Trigger Warnings: racism, homophobia, misogyny, drugs, alcohol, brief depiction of panic attack, tragic backstory
The day Gon had left Whale Island had been like a fever dream. Too amazing to possibly be true, and too outlandish to ever resemble his reality. At the ripe age of 16, he'd never set foot off his island. He had no idea what the outside world could possibly hold!
After being trapped in Mito's sobbing embrace for an entire half hour, Gon had finally boarded the ship. The ship that would take him away. He'd skipped across the dock, humans stepping out of his way. They always did that… for some reason everybody thought that touching Gon was the equivalent to getting bad luck.
He was certainly an interesting sight… he stuck out like crazy against the sea of humans. All of them were normal. No strange features. Smooth skin and dull colored hair. All earthy tones, that same muscular structure.
And then there was Gon.
Ruddy tan skin that glowed in the heat of the sun. A stockier build, muscles made for predatorial power and not just survival. A pair of little black horns protruding from his forehead, eating up any light that came their way. Spiky black hair, tinted green and coarse as anything. A dusting of pale speckles across his nose and cheeks, dotting him like a baby fawn. And then there were those wild amber eyes, glowing and swirling with varying shades of gold and orange.
He grinned all the way, always friendly to the others. The other's that frowned at him. Kept a "respectful" distance. They always shied away from his friendly grins, more preoccupied with his sharp teeth than his kindness.
But Gon was used to it. He was… different.
He didn't belong.
It wasn't them, it was him. He was the inconvenience here.
So he stepped up onto the deck of the ship. He breathed in deeply, forcing his mind to think about that lovely salty breeze rather than the population that would undoubtedly be celebrating his leave. As the ship pulled up its anchor and extended its sails, Gon leaned out over the railing. He waved to Mito, yelling goodbye and promising to return once he'd found Ging and discovered who he was.
The woman had sobbed, waving and giving Gon the most genuine and the most brave grin in all existence. Her orange hair twinkled in the sunlight, the ocean breeze playing with her red dress.
Mito. The only one who had ever truly loved Gon… accepted him.
Her and Abe. The only people in the entire world who didn't see Gon as a freak.
He would miss them. He would miss them so much.
Even now, mere feet away from the island, his heart was already in shambles.
Other sailors looked at him in distaste, the other islanders on the dock pointedly ignoring him. Gon ignored all of them. There was nothing he could do about it. They'd always been like this, and always would.
Gon didn't blame them…
Humanoids were bad. They'd oppressed the humans, nearly driving them to extinction. Forcing them to live in small, secluded places like this one. It was Gon's fault they were uncomfortable, his mere existence forced them to live in the presence of one of their oppressors. Maybe Gon's hadn't done anything wrong, and maybe he held human blood in his veins… but it was the humanoid blood that was the problem.
The humanoid blood that drew the line between them and him. The humanoid blood that was pulling him away from the only home he'd ever known.
During the ship ride Gon kept to himself. He offered his help to the sailors multiple times, but they'd just glare at him. Spit in his feet and sling offensive slurs his way. They didn't want him here. It was clear that he was a nuisance… Gon should just do his best to stay out of sight. He could help them in that way.
So Gon spent his days perched up in the crows nest. The sailor up there was the only one who didn't hate him. The guy had pale skin, dotted with freckles and always burnt in some way or form. He had wild curly hair, a red and puffy nest that could never be tamed. His clothes were old and tattered, he was of the lowest rank in the crew.
But he didn't mind. He was a foreigner, anyway! They had every right to turn their noses up… or at least that's what they said. He wasn't from Whale Island like all the others, he'd actually come from a different human territory. One on an open field of grass on the edge of the enormous sparkling sea. All the way on the other side of the world.
He'd left his home to go explore. He'd always had his heart set on becoming a sailor, and he'd taken a job on the first ship he'd set eyes on. That ship just happened to be one of Whale Island's trading cruisers.
So he worked with the sailors, delivering the island's wares to the other human towns. They'd drop by his old home every once in a while, and he'd get to see his mom and dad! Gon really liked him, he was so incredibly kind. And you know what?
He liked Gon.
