Leorio peeked over his glasses at the two boys before him. Last night he'd heard them arguing in the living room… he knew that they thought he couldn't hear, but he certainly had. It really hurt to see Gon and Killua at each other's throats like that…

But what hurt even more, was seeing them pretend like nothing had happened.

The three of them were grabbing a light lunch before Leorio's battle on the 300th floor. They were sitting in the outdoor section of a cafe right in the heart of Heaven's Square. They ate cucumber sandwiches and pasta salad, with sweet tea to wash it down and buttercream cookies to follow. It was such a light and fluffy scene…

It was an absolutely beautiful day out, the sun was shining and the clouds were soft and robust. It was late in the afternoon, as Leorio's fight was close to sundown, but that didn't stop the cool breeze from making the Goblin sigh as it tickled his scales.

Gon and Killua were sitting side by side for the first time in… since Killua ran off that day at the boardwalk. They were chattering together, and leaning their heads in close. They'd steal off each other's plates and shove each other about… Killua even drank after Gon (he hated sharing straws).

But all of it was just… fake.

Their smiles didn't reach their eyes, and it was clear that the way they were acting was a feeble attempt to cover up whatever was going down between them. Or rather, whatever was splitting them apart. It made Leorio want to cry… these two boys had been the closest friends in the world, and they truly didn't want to split up! They were doing their best to keep together… but it was clear that even though they were falling into their old ways, it just wasn't the same.

Killua would get this solemn look in his eyes every once in a while, and Gon would zone out with the saddest shadow across his face.

Gon was clearly trying to help Killua, and Killua was pushing him away.

Leorio knew that Killua was suffering because of Kurapika's absence… they all were. Hell, Leorio could barely sleep at night thanks to all this stupid anxiety over how he was doing. Gon might have been having the most trouble out of all three of them, though he was incredible at hiding it. The hybrid had become Leorio's therapist, always being so kind and talking to him about everything he was feeling…

Gon clearly wanted nothing more than to do the same for Killua… but the Valkyrie just wasn't having it. Leorio was pretty certain that it wasn't the only thing eating at him, but he had the creeping suspicion that Killua was starting to get self conscious over his sexuality and his feelings for Gon again. That was the only explanation for him putting so much strain between the two of them.

Leorio wished he could talk to the assassin… but Killua just evaded him whenever he tried.

Kurapika could have gotten through to him…

But Kurapika wasn't around anymore.

What are you doing Kurapika? What the hell are you thinking?

You're breaking my heart… just as much as you're breaking theirs.

Leorio sat back with a sigh, resting his hands on his full stomach and looking up to the swirly white clouds overhead. He just wanted to keep them together… he just wanted to do something to help. Killua and more recently Gon had been doing all the heavy lifting, and Leorio had just been sitting back and moping.

He was getting pretty depressed over all this shit with Kurapika… he had to admit.

But that didn't mean he could leave everything up to the kids…

He was their weird uncle! The dad of the group! It was Leorio's job to do the stuff they were doing!

Only thing was, he was terrible with messy feelings like this. He was a hands-down expert with all things love and attraction, but when it came to anxiety and depression? Separation and grief? Betrayal and cracking friendships? Leorio was completely lost.

Usually he was the one who needed that kind of help.

And he had no idea how to give it to other people…

But he had to try.

He couldn't do much, but he needed to keep them together! He'd do it in the only way he knew how.

"Hey, guys?"

"Hm?" Gon asked.

"What's up?" Killua added with a mouthful of cookies.

"We've all been going through a lot lately… but we need each other. We're bros, ya know?" The two boys nodded, an awkward tension placing itself in between them. Leorio felt himself getting the urge to cry again. He took a deep breath and continued, "We need to stick together… so… I know things have been hard, but from now on we need to have a fresh start! We'll put all this… mess, behind us, and we'll stick together like never before. You guys promise, okay? Promise we'll always have each other's backs? From now until forever?"

A tentative smile crossed Gon's face. "Yeah! We'll stick together!"

"From now on," Killua murmured, that sad expression edging at the corners of his sapphire eyes.

They want this more than anything… but they're unsure if it'll be substantial.

Don't worry, guys! With this promise… I never break a promise. I'll step up from now on, I swear it.

I won't let anything happen to you guys.

"Pinky swear?" Gon offered, looking a little embarrassed.

