in once those old men pass by, we won't have a float but we can probably steal one," the Valkyrie mused as he craned his neck to try and see around the bend.

A light went off in Gon's mind as he remembered something. "Killua! Come here for a second!" he ordered, slipping out his phone.

"What for?" the silver haired boy grumbled, glancing over his shoulder at the hybrid.

Gon giggled and moved to Killua's side in one quick hop. He slung his arm around the other boy and drew their heads in close, holding his phone high for a picture. Just like Thorne had done!

"Hey, the hell?" Killua protested as Gon tapped the screen. "Wait! I wasn't ready yet!"

The hybrid snickered and darted away before Killua could snatch the phone out of his hands. "Too late!" Gon taunted, playing a game of keep away.

"Delete that, you shitface! I looked stupid!" the Valkyrie complained as he swatted for Gon's arm. The tan skinned boy ducked just in time, and then jumped straight upwards and into one of the nearby trees. It was a dogwood tree, and the little white flowers tickled Gon's nose with their pollen. He sat suspended in the branches and inspected his prize as Killua grumbled on the ground and searched for a way up.

The picture depicted Gon and Killua squished together for a selfie, the tropical flowers bordering the lazy river in the background. Gon was grinning up into the camera with sparkling eyes, smushing a confused Killua against his side. The Valkyrie was all but glowing in shade of the dogwood trees, and his eyebrows were drawn together in confusion. His mouth was parted slightly, and a little fang could be seen peeking out from his lips. His tail was suspended in the air behind him, and his blue eyes reflected the sunlight.

It was an amazing picture, and even though he had been caught in a state of confusion, Killua still managed to look perfect for the camera. Haloed by a crown of dripping wet hair that hung into his eyes as it dried, his stark black tattoos stuck out against his pale skin, matching the black matte of Gon's horns.

Gon smiled as he cropped the picture a little and added a couple of filters like Thorne had shown him. His eyes were drawn to Killua's face, and he smiled a little bigger.

Killua is so cute, he found himself thinking.

He didn't think anything of it though. His friend was cute!

"Hey, what are you doing with that picture anyways?" Killua complained from where he was still on the ground, looking up at Gon and framed by the flowering branches of the trees. The hybrid grabbed a few of those flowers and sprinkled them onto Killua's face, laughing as he shook his head and sneezed, rubbing the petals off of his face. Thick yellow pollen remained streaked across his nose and cheekbones, and a couple petals were still stuck in his wet hair.

"I'm sending it to everyone!"

"Who's everyone?" the Valkyrie demanded grumpily, tail swishing behind him in annoyance.

"The girls, Kurapika, Leorio, and you of course!" Gon chirped as he did just that. He was in a group chat with Thorne, Scythe, Fella, Catrine, and Killua, and that's where he put it. Along with the "mom and dad" group chat that Killua had made for him consisting of Leorio and Kurapika.

The silver haired Valkyrie perked up as his phone buzzed, and he pulled it out, inspecting the picture that had just been sent to himself and the girls. His eyes widened a little bit, making him look surprised in a bad way, but from the little twists his tail gave Gon knew that he secretly liked the picture.

"Damn it, why would you send it to those annoying hags?" the Valkyrie complained.

Gon's eyebrows drew together. "Those girls were really nice, Killua!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," the Valkyrie sighed. "Just don't blame ME when they beg for nudes."

"What?!" Gon demanded, ears turning red at such a ridiculous notion.

"You heard me," Killua said, barely suppressing his smile, hands laced behind his head.

"They– they wouldn't do that," the hybrid grumbled, crossing his arms and facing the lazy river instead of Killua. Face definitely not heating up at those awful implications. Luckily, Gon was saved by Kurapika! Who was coming around the bend next to Leorio! They were each sitting in a one person donut float, and were clearly bickering about something, as usual.

"Kurapika! Leorio!" Gon cheered as he took a flying leap and jumped illegally over the flower bed and into the water. Killua quickly followed suit, and the two boys made sure to drench the older two when they came crashing in.

"Killua! Gon!" Kurapika gasped. "You startled me!"