He didn't care that Gon was a humanoid! He didn't look at him sideways even once!
His name was Fredrick, but the sailors called him Fred-dick. Gon thought that was rude, so he called the boy with curly red hair Freddy. They were ship buddies! Freddy had told him so! Gon had never had a buddy before! Was this something like what a friend was?
Freddy was always busy, the sailors always gave him the dirty work. He'd rush back and forth across the deck, cleaning up any mess. Lugging around any box. Gon had tried to help him, but every time he tried the sailors would harass him till he retreated back up to the crow's nest.
Gon would sit up there all day, watching the sea and Freddy as he scurried about. And every night, Freddy would climb up and deliver Gon whatever food from the mess hall he'd been able to fit in his pockets. Gon would thank him up and down every time, Freddy was so kind! He didn't need to do that, Gon didn't need much to eat! He'd brought a stash of dried food for this anyways!
But Freddy insisted, and every night they'd sleep curled up under the stars.
Freddy taught Gon about the constellations, and how to tell his directions by the stars alone. They'd search for shooting stars, and wish upon them for luck in their lives. They'd watch in earnest as the alien planets made their passes, sparkling spheres in the night. Far off lands saturated with unknowns and new things to discover.
Gon had told Freddy his life story, why he was here and what he was doing.
And it had been Freddy… that told Gon something that would change his life forever.
The people from Whale Island, the ones that excluded Gon and turned their noses up at him? They were the ones who were wrong, not Gon.
Gon didn't… understand?
But… he was the different one. Didn't that make him the problem?
Freddy told Gon a lot that night. About the world, about the people in it, and about the importance of acceptance and diversity. Freddy talked long hours into the night about the humans, and their relationship with the humanoids.
The humans distanced themselves from their stronger counterparts out of fear and ignorance alone. Freddy ranted about how the humans hated the humanoids just because they were different, and prosecuted all of them for mistakes made hundreds of years in the past. Freddy took Gon by the shoulders and told him that there was nothing wrong with him. That he didn't owe those islanders anything, and that their treatment of him was wrong.
Racism.
That's what Freddy called it.
Gon didn't understand… but Freddy explained it until he did.
The islanders hated Gon because of the way he looked, because of the blood in his veins. Freddy asked Gon if he deserved it… and Gon of course answered with a "yes." Humanoids were bad, right? He was bad for being one of them.
Freddy cried that night.
He wrapped Gon up in his arms and told him that there was nothing wrong with Gon… that he didn't have to listen and believe their bullshit anymore.
Freddy explained to Gon that some people were cruel. That some people just couldn't accept that all beings were different, and that all beings were equal. Human and humanoid alike. Freddy ranted about how the humans took such pride in being the lower beings, that they preached about their comradery against their monstrous foes. Yet they isolated themselves in separate communities, and even discriminated against their own species.
Just look at Freddy! He was a human just like all the other sailors, yet he was treated just as poorly as Gon. Just because he wasn't from Whale Island.
Freddy told Gon that he didn't like this world… didn't agree with the way it worked.
He didn't understand why people couldn't just leave each other alone. Mind their own damn business. They were all together in this universe, weren't they? Why couldn't they take the alien's example? Out there in space, on their neighboring planets, no one gave a damn where you were from or what you looked like. They took you for who you were. Nothing more, nothing less.
He told Gon that what he was about to step into would be the greatest shock of his life. Out there? No one would hate Gon for being a humanoid. Gon could finally exist without constant oppression, those eyes of distaste and difference. Freddy told Gon to live life to its fullest, to go out there and be who he was.
Freddy's words touched Gon's heart that night. He shed tears right along with him. He had never imagined how good it would feel to be reassured… to be told that there was nothing wrong with him for the blood that ran beneath his veins. That the treatment he'd endured his entire childhood simply wasn't right, and that there was no excusing it. It was okay for Gon to feel hurt, it was okay for Gon to cry.
It was their fault for being like that.
Gon hadn't asked to be born as a humanoid, and it was okay for him to be who he was.
Freddy told Gon that he was the kindest person he'd ever met. Gon had every right to be a terrible person, yet here he was. Always smiling no matter how someone treated him. Freddy told Gon never to lose his light, not to let anyone destroy the amazing person that he was.