Killua didn't jump on him and start poking fun… Leorio and Gon felt the absence of the Valkyrie's playful words like a ton of bricks to the gut.

"Yeah! Pinkie swear!" Leorio agreed, holding up his pinkie to the two of them.

Gon did the same, and Killua followed suit.

Strained smiles on their faces, the three locked their fingers and shook their hands up and down.

Gon looked like he wanted to say something, but after a small glance in Killua's direction he didn't. Leorio's heart was hurting for the two of them, but he could do this! He could save their friendship! He wouldn't let Kurapika's stupidity ruin their precious bond. Not if he could help it!

I'll clean up your mess, Kurapika.

Don't worry about it.

I know you don't mean any of this deep down… so don't worry.

I'll hold your place for you.

I'll always be here for you, no matter what. You can count on that.

"Shit! I'm getting all nervous now!"

"It'll be alright, Leorio!" Gon reassured.

"Yeah, you're not that old yet," Killua drawled.

The hybrid felt his smile growing. He didn't know how, but that promise had really helped Killua. For some reason… knowing that all of them had sworn to stick together no matter what made everything seem so much lighter. With Leorio's encouraging words, it felt like they had decided to drag themselves out of the shadows.

Obviously Killua still had his stuff to deal with, but since lunch he'd been more open than he'd been in forever. They'd been acting normal at lunch… but it had been forced and strange considering what happened last night. However, now it was a whole lot easier to get back into their old swing of things.

Gon felt… happy.

He was overcome with this incredible relief. Him and Killua were on the way to fixing things, he could feel it. He'd give Killua time, but he got the feeling that Killua would be opening up to him about what was going on really soon.

Gon didn't know what he'd do without Leorio.

The two boys embraced the Goblin, wishing him luck and waving to him as he walked reluctantly down the ramp to his waiting room.

They continued waving until Leorio was out of sight, and then lowered their hands. The two boys stood for a moment, before meeting each other's gazes. Looking into Killua's beautiful sapphire eyes… seeing that slight change, that opening in his mask, made Gon feel so happy and light.

The Valkyrie and the hybrid smiled at each other, and then laughed.

"Wanna go grab our seats?" Killua asked, voice soft and more unsure than entirely normal, but a light and reassuring smile on his face.

"Yeah!" Gon agreed.

It's okay, Killua. I know. I can see it in your eyes. You're sorry about what happened. I am too.

But I agree with you, we can get through this.

From here on out… no more messing around.

I'll never chicken out of being there for you again. I'll give you your space to work things out, and I'll be here for you when you're ready. I know you'll be ready soon, but until then know that I cherish our friendship no matter what.

Nothing will change the fact that we're best friends.

Nothing.

Killua's tail brushed against Gon's leg.

A silent message. He understood Gon's thoughts, and he agreed. The hybrid felt a slow grin creeping onto his face. He felt like crying for some reason. He'd been a lot more emotional whenever Killua was involved lately. His chest was beginning to bloom with a tiny flower of affection.

Gon stepped a little closer to Killua, allowing their shoulders to brush. Acting on pure impulse and running on the fuel of this strange warmth, he inched his hand closer to Killua's. He wrapped his pinkie finger around the Valkyrie's.

Pinkie swear.

Killua squeezed Gon's finger.

Yeah, pinkie swear.

Gon grinned full out now, and his cheeks were feeling a little pink too? His head felt like it was full of clouds, and he started acting impulsive again. He shifted his fingers, looping his hand around Killua's.

The Valkyrie's palm was sweaty against his own, but something about holding Killua's hand just felt so… right. The grip was loose, but teeming with emotion and the unspoken agreement that they were sorry, and that they'd make up. They'd talk it out the second that they got home… likely while watching the sunset together. They hadn't done that in a while… and Gon's chest was feeling all warm thinking about doing it again.

He remembered that last time, when he'd wanted to do something but the feather in Killua's hair had distracted him. Maybe he'd remember what that was this time? Yeah… he had a feeling he would.

With the biggest grin on his face in weeks, Gon walked to their seats with a spring in his step, swinging their joined hands between them.

Yes… everything was finally righting itself again.

Holding Gon's hand was… everything. Pink? Flower petals in spring? The cool breeze after a fresh sheet of snow? Killua's chest was buzzing with affection, and these powerful feelings for Gon pumped through his heart, heating his chest up and making him happier than he'd been since Kurapika left.

