Making the decision was easy for Leorio. Some of the applicants that he interviewed had great potential to be an excellent butler! However, they just didn't interest him enough. Some were simply boring, while others gave him a strange feeling. They may have had the experience, but none of them compared to the first one that he welcomed into his home. Not a single person piqued his curiosity like Kurapika did, nor did they brighten his day with any sassy remarks. How boring would it be, to hire someone with a bland personality? That would make him want to stay at work even more. At least this gives him something to look forward to now. Now whenever he returns to his penthouse, he will be greeted by an adorable blonde! The mere thought made his heart jump, and he hummed happily while shoving documents into his briefcase. Today is going to be a busy day for him, so he might not even return until later on tonight, or tomorrow even.
That is what happens when you have surgeries scheduled back-to-back. Leorio swung the briefcase over his broad shoulder, and stepped out of his bedroom. It still felt oddly quiet in here. "..." It sure was nice having company over yesterday. If only more people would visit. That requires actually making some friends, and maybe even finding a lover. It is just hard to find time for those things, especially at this point in his life when his career is at its highest. He made his way down the winding staircase, all the while whistling loudly to some song that was stuck in his head. It echoed loudly throughout the empty penthouse, but he didn't care. At the moment he seemed to be in his own little world. He skipped the last few stairs, just so that he could make a grand landing.
He ran a hand through his dark hair, and grinned. "Still got it!" This time he wasn't wearing a suit, but rather, casual clothing. It consisted of a light-blue button up shirt, and black dress pants. As soon as he gets to the hospital, he will have to change into his scrubs anyways. The weather is supposed to be nice, so a jacket wasn't needed. And since he walks to work, he didn't want to be all sweaty by the time he arrives there. It is a good form of exercise for him. Besides, he lives close enough. Taking a taxi would just be a waste of money. It helps to live in such a busy city, where there is a lot to see. There is always something interesting going on here.
The crime rate in this big, busy city is also quite high. Thankfully for Leorio, he can defend himself rather well. He is a Hunter, after all. A license was needed in order to get into college. Without it, he never would have gathered up enough money to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor. The exam itself was very hard, and he almost failed it a few times. Due to the sheer devotion of not letting his former best friend down, he was able to pull through, and actually pass on the first try. Now he has saved many lives, and he honestly couldn't feel more proud of himself. This is what he was meant to do in life. Without it, he would be nothing. There was no other profession for him out there. It is either this, or nothing.
"Dr. Paladiknight?" That quiet, soft-spoken voice broke through his concentration. It was enough to make him jump a little from where he stood. Wide-eyed, he turned around to stare directly into silver pools. God they were gorgeous! Never has he seen anything like it. Upon realizing who it was, his facial features immediately softened. How did he not hear the door open and close? Was he really that out of it? One thing was certain: He wasn't about to interrogate the guy. Instead he set his briefcase down onto the table next to him, along with his keys.
"Kurapika! You're here earlier than expected." This wasn't an issue. At least now he gets to see him before heading out to work. There was a large backpack resting on his shoulders, with two smaller suitcases in each hand. Was that really all he owned? It didn't seem like a lot, to be honest. As much as he wanted to bring this up, he knew better than to actually do so. If that is all he needed, then who was he to say otherwise? Then he remembered what he had been doing prior to this, and awkwardly rubbed the back of his head.
"Uh, how long have you been standing there for?" His cheeks felt warm, and he almost reached up to touch them. How embarrassing! Again, he is so used to being the only person in here. That is going to have to change, and quickly if he doesn't want to continue making a fool of himself.
'Long enough.' As much as Kurapika wanted to say this out loud, he couldn't. His job has officially started, and so it would be wrong of him to say such a thing to his own boss. To be fair here, it wasn't that embarrassing. Clearly this guy was in a good mood, and didn't know how to hide it. There was nothing wrong with that though. How can he not hear that whistling from where he stood? It bounced off of the bare walls. Not only that, but he also made a killer jump just now. No normal person could do that. It must help to have such long legs. Man was he tall! That is one of the first things he had noticed about him. He must tower over a lot of people. It seems to suit his personality at least. Trying to imagine him any shorter was just weird.
"Do not fret, Dr. Paladiknight. It is not my job to stand here and laugh at you." It really wasn't, and this was said with the most neutral expression the blonde could muster up. Not like he would have burst into a fit of giggles anyways. That wasn't the type of person he was. At least, not anymore. Now he is more closed off, and only shows his true side to those he trusts wholeheartedly. So far he has yet to meet someone he feels so comfortable around.
Kurapika set his belongings aside, and took it upon himself to grab the briefcase and keys off of the table nearby. "You gave me the code to your penthouse last night over the phone, remember? I thought you had already left for work. I apologize for scaring you." That definitely wasn't his intention. Had he arrived a few minutes later, then this could have all been avoided. It is impossible for him to sleep in, so he figured it would be for the best to move in as soon as possible. With those two things now in his possession, he went over to the front door and unlocked it.
"I can handle things from here on out, so you should leave before you're late to work. Would you like for me to call you a taxi?" That would be the quickest way to get to the hospital. At least, in his opinion it was. It's not like he owned a car himself. If so, then he would have offered to drive him there. Unfortunately he just didn't have the money to get one, or the space to put it. Not very many people own a vehicle in a city like this. The traffic was just too busy, and the parking spots are limited.
Why was he trying to kick him out so fast? Leorio looked him over one more time, and then shook his head. "No need for that. I didn't get this body by sitting on my butt! Walking is a great form of exercise." Not like he finds the time to really sit much as it is, but still. How can he not be proud of his muscles on top of it all? He really did work hard to achieve them. People feel more comfortable going to a doctor who actually takes care of themselves. His chocolate-brown eyes drifted over to the luggage resting against the wall, and that is when he got an idea.