The day they reached their stop, and Gon's destination, Freddy became the first person Gon had ever kissed. Standing these wooden docks, so similar to Whale Island yet thousands of miles away, Freddy squeezed Gon close. Told him goodbye, but most importantly good luck. Gon wished him the same.
They bid each other farewell, and some nights… even now… when Gon would glance up at the stars in the sky, he'd wonder how Freddy was doing. Was he well? Had he moved up in the ranks on the ship? Gon would smile, Freddy would always hold a place in his heart.
Once the ship left, and Gon was left to his own devices, he disappeared from that human village. Never to be seen in another human community. Gon walked all the way to the edge of town, and he kept going. He entered the forest, and he never stopped. He hunted for his food, he ran among the trees and with the animals that lived there. He explored this incredible new forest, and he was thankful.
Oh so thankful.
This wonderful world… he loved this wonderful world.
It was so large, an expanse of endless possibilities and wonders. Gon could spend an entire lifetime exploring this incredible planet, and never see every corner. Every crevice. Never turn over every stone and leaf. But that didn't bother him. This was a world of adventures, and Gon was more than willing to indulge.
For an entire year, Gon traveled the globe. There was no particular pattern to his movements, just the general knowledge that he was out here to find Ging and see everything on the way. The first time he'd stepped foot in a humanoid town had been… life changing.
Standing in that busy street, surrounded by all these different species? Silent tears of joy had slipped down Gon's cheeks. This was so… incredibly beautiful. All these different people, together in the knowledge that they were all unique.
Gon knew nothing of humanoid culture, but he caught on within a matter of days. It was in his blood, afterall. He learned of aura, and how to use it. He learned of the social hierarchy, and of so many different species. He heard so many different stories, talked with so many different people. He got into fights, and discovered a hunger inside him. A hunger for battle, a hunger for excitement!
He dove headfirst into everything this world had to offer, not caring if he put himself in danger. This was reality! This was reality, and it was so incredibly breathtaking!
However, soon Gon found himself in the midst of the truth of this world.
That this was in no way a happy place.
This world was dangerous, this world was dark. This world was cruel.
Months dragged on, and Gon fell deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole that was his society. He discovered that humans were not the only ones who discriminated. As a hybrid, Gon was considered by many to be no better than an animal. No better than a human, and humanoids generally hated humans just as much as humans hated them.
There was so much hate in this world… so much fear.
And as Gon would discover, so much evil.
Gon got himself into trouble around every bend. He'd meet new people. He'd help them out, he'd say goodbye. He'd take odd jobs for money, he'd join expeditions.
He'd get involved in gang violence.
He'd get involved in village raids, in wars between communities.
Gon learned to fight, and he learned not to hold back.
He learned that some people just can't be helped.
That some people just have to die.
Soon Gon found himself involved in various vendettas. He hated a lot of people, and a lot of people hated him in return. He was a hybrid with a powerful aura, and no one hated a hybrid more than a superiorly ranked hybrid.
As Gon fell further and further into the nasty corners of this world, he lost sight of the light. When there was so much wrong around him, it grew increasingly harder to the right. Soon Gon lost sight of who he was, what he was doing. He was out here to find Ging… to find where he belonged.
But more often than not he found places where he didn't belong.
Because he was a "dirty blooded hybrid."
Because he was a "disgusting fag."
Because he was a "weak minded feminist."
Gon hated people that hated. He detested people that couldn't accept different species, genders, beliefs, and sexualities. This world was horrid. He hated it so much. What was he even doing here? Why had he left his beautiful Whale Island?
But aside from Mito and Abe… wasn't Whale Island the shining example of exactly what he hated in this world? Ew. He didn't wanna go back to that hell hole. To the source of all his childhood trauma. If he came back how he was now… and someone looked at him like he was trash (like they always did) he'd probably beat them to a bloody pulp.
Darkness descended upon Gon, and just as Freddy had feared all those months ago, Gon lost sight of his light.
Once Gon turned 17, he found himself aimless. Reckless.