He's holding my hand.

He's holding my hand!

Nothing could ruin this moment. Even his dark thoughts… even all that self hatred and that constant anxiety, everything was gone. Now it was just him and Gon.

I can't believe I tried to push him away.

I can't believe I thought I could live without this.

Illumi… you're wrong.

I'm sure of it now.

Gon doesn't pity me, he truly cares. And my feelings are strong, my feelings are true. I don't care what you say, brother. Gon is my entire world, he's my everything. I'll never let anything get in between us again.

We'll watch Leorio's fight, and then we'll go back to the apartment. Everything will be happy, no more sadness. No more worrying over Kurapika and mistrusting each other's commitment. We're locked in for life, and I'll protect these guys no matter what. It's just like with Alluka, Gon and Leorio are my top priority.

Tonight I think I'll… I think I'll tell Gon what's really going on.

Illumi said there's only one base left… I'm almost through with this anyways. As long as he doesn't help me take care of it, then it doesn't matter if I tell him. I can't do this by myself anymore… I need to let this out. I need to come clean to him.

I'll tell him what's been going on… and about all this inner turmoil.

He'll know what to say… he'll know what to think.

He always does.

I think I'll… I think I'll tell him about Alluka, too.

I wanna… I wanna get her out.

I need to get her out. I'll tell Gon about Alluka, and ask if we can save her next. I've left her behind in that house for long enough. It's about time I man up and do what I've known is the right move this whole time.

Gon will understand. He always does. I trust Gon. I trust him with everything. Even this darkest part of myself.

The two of them sat down side by side. Gon dropped his hand, but Killua was too happy to be disappointed about that. They had incredible seats, with the best views in the house of Leorio's upcoming battle.

Killua found himself smiling. Grinning.

He hadn't smiled since all this shit had started.

With his heart in the clouds and feeling better than he had in a long assed time, Killua watched Leorio walk onstage. Him and Gon cheered like maniacs, and Leorio waved like a maniac back at them. Killua was having so much fun. After all this crap with Illumi he'd actually forgotten what it was like… but now he was waking back up. He knew he still had one more night, but he could make it through. For once, he was feeling confident about waking up in the morning afterwards.

Leorio's opponent walked onstage, and Killua whistled. He leaned over to talk against Gon's ear, "That guy looks pretty strong. You think Leorio will be alright?"

Gon nodded, "Yeah!" He turned to face Killua, their noses brushing and their mouths inches apart. "Leorio's a lot stronger than he looks! He's got this, I know it!" Sapphire eyes were locked on amber ones for a matter of seconds, until Killua's face started gaining heat and he had to look away before his eyes flicked down to Gon's mouth.

The fight started, and Killua and Gon activated Gyo. Leorio fired up his Ren with an excited yell, and his opponent did the same. Leorio had a pretty impressive Ren shield by now… but this guy? His Magic was off the charts. Like… seriously. Killua might have had a bit of trouble with him when he had first started.

"He'll be okay," Gon reassured, squeezing Killua's hand, before letting go so he could leap to his feet and cheer like a madman for Leorio, who had made the first move. Killua's chest was fluttering, Gon was being so… touchy. But not friend-touchy, affectionate touchy. Boyfriend touchy. It was making Killua's head get all fluffy and his heart turn to mush.

Gon was so… adorable.

The Valkyrie smiled, and made to stand up, when all of a sudden everything changed.

Illumi.

Illumi was here, he could sense him. The aura was directed at Killua and Killua alone. The message was clear: "Come, Kill. It's time we finished this. I've gotten the final location, and we must get started before they move."

No, not now.

Not now! It was Leorio's battle, and Killua needed to be there to watch him win. The Valkyrie shook his head, ignoring Illumi. The crowd was wild around him, but he couldn't see anything over the heads of the rows of people standing in the row before them. Gon was jumping up and down and screaming. But it all sounded like it was underwater.

Killua's stomach was tanking, and his anxiety was acting back up.

Illumi always had that effect on him… especially as of late.

Just when Killua was about to stand up, another insistent wave of Illumi's aura assaulted his mind. He was trapped in his seat, gritting his teeth and fighting against his instincts to obey. He didn't need to listen to this! Illumi could wait until tonight! Leorio needed him to be there!