"Yeah, what the fuck guys?! You trying to get in trouble?! You're not supposed to get in from there!" Leorio exclaimed.

"Oh, relax, old man! No one saw us, so it's fine~" Killua drawled as he swam messily to keep up with the faster moving floats, purposely splashing water all over Leorio. The Goblin growled low in his throat as he held his arms up in defense, and Kurapika watched on with a chuckle. "Besides, it looks like you two had fun. You look like our parents or something! Just sitting here like old people in the lazy river and then yelling at us to follow the rules."

"Hey! How many times do I have to say that I'm the cool uncle?!" Leorio demanded.

Gon giggled, enjoying the usual chaos.

"Come now, child. Don't bother your father," Kurapika said with a mildly bridled smile.

Leorio scoffed, "Not you too!" The Elf chuckled behind his hand. Killua barked a laugh of victory, and swam over to Kurapika to hang off of his float. Gon made to follow Killua, but Leorio quickly grabbed his shoulder and dragged to hang off of his float instead. "Nope, you're staying with me, Gon! My son won't be joining those two jackasses!"

The Elf and the Valkyrie waved innocently, and Gon chuckled sheepishly.

"So, how were the water slides?" Kurapika asked, and the two boys dove into a detailed and over exaggerated story about the past few hours. They talked about all the slides they had gone on, and once they got to the part about the four girls Gon had to interrupt and correct Killua's rude descriptions of them.

"And then Gon gave those attention whores our numbers for some reason!"

"Killua, they weren't like that! All of them were perfectly nice!" the hybrid complained.

"They just wanted to get in your pants, Gon," Killua said with a dismissive flop of his hand, still hanging off of Kurapika's float.

A pair of amber eyes narrowed. "If anyone was trying to get in anyone's pants it was Catrine and your pants!"

The Valkyrie sputtered, he was always surprised when Gon talked dirty back to him. It was kinda funny! Gon was capable of cursing! He knew all kinds of vulgar terms and what they meant, he had grown up around sailors after all. "That's exactly my point!" Killua settled with.

Gon sighed and shook his head. "You're wrong, Killua."

Leorio and Kurapika looked back and forth between the two boys with each comment they made. Watching Gon and Killua squabble always ended up entertaining.

"I'm really not. I know a hoe when I see one, Gon."

"All women are queens, Killua!"

"If she breathes she's a thot!"

Gon frowned, subconsciously releasing a growl to which Killua responded with one of his own. The hybrid's growl was dark and gurgling while the Valkyrie's was even and akin to a purr… which was strange considering Gon was the one who purred.

"Oo, tea," Leorio murmured, eyes sparkling, clearly hoping for a fight.

Kurapika gave the Goblin an annoyed look, seeing that Gon was really serious about this.

"Do tell, what's so great about those stupid bitches?" Killua asked darkly, voice bordering on a snarl. "What makes them soooo fun and amazing?"

Gon glared openly at his friend, not understanding why Killua was being such an asshole all of a sudden. The hybrid had to admit, he did understand where Killua was coming from. The girls were very forward and really liked to be all over him, but that didn't mean that Gon hated them! Though it was kind of embarrassing when Fella pressed her chest all up on him and when Scythe nuzzled her face into the crook of Gon's neck…

He really wasn't looking for any attention like that…

But why had having those girls all over him made Gon so happy? And why was he so willing to accept them as his friends when Killua was entirely right and they definitely only liked him cause of his body? Well. That was just it.

"I know they only like me for my body," Gon ground out. "And that's just it." Killua's eyes widened, flashing with something that looked like hurt. Though Gon didn't understand why he would feel that way. He soldiered on, "My whole life people have always shamed me for being a hybrid… especially back on Whale Island where I grew up. It's gotten better now that I'm out and about… but it's still there." A pair of hostile sapphire eyes began to soften. "Back at the Neko-Village, everyone accepted me for who I was, and it felt really good… but then when Camilla revealed that she had actually hated me the entire time cause of my mixed blood… and that a whole bunch of the others were just faking it too… it hurts, ya know? So, when Thorne and the others were all over me like that… it's just that they were liking me for me and everything. They were complimenting my hybrid features. Usually all anyone ever compliments me on is my eye color or my muscles. It just… felt good to have them so comfortable around my non-human features is all."