This world was shit, he didn't wanna have to put up with its bullcrap anymore.
People were constantly following him around, fucking with him about stuff he'd done when he was 16. Still chasing him for helping people that needed it. Damn trash. People like that were damn trash. They wanted to fight Gon for helping the innocent? Fine. Gon would fucking kill them. They'd asked for it, who was he to deny them their wish?
Gon found himself in the most crowded city yet. And naturally, he walked himself right into its reeking underbelly. Only now… the lights caught his attention. The signs. The beckoning of sin and pleasure.
Curious, Gon walked into a chaotic looking club. He was way underage, had to be 21 at least. One foul spurt of aura towards the bouncer and he was in.
Trash.
This world was fucking trash.
Well then, Gon might as well benefit from its missight, shouldn't he?
Gon had never before allowed himself to be tempted by the allure of drugs, alcohol, and sex. Money had never really interested him. If he really needed something, he'd work honest and hard for it.
But this place was… crazy.
Gon walked in, swallowed up by a dark colored cloak. His eyes glowed against the shadow of his face, reflecting the wild firelights around him. A band blasted music, and hybrids and pure-bloods alike pulsated in the most dense and intoxicated crowd Gon had ever laid eyes on.
Gon had been feeling so lost lately, and all these people were just like him. Tossed about by this shithole of a world. Thrown into the mud and trampled across. Yet here they were, having the times of their lives. A girl flung herself into Gon's chest, giggling and gazing up at him with glazed eyes.
She looked so… gone.
Gon wanted… he wanted to be gone like that.
Why would he want to be here… when he could join her on whatever wacky trip she was on?
Gon followed this random girl's lead, and lost himself in the firelights and blasting music. He took a pill. A pill that made his head spin, a pill that made him happy. Gon hadn't felt this light in forever! It was like gravity didn't work on him! He couldn't think straight, and he fucking loved it! When he thought straight, he always got pissed off at something. But like this? Nothing fucking mattered! It was all fun and games!
That night, Gon jumped willingly down a slippery slope, tumbling headfirst into what would be the lowest point in his life.
Several days passed, and Gon spent his nights at that club. Drinking himself silly, smoking suspicious shit. He got into a couple fights, but those were never actually serious. They always ended with him sucking the other guy's dick or knocking a hot chick, which he discovered that he was pretty fucking good at.
He'd pass out in the morning, and sleep in a pile of other lost people. People that couldn't stand to be sober. Most of them were worse than Gon, but he was well on his way to being just like them.
One night, Gon met this really funny dude. His name was Meleoron. Gon had run into him cause of what he was smoking. It was completely wild, knocking people completely out of the water. Gon wanted to try that shit. If he was lucky someone'd pounce on him and fuck him senseless while he was high as a fucking cloud. That seemed fun.
Gon didn't end up as high as he would have liked, but Meleoron was actually a pretty cool dude. He introduced Gon to a couple friends of his, Knuckle and Shoot.
They got close really quick. All three of them were just like Gon. They'd seen the dirty underbelly of this world, and they fucking hated it. They'd been chewed up and spit out, and they were sick of all this shit. They'd all ended up here, lost and intoxicated. Throwing caution to the wind and getting as high as possible. Why take the world seriously when they could be here and have the time of their lives? Nothing mattered anymore, they didn't even need money.
If you were skilled in bed, you could get anything.
Gon tagged along with Knuckle, Shoot, and Meleoron. They hopped from club to club, touring the glowing and nocturnal side of this enormous city. It was fun, it was so incredibly fun. For the first time since he'd… Gon couldn't fucking remember actually, but for the first time EVER Gon was completely happy. Sure, he wasn't actually happy, just high and banging anybody he could get his hands on, but even artificial happiness was something Gon would take.
One night, Meleoron dragged the three of them into a straight up brothel. Said it would be a better time than just hooking up with some drunk person. Besides, they'd won the jackpot at the casino last night, so why not treat themselves?
That's where Gon met a girl named Jade. She was Gon's age, and a prostitute at this brothel buried in the spilled guts of this wild city. She had beautiful purple eyes, and warm pink skin. She was some sort of Cryptid hybrid something, skin covered in leopard spots but nothing feline about her. She had long, silky black hair, and the curviest body Gon had ever laid his hands on.