Illumi pressed more aura Killua's way, why wasn't his brother coming?

Gon's stomach dropped as Leorio took a really powerful hit… oh no, things weren't looking good–

"Killua, come on," Illumi forced into his brother's mind.

Leorio gasped and doged, but not fast enough. He gasped as an enormous fist flew past his head, the air current from the blow slicing up a wide gash on the side of his skull. Shit, he was bleeding all over the place and… getting kinda… dizzy…

"Leorio! Come on, you gotta add more Energy!" Gon cried out, seeing the blow coming for a disoriented Leorio.

Killua whimpered, clamping his hands over his ears. No! Not now, not–

"Kill."

Shit.

Killua had to go– He'd make it fast, he'd meet back up with them after Leorio's win!

An enormous fist sailed directly through Leorio's stomach. Organs were spilled out the back of him, and blood was everywhere. His Ren shield shattered like a thin pane of glass, and Gon's vision went black around the edges.

"LEORIO!"

Hands still clamped over his ears to tune out the overstimulating noise of the crowd and the buzzing of Illumi's voice in his head, Killua got up and rushed to the stairs. He'd make this fast, he'd be right back–

Gon gasped, that psycho guy was about to punch Leorio's skull in! That had been a critical hit! Didn't he see that?!

"STOP!" Gon screamed, releasing a thick wave of his aura directly forward, directed at the psycho man fighting Leorio. The monster of a guy froze, dropping Leorio to the ground and looking up at Gon in shock.

"Leorio is critically injured!" the announcer cried out, reading the refs' hand signs. "He needs to be rushed to the hospital immediately or else! Is anyone willing to call an ambulance?!"

"No! An ambulance isn't fast enough!" Gon yelled, making everyone else in the audience around him wince at his loud voice. "Killua, come on–"

The hybrid froze in time, Killua was…

Running away.

What?!

What the hell?!

But Leorio was–

He had his hands clamped over his ears, and his tail was held low to the ground in a sign of discomfort and guilt. Where was Killua going, they had to–

Gon double took, dammit!

He didn't have time to worry about whatever the fuck was going on with Killua, Leorio was gonna die! With a burst of biochemical, Gon was at Leorio's side in a split second. The refs were chattering at him about calling the medics, but Gon knew serious injuries like this and he knew that Leorio only had a matter of minutes. His organs were spilling out of him, for fuck's sake!

"I'm taking him to the hospital," Gon growled, feeling his biochemical spiraling out of his control. It seeped into his bloodstream at an alarming pace, and already his body was starting to smoke. He could feel his eyes burning a glowing reddish orange, and the refs stepped back in shock.

But that didn't matter.

He trusted himself to stop the shift before it was too late, and Leorio needed him.

Gon jumped, leaving an enormous crater in the arena floor. He crashed through the wall of the stadium, raining rubble and glass all over the screaming audience. But he didn't fucking care. Leorio! Leorio was gonna fucking die!

Gon cradled the larger man against his chest, his own chest expanding as he grew larger and his skin turned darker and darker, turning pitch as a moonless night. The smoke darkened into a deep gray, and Gon needed to race the transformation to the hospital. If he could get there before the shift fully occurred, then he could save Leorio.

A snarl in his throat, and a wild aura spilling out around him in an enormous cloud, Gon broke the sound barrier without a second thought, sprinting from building to building in a mad dash for the hospital. He used his Ren to shield Leorio, keeping his guts from spilling anymore. His heart burned in his chest, he would not lose anymore friends!

Meanwhile, Killua darted over the rooftops side by side with Illumi. He'd finish this, he'd end this quickly. Then he'd come back to ask Leorio about his win. This would be okay. Everything would be okay. He just had to do this job real fast.

Killua was completely unaware that he'd run off at the worst possible moment.

He was completely unaware that Leorio was seconds away from bleeding out in Gon's arms.

And he was completely unaware of the rage sparking to life in Gon's heart.

Why the hell had Killua run off?! What could he possibly be doing that was more important than Leorio's life?! Had they not just promised to stick together no matter what?!

From the shadows of the rafters in the 300th floor arena, Hisoka threw his head back in a mad laugh. This was just too good!


AN: annnndddd, shit just hit the fan. we're approaching the climax of this arc :o