Leorio and Kurapika looked at Gon with compassionate expressions.

The hybrid kept his eyes fixed on his hands, gripping around one of the handles on Leorio's float. He stared down at the tendons in his hands. Even there it was apparent that he wasn't normal. Hybrid's always had bodily structure differing the most from a normal human's… and you could even see it in the tendons of his hands. They weren't straight extensions of his fingers meeting up with his wrists. No, they were based entirely around his knuckles and the edges of his hands. It made it so that he could impale the palms of his hands without consequence. It was an animalistic adaptation, and a most apparent reminder of how Gon was different.

"Gon."

Killua's voice was soft and quiet, and his eyes were hidden beneath his silver bangs. Gon peeked up from beneath bangs of his own, his wet hair hanging down into his eyes.

"I'm sorry for insulting the girls like that. I didn't stop to consider how much their attitudes towards you meant."

Gon felt his chest warm, Killua acted like a total jackass… but deep down he was really this sweet and compassionate boy. He had a kind heart, and Gon loved that about his best friend. It was why Killua drew him in as much as he did.

"But," the Valkyrie looked up, sapphire eyes burning. "You don't have to depend on girls like that to make you feel like you belong! Some people are assholes, and that's just that. They just don't get it. But, you don't need to go accepting attention like that from girls when you have me. I accept you, so you don't need anyone else."

His words were so kind and reassuring… yet so possessive and rude at the same time.

A grin slipped onto Gon's face. "Thanks Killua."

"Yeah… whatever," he grumbled, going back to being stoic and closed off.

I think Killua might have a bit of a jealous streak!

But that's alright, Killua. We're best friends no matter what, and you don't have to worry about someone stealing me away like that. I'll never leave your side, not now or ever.

The rest of the day was peaceful and fun. There were no more water slides, but - to Killua's surprise - the lightweight attractions were just as enjoyable. Gon and himself stuck with Leorio and Kurapika for the rest of the day, and after the four had rode the lazy river a bit longer they had stopped for lunch.

Lunch had consisted of these amazing things called poke bowls with rice, vegetables, and raw fish. The meal had been awesome, except for Kurapika keeping them hostage at the table until their "stomachs settled." More sunscreen had been applied, and from there the four had hit the wave pool, the hot tubs, and the plain old swimming pools. They had explored the various indoor pools, and now were swimming in an infinity edge pool with a bunch of super cool rock features.

The pool was pretty high up, residing all the way on the 76th floor. With it being 76 stories high, the pool had an incredible view of the sunset over the tops of the far off buildings. Leorio and Kurapika were being boring and just swimming around like normal people, but Gon and Killua were chasing each other about like maniacs.

The Valkyrie cackled as he leapt and dove about in the water like a dolphin, chasing down Gon who was swimming at the bottom like a mermaid. The hybrid's swimming skills were super impressive, and his evasion got a ton better once he was beneath the surface.

Killua dove under and slipped all the way to the bottom, opening his eyes to watch Gon, who might as well have been a fish. He was grinning underwater, haloed his dark hair that swayed about his head, suspended in the water. His amber eyes glowed against the dim lighting under the surface, and bubbles floated up from his nose as he giggled at Killua, waving like the total goof that he was.

I swear, he's gotta be part mermaid or something!

But that wouldn't explain the horns and crazy aura… unless Ging is some seriously wacked species of Elf. And Gon lacks anything to do with scales or a tail.

Killua smiled underwater and waved back at Gon, using his tail to keep himself at the bottom of the pool. They had already had at least a hundred breath holding contests, and Gon won every time. Even with his intense training, Killua could not beat Gon's island-born talent.

Amber eyes sparkled with mischief and mirth, and Gon was gone in the blink of an eye, weaving through the water with ease. The Valkyrie had to come back up for air, and then swam off after Gon, ignoring Kurapika and Leorio's calls to wait up before they got lost ("they" meaning the older two).