Something about her was different.
She said it was her job, it was what this place was for.
Gon didn't feel like this was just a girl he was paying to get to fuck, it felt like he was at her mercy. He would die without her there, he wasn't smoking anything but he swore to god that lost in Jade's sheets Gon's mind was higher than ever before.
How many times did she knock him dry? Six? Sixteen?
Usually Gon was the one making people stumble, but that next morning he was so sore he could barely stand up. Jade was right at his elbow, chuckling into his ear and helping him to the door. He made a friend that night. It sounded really fucking weird, but Gon was now friends with the sex worker he'd paid for.
Knuckle bugged the crap out of him for it, but Gon didn't care. Their group continued having their fun, and whenever Gon had the money, he'd go back to Jade. They'd talk. She'd whisper in his ear, tell him that his friends were terrible influences on him. Why was Gon here in this city? He was too young to be lost like this, take it from Jade, he had an entire world out there for him. Just like she did. Why was he here just like her?
Gon said cause the world was shit, and that pushed Jade over the edge.
The fun continued, and soon Gon was just numb.
It had been… What, a month?
Gon hadn't done anything substantial in an entire month. He hadn't eaten real food in an entire month. He could feel himself slipping out of shape, but what did he care? The important muscles were more in shape than ever. The ones he needed to make people scream his name.
But something was eating at him… sure, all of this was wonderful. He'd never felt more lost… he'd never felt more alive. But Gon started to feel a certain fog between him and whatever was happening around him. Whoever he was dancing with. Whoever was straining against his body.
He spoke with Meleoron about it, and he felt the same.
This was all fake… none of this was truly substantial. But hey, they had each other right?
They were all buddies here.
They may have been alone in this world, may have still been. But that didn't matter. Not when they had each other to suffer with!
That made Gon smile. A real smile, not a drunken smile.
But then… it all fell apart.
One night, on the way to their favorite club, a group of guys showed up. They were here for Shoot. They'd been looking for him for a while now, they didn't like his attitude from before. People from Shoot's past, still hunting him down.
Just like what Gon had been dealing with.
The four of them were insanely outnumbered, but they put up a damn good fight. No way in hell were they letting Shoot handle these assholes alone! It had been great… they'd been winning… but…
It didn't matter, cause in the end…
The world was still the world.
Knuckle and Shoot were killed, and Meleoron bled out in Gon's arms.
That night… Gon awakened a strange power within him.
It burned in his veins, and it warped his muscles.
It turned him into something… bigger. It healed his fatal injuries, and it gave him the power he needed to fucking kill these sons of bitches.
Using this strange chemical within him, Gon avenged his dead friends… but that didn't change the fact that they were gone.
After that? Gon was inconsolable.
Knuckle. Shoot. Meleoron.
Gon had loved them like brothers.
Now they were gone.
Gon had never… lost anyone like this before.
Sure… they'd been total pieces of work. Just as down and depressed as Gon had been. But they'd still been his friends. Even if they'd gotten him into a bunch of nasty ass shit…
Gon was just… gone after that.
If he'd been numb before, he was dead inside now.
Unsure of what to do with himself, Gon knew there was only one thing on his mind.
There was only one thing to make him feel.
There was only one person, who no matter how many times he saw, the high she gave him never faded.
Gon paid for Jade again.
He fell into her embrace, and lost himself in her body. She rode him till he saw stars, and then asked him what was wrong. He looked different? What was this shadow across his face?
Gon told her what had happened.
That there was nothing left for him here.
This… her, she was the only person that made him feel alive.
But even still, this was just Gon throwing himself into a tizzy. Losing his mind in whatever he could get his hands on. This didn't mean anything! He was still worth shit, he was still completely nothing! He was still… just a damned half-blood. There was nothing he was good for.
Jade whimpered, clawing at his hair as Gon rocked gently back and forth on top of her.
He'd always remember what she said.
"Gon… you're not… worthless. You're good at… this, aren't you?"
Choked out between gasps of ecstasy, it was likely no more than pillow talk… Encouragement to lean a little to the side.
