Illumi looks down at the pin in his hand. He wasn't getting rid of it. He had a much better plan.

Adella leans over the back of the couch, watching him as he considers his weapon. "So that's it? You're keeping it?"

"I think I must." Illumi hums, turning to face her. "It has been imbued with my nen, perhaps not to sedate you, but it has; I wouldn't want to leave it where someone else could find and potentially use it."

Adella watches him, frowning. Was that really how it worked? She was still relatively new to nen, and most of what she knew came from Illumi. Still, that just meant he could be lying and she'd never know.

"So, what are you doing then?"

Illumi sets the pin down on the coffee table, turning to face her. "Giving it to you."

Adella peers around him, looking at the little nuisance. "Why?"

Illumi chuckles, aware she can't always follow his "twisted Zoldyck logic." Adella much preferred knowing what she was getting into, impatient woman she was. She was friends with Ryn after all, though he had assumed that would make her more patient. Well, at least she was patient enough to deal with him, right?

"I've imbued it with my nen again."

Adella's eyes widen. "Lumi, I don't think…"

"Calm down, little one." She frowns at his pet name, knowing it stems from a joke about her (average, thank you very much) height. It wasn't her fault he was so tall. "It isn't for me, it's for you, like I said."

He grabs her wrist, guiding her around the back of the couch to sit beside him. "It is meant for your protection. You do not use needles or pins or any other kind of… physical control. Sometimes I fear it makes you more vulnerable."

Adella frowns, looking at the innocuous needle on the table. "How? Why?"

Illumi takes her hand, reaching for the pin and folding her fingers over the metal. "You are much better at manipulating how people see the world rather than their own actions. It is much less fatal, which is what was alluring to you, but it means it is much more obvious when you are controlling someone. The needle will make it easier, just in case of emergency."

Adella breathes deeply, closing her eyes to focus. As she does, and as Illumi feels her aura grow, he is once again reminded of how powerful she is. If she wanted to, she could probably become even stronger than Hisoka, or even his family.

But he wasn't willing to teach her. Nor was she willing to learn. Adella didn't mind not being the strongest in the room, so long as she proved she was strong and could protect those close to her.

He feels more than sees her overcome him, manipulating his view so that they no longer sit on their couch but in that tower from the exam. He knows they aren't there, knows his eyes deceive him, but he is still impressed once more at this odd woman who had broken through so many of his walls. If he wasn't already in too deep, he'd hate her.

Opening her eyes, Adella looks up at him, curious as to what she is meant to do next. Illumi merely nods to her still closed fist. "Like I said, impressive, but less combative. Should you allow me, once we are married..."

Adella frowns, quirking a brow at his statement. "That's a bit presumptuous, don't you think?"

"Perhaps. Consider it hopeful." Illumi smiles softly. "I just want to protect you."

"I can protect myself. I did before I met you, and I can do so again."

He nods, still knowing that while she is advanced in some ways, her training is far from over. He had done well enough with her to make certain she could pass the exam with ease, but now other matters called for more substantial knowledge.

Illumi pulls back, and Adella lets the tower dissipate, once again home. "Then at least take it to use against me if you so need." He doesn't mention that one singular needle would be far too easy to dodge. As much as he wants to protect her, even from him, he cannot. He knows what's best for her, and he will see that she sees things the same way.

Adella smiles softly, reaching up to press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. "As olive branches go, it's pretty good. I can't fully trust you again, not yet, but I suppose I can put most of my anger behind me."

Reaching up to tug at his neck, she pulls him into a deeper kiss. Illumi grabs her wrists, indulging her for only a moment before pulling away. "We can't. I can't. I…"

She frowns, pulling back. "Seriously?"

"I am not entitled to any pleasure that you can give me. Not now. I have to re-earn that."

Adella crosses her arms, scowling. "So? Why am I also getting punished then?"

Illumi opens his mouth to respond, then closes it quickly. What did she mean? She wasn't being punished at all! "I'm not…"

"I'm horny, Illumi. Have been since you left. Thanks for noticing." She growls, and Illumi rolls his eyes. Now she mentioned it, she was being a bit too touchy to be considered normal.

"Knowing you, I don't think you're ready for that right now. Besides, your self-control knows almost no limit." He admits, wrapping an arm around her waist. She grins, and Illumi knows he's passed some sort of test. Good. "Now hush and let us rest. It's been far too long since I was home."