Killua followed Gon's trail of bubbles into a darker section of the water, and when he had to resurface for air he found the object of his chase gawking at the rock feature they had discovered. They had stumbled across some sort of underwater air pocket of a cave, with no way in but swimming beneath the surface. The water got shallow towards the far edge, only a few inches deep, and the roof and walls of the cave sparkled like stars.

"Woah, what are they?" Killua asked in wonder, little pinpricks of light reflecting in his ocean blue eyes.

"They're geodes," Gon answered warmly. Killua turned his head to meet those honey gold depths. His eyes dripped slow and seductive like magma, the colors swirling together in an eternal whirlpool that never failed to draw Killua in. His heart lurched in his chest, and that warm feeling of affection and wonder spread through Killua's heart. His chest ached to touch Gon, to draw him into his chest and just breathe in his scent… that sweet and lovesick melody harmonizing with the darker and deeper song that just wanted to drown in Gon's taste and be trapped beneath his intoxicating weight, imploding into a puddle of ecstasy.

Killua's feelings were strong, and he felt them bleeding into the atmosphere. The air between himself and Gon felt thick and tense… but in a good way. Like syrup… or honey, just like Gon's eyes.

Blue orbs gazed at Gon longingly, and amber orbs gazed back, questions in those amber depths as he failed to grasp just what Killua was feeling for him.

With a gasp of air, Kurapika resurfaced and broke the moment. It was like a bucket of paint spilt all over a canvas, the mood was drowned in a different color, buried beneath layers of friendship and platonic love.

"Incredible," the Elf breathed, swimming up to Gon and Killua.

"Gah!" Leorio exclaimed as he broke the surface, his rough voice echoing against the walls. Breaking the serenity but somehow not managing to impede on the beauty of this cave. "Shit," the Goblin breathed as he took the place in.

The four sat glancing around, enjoying the incredible scene before them.

"Incredible," Kurapika was thinking. "That such a peaceful and wondrous place resides right next to the violence and greed of the Heavan's Arena… The Phantom Troupe brought this incredible pocket of nirvana into being, and I can't help but wonder who exactly designed this place… there's so much thought put into these walls, so much feeling. It's so opposite of that which I am accustomed to whenever the Spiders are involved…" A pair of dark eyes flashed lazily across the back of Kurapika's mind, and for once, surrounded in this incredible wonderland, he did not push the image away. Yet, let it sit. And let the implications of this place and the irony of its existence rock over him like soft waves.

Killua, on the other side of the blonde, glanced to his other side to where Gon was swimming to the shallow edge of the hidden pool. The Valkyrie followed his friend, and the Elf and the Goblin trailed along as well. The group walked about the shallows in silence, reveling in the magnificence and artistic vision this cave had to offer.

"There's another pool over this way," Gon called to the others, his voice soft and relaxed rather than its usual loud chirp. The others followed him, and slipped into a warm pool of midnight water. Killua swam after Gon, who was lazily moving towards the end of the dark tunnel where a doorway and exit resided.

Gon was the first to make it to the edge of the starlit pool, and held his hand down to Killua to help him climb out. The Valkyrie grasped the strong tan hand, and his face flushed as he was lifted up and out of the water as if it was nothing. He stood next to Gon as he dragged Kurapika and Leorio out next, using the darkness to watch the muscles strain and flex under that tan skin.

Killua sighed, it never ceased to amaze him how bad he had it for this boy… this boy who was completely oblivious and so incredibly heterosexual (as far as Killua believed, at least). Warmth stirred in his chest as he followed Gon out of the door and into a white marble hallway leading to one of the park exits.

He followed close behind his friend, that tender moment in the cave leaving his fingers tingling and begging to be laced with Gon's. He wanted to embrace him, he wanted to drink in his scent… but he couldn't.

And just this… just following along behind him as he had done as he'd fallen for him… that was enough. It had to be enough.


AN: eyes blue, like the Atlantic now I'm going down, like the Titanic

eyes brown, dark and romantic now I'm going down, like the Titanic

that was the *vibe* of that last part, or at least what I was attempting :')