"So what," Gon ground out, thrusting his hips slightly to the left and making Jade scream.
"So… just… work here!"
Gon paused, drawing back. Jade gasped when he left her, and shakily shoved herself into a sitting position. Her hair was wild and sweaty, caked to her forehead. The room stunk of sex, and Gon was in no better shape. But even so, his eyes wavered in the dark. Ready to grasp onto just about any measly scrap tossed his way.
"I know how you feel," she said, catching her breath. "I'm a hybrid just the same, no one looks at you right. You're just a hunk of flesh, undeserving of walking this earth. It feels… bad. Like you're worth nothing. Like the world would be better off without you."
Gon nodded, blinking back tears.
"But, here?" Jade continued. "If you work here, people come to you. They beg for you, your attention. Maybe they only come here for sex, but it doesn't change the fact that people want you. Gon, you're one of the most skilled guys in bed that I know. We have an open slot, you should work here. It makes great money, and you'll get to fuck people for a job, so… there's that."
In a complete utter lapse of judgment, Gon accepted.
So Gon completely lost himself this time. He took up the available slot in the brothel. At first he told himself that he could try to drag out information about Ging. People would tell you anything if they were desperately hanging off of you. But in reality… Gon knew why he was really here.
He'd lost everything. If he'd learned anything since leaving Whale Island, since he was born, it was that this world held nothing for him. It was dark, evil, and cruel. It was cold and senseless, and nothing and no one cared for him or his well being. He was completely alone, and now that Meleoron, Shoot, and Knuckle were gone, Jade was the only person he had left.
But… here, as a sex worker…
People needed him. People came for him, for who he was. They didn't care if he was a hybrid, they were here for his skill. His body. His company. People came to him begging for release, trapped at his mercy. When he was working, he was the only person in existence to these people.
When he had somebody in his bed, Gon could finally feel wanted. Seen. Alive. Worth a damn.
He knew, oh he knew, that this was the most toxic shit he could have possibly gotten himself into. He knew that this was the lowest of the low, the most down and dirty job he could have possibly taken. If Mito knew where he was right now… Gods. She'd probably drop dead.
But Gon… couldn't find it in himself to care.
Soon, he completely forgot about what he was doing. He forgot about Ging. He forgot about his goals. Nothing mattered, nothing but this release. Nothing mattered but the next person through those curtains.
Because as long as Gon had someone in here with him… he wasn't alone in the cage of his own thoughts.
Gon hated himself, but when people cried out his name… he felt loved.
Then one day, it all changed.
Gon was draped across the silken sheets, laying on his back in nothing but a sheer skirt. A sorry excuse for a skirt at that, just two sheets of translucent gossamer draped over his front and rear ends.
He stretched out, ready to seduce whoever was about to walk through that door.
The curtains parted, and in stepped a very tall man. He was a hell of a lot older than Gon, which sort of broke the contract of consent… he must have paid a shit ton of money to get around the age restrictions if he was this much older than the sex worker of his choosing. But Gon wasn't exactly in a position to argue. Or care. Not anymore.
He was lanky and thin, with long white hair that went past his ass. He wore a blue cap shadowing his eyes, and was dressed in black slacks and a white sweater. He was see through, not entirely there, with an enormous black scythe strapped across his back. A Wraith.
Gon blinked up at him, but before he could make his move the guy was fixing him with the most enraged glare Gon had ever gotten in his life.
"What in the actual fuck do you think your doing?!" he snapped, teeth gritted. Royally pissed off.
Gon frowned. The hell? He rolled onto his stomach, moving slow and sexy like he had trained himself to.
"Cut that shit out," the man snarled.
His voice commanded respect. Gon was trained to listen to orders, so he stopped his leisurely movements. He sat straight up. It'd been a while since he'd worked to a kink. This'd be fun.
"Honestly," the man growled, dragging hand down his face. He'd only looked at Gon's eyes the whole time. Not as his bare body. Not at his dick. What on earth? Was he not good enough for this man's liking or something?
Meanwhile, the tall Wraith in white was on the verge of pummeling this little jackass. What the fuck was going on here?! He'd decided that it was about time he dropped in on Ging's kid once he turned 17, but this was NOT where he'd expected to find him. Not by a long shot.