"So, can I do it?"

Illumi hums, rubbing his thumb across the bottom of his lip. "Explain it to me again."

Adella nods, straightening in her seat. "Okay, so, I do basically what you can, with the added benefit of I can make people see things that aren't there. I use my DNA as my pins, and my control only lasts as long as my DNA is on them so I can control them from far away, though I suppose I'd have to factor in travel time with how much DNA I use, but still."

She grins widely. Illumi isn't so convinced. "And how exactly do you think this will work?"

"Conditions. Using my DNA means I can't control myself or use my powers on me. A benefit of being a manipulator is potentially controlling yourself so someone else can't. I won't be able to do that. Also, my control isn't as absolute as yours. It lasts so long as my DNA is on their skin, specifically their skin, and they know they're being controlled if I choose to try to manipulate their actions rather than what they perceive. Your pins give you complete control, this is more short term, but widely useable. And if I'm sneaky, I can make them think they aren't being controlled, at least not by me. Plus," she beams, "less chance of fatality."

Illumi hums, still unsure as to the uses of such power. It's weaker than he expected her nen powers to be, but it makes sense. It would be a bit more subtle than a needle to the head and had more uses. And, true to form, it wouldn't cause her to kill anyone unless absolutely necessary. It seemed her abilities were still too hard to control, and she'd had bad luck in manipulating the creatures he'd had her practice on.

"And it works? You have tested it?"

Adella bites her lip. "Remember that one picture I got that you thought was ugly?"

He grimaces, remembering the horrid thing. Why she had gotten it was beyond him; it certainly didn't fit her style or the apartment. "Why bring that up? Tell me you didn't lie about getting rid of it."

Her face brightens, eyes sparkling with delight. "It wasn't real."

The gears in his brain screech to a halt. Was she implying…? "I beg pardon?"

"You were my test. I thought of a really ugly picture, met you out for our date, made sure I kept holding your hand, added a few kisses to be sure, and made you think you saw the painting."

He should be mad. No, he should be furious. She had tricked him, making him seem a fool in the name of research. He hated scientists.

Instead, Illumi is almost proud. She had tricked him, a Zoldyck. And he hadn't had a clue. "You little genius."

Adella giggles, perching herself in his lap, cuddling up to him so her head rests under his chin. "Thank you, oh wise master."

Illumi's throat tightens, and various other parts of his anatomy, parts he's never really thought of, harden. His little side mission was going perfectly, nearly ten months later and his little pupil was very clearly happy with their arrangement.

He taught her nen, taught her to fight, and in turn she followed his instructions perfectly. Granted it was under the guise of a relationship, one he hadn't meant to last this long, but he had learned so much about her, he couldn't stop now.

"You're welcome, little one." He presses a kiss to the top of her head, a sign of affection he knows normal couples should have.

Illumi realizes he's enjoying the perks of having this little secret to himself, not just the power, but the comfort of having someone waiting for him when he stops by.

"Lumi?"

He hums, also enjoying the nickname. When had anyone ever called him anything other than Illumi?

Well, besides the clown, but he found 'Lumi' to be much nicer than 'Illu.'

"What is it?"

She sits up, shuffling around in his lap so that she faces him. Her arms wrap around his neck, holding his focus on her. "Want to move in with me?"

He cocks his head, curious as to why she is asking. "Oh?"

"I know you have your family home, but you travel, right? Your Yorknew base, when you're in town for a while, could be here. I have the guest room if you want to move in, and I…"

His heart, or whatever the organ in his chest is, he highly doubts he has a heart, constricts tightly. He wants to move in. He isn't sure why, but he does.

"Okay."

She pauses, stumbling over her words until she comes to a stop. "You… okay?"

He nods. "But do I have to use the spare room?"

His question makes her blush, something still so odd to him, but that he's determined he likes. "I… no. Do you, I mean, I can make space in mine."

Illumi nods, pulling her into a kiss. "Perfect."

If anyone asked Illumi to determine exactly when he should have known his little mission was about to be compromised, he would point to this moment.

I'm not sure how happy I am with how I explained Adella's ability, but it is what it is. The important thing is she uses her nen to manipulate people mentally more than physically. Think Wanda in MoM telling that one guy to run.