"Why are you here?! Do you know how fucking hard it was to hunt you down?!" the man hissed.
Gon blinked, utterly confused. "You paid for my service–"
"-Hell no! I'm here to slap some fucking sense into that thick skull of yours! Is this seriously what you're wanting to do with your life?!"
Okay, now Gon was just pissed off. Who the hell was this guy?! And who did he think he was, trying to tell Gon how to live his life?! He didn't know a damn thing about Gon or what he'd been through!
"Who the fuck do you think you are?!" Gon snapped, snarling aggressively. "Why are you even here if you're not here to see me?! I'm calling security on your ass–"
"-You will do no such thing."
That was a scary ass voice.
For some reason Gon felt like he had to listen.
"I'm getting you the fuck out of here," the guy said darkly. He shucked off his sweater and tossed it into Gon's chest, leaving himself in a tight black undershirt. "For Gods' sake, put some damn clothes on."
"What are you even doing here? I don't even know you!" Gon cried out. "Why should I listen to you?! Where did you even come from?!"
The guy fixed Gon with a steely glare. "I'm offering you a job. Now get out of that damn bed and put the fucking shirt on."
"Who are you?!"
"My name is Kite. And I'm here because I can't stand to see somebody like you wasting away in a place like this. I know you're strong, and I know you have potential. But for some damn reason you're here, working as a whore and throwing your damn life away."
"How did you even find me?" Gon growled. He didn't like this. He didn't like this one bit. He couldn't leave! What was this guy doing, he was completely shattering the bubble Gon had placed himself inside! All those damn thoughts were starting to come back–
Fuck!
What was this?!
All of a sudden Gon's mind was tearing itself apart.
He started breathing heavily, he couldn't catch his breath.
Who was this guy?! Why was he offering him a job?! What was he doing here?! Why was Gon in this place again?
"Calm down," Kite said gruffly. "Listen, I know you don't actually wanna be here. I can see it in your eyes. You're lost right now. Helping people like you out is what I do. Come with me, kid. It's not too late to get your shit in gear."
Gon glared up at him, tears gathering in his eyes. Why was he crying?! "Why should I listen to a word you say?" he hissed.
"Because deep down inside, you know that this is your only chance. Come on, you think Ging's gonna be proud of whatever this is?" he snapped, gesturing rudely at Gon. Barely clothed. Skin oiled down. Heavy makeup lining his eyes, there for the purpose of being licked off and smeared.
That word was like an arrow through Gon's heart.
Ging.
Did this guy… Kite. Know Ging?
What was Gon… doing.
It was about time he…
"Come on, Gon. It's about time you woke the fuck up."
Biting back tears, Gon pulled Kite's enormous white shirt on. It fit him like a dress, the gossamer panels hanging down from under the hem. He didn't know why… but for some reason he felt like he could trust Kite. He was ashamed that Kite had met him like this… Gon felt like Kite was somebody he should respect, someone important.
Kite sighed in exasperation, placing his hand on Gon's neck and leading him out of the brothel. No one made a move to stop him. Kite must have had to… buy Gon. In order to get him out. His contract… it wasn't anywhere near paid off. How much money had Kite had to pay?
Walking through the dark streets… illuminated by the tiny flames in the streetlights… Gon thought about just how sad this situation was. Here Kite was, dragging a hopeless, idiot boy out of a brothel. Buying him out of the contract and giving him the clothes off his back.
Gon. Some random slut.
Here he is, taking Gon for all he is. Broken. Empty. Alone. And reminding him of what his purpose in life was.
Here, following Kite to wherever it was they were going… Gon could sort of see it.
The light.
Kite had opened his eyes back up. It hurt like hell, and it felt like Gon's mind was going to shut itself down at any second… but Gon respected Kite for this. He… already looked up to him. Who was this guy, what type of person would he have to be to help Gon of all people?
For the first time in months, since before he'd turned 17, Gon felt motivated again.
He felt like… he wanted to fix himself. His life, his mind, his broken soul.
And he had Kite to thank for that.