Can't kick him out that easily!
"Close that door. I'm gonna help bring these upstairs for ya! That way you will only need to make one trip." Leorio swung the backpack over his shoulder, and then picked up the other two suitcases. For anyone else this might be heavy, but he sure did make it look effortless. Without even waiting for a response, he started making his way towards the staircase. Which room was the blonde going to choose, he wondered. There were a couple to choose from.
Kurapika's eyes widened when he saw this happen, and he extended his arm. Yes he didn't have much with him, but the stuff inside of those bags were very important and valuable- Irreplaceable, even. "Dr. Paladknight, please. That is not necessary of you. It is my duty to take care of things around here, and that includes carrying my own luggage up the stairs." It made him feel uneasy, watching someone handling his stuff like this. He wanted to rip it all away from him- To scold him for touching his things. Instead he had to control his anger. He needed this job more than anything. If he lashes out now, he will be thrown out onto the streets.
Leorio, of course, brushed it off like it was no big deal. "I know, I know! Just want you to get settled in before leaving. You haven't been shown where everything is yet. I think I already know which room you will like the best. Just follow my lead!" He flashed the younger male one of his signature grins, and then quickened his pace.
This really did not sit well at all with the blonde, but he had no other choice but to follow after him. What good was a butler, if you do everything for them? Perhaps he really wasn't shown around the place. It would be helpful to know where things are. On the other hand, he isn't an idiot. He can find his way around here in no time. "..."
'He really is fit, huh?' Kurapika couldn't help but notice the shape of his body through those tight clothes. They hugged every single muscle oh so perfectly. It was much easier to take notice of these things, now that they weren't facing each other; whereas before he probably would have came off creepy, had he sat there and ogled his physique. It looked as if his arms were about to burst right through the sleeves of his shirt! It must be hard for him to find clothes that properly fit because of this. Thankfully he has the money to buy from any store he pleases.
Wait, what was he doing? Kurapika shook his head, as he tried to quite literally get those thoughts out of his mind. This was so unlike him to do, and he almost felt ashamed because of it. Upon realizing what he was doing, he forced himself to look away. 'Damn it.' Now he just felt dirty for staring at the guy in such a way. Never before has he done something like this, and he honestly didn't know how to react to it. What has gotten into him? These changes were happening very unexpectedly. It was starting to frustrate him, if anything.
Leorio didn't think much of the blonde's silence. He just took it as him being his usual quiet self. That is just how he is. Everyone is different, after all. Once he made it to the top of the stairs, he walked past two doors on the right, before coming to a complete stop. From there he used his foot to push the door open. "See Kurapika?! Isn't it marvelous?" He beamed proudly.
"...?" Just how marvelous could a bedroom be? Feeling a little curious, Kurapika poked his head through the door to peer inside. The walls were a warm grey color, with grey-colored flooring that was made out of wood. The ceiling was your average white, with the one wall being made entirely out of glass. It showed a beautiful view of the city. On the very end were black curtains, to help darken the room when necessary. There was a dresser, a table on either side of the queen-size bed, and a door leading to a walk-in closet. That will obviously never be filled up. The grey and white color scheme was quite lovely, actually. Even he had to admit that.
"I see it left ya speechless!" Leorio set the suitcases down, and pulled the handles up so that he could wheel them inside. When he made it over to the bed, he pulled the backpack off of him. Although as soon as he did this, he made a rather funny face. Why did his back feel wet all of a sudden? He reached back to touch his shirt, and that is when he noticed just how bad it was. Without even thinking, he quickly unbuttoned it. Once off, he was able to see how large the wet spot was. At least he wore a white t-shirt underneath that.
"What the-" He mumbled to himself. Then he glanced down at the backpack he had carefully set on the floor, and blinked a few times. Did he break something in there? Or was it already like that? It smelled sort of funny, whatever it was. Being a doctor and all, it wasn't enough to gross him out. He sees all types of bodily fluids on a daily basis, so this was nothing compared to that. It was still enough to throw him off, though.
Kurapika's heart stopped beating in that very moment. That is something he feared when packing his things- Was that one of his most valuable items would break. Why does he continue to have such bad luck? What has he ever done to deserve this? 'Was I not careful enough when setting it down before?' Now he was really kicking himself for having been so careless with it. It was no one else's fault but his own. Maybe if he had wrapped everything up so much better, then this would have never happened in the first place? Or if he had never taken his backpack off in the first place?
"Ah-" Just like that, Kurapika was at the doctor's side in a matter of seconds. He was quick to pull the zipper over to open the backpack up, and what he saw nearly crushed him. It didn't matter that his belongings got all wet. No, those can always be washed and dried. Plus all the other stuff was easy to replace. The Jar he had tucked neatly inside, however, not so much. Slowly and carefully he pulled that out, and examined the damage. There was a good size crack going alongside it. Those large, silver-colored eyes became dull all of a sudden as he stood there. What should he do? How does one even fix this? It's not like he brought anything to replace it with. His hands began to tremble slightly, his breathing becoming hitched.
At first Leorio didn't know what was in the blonde's grasp. That is because his body was facing away from his own, as if to try and hide it. The liquid inside that jar continued to seep out of the crack, and it dripped onto the hardwood floor. "Hmm..." He couldn't help but feel nosy. This is why he stepped around his newly-hired butler, and gazed at what was inside. "...?!" In it were two floating eyeballs. Normally people don't carry around jars of eyeballs, so that in itself confused him. The other part that made his own widen in shock? Was the mere color of them. It was a color he had never seen before, and he even questioned if they were real or not. Why would someone put fake eyes in a sealed jar with solution like that? It just didn't make any sense to him. This means they are real?
So bizarre, yet oddly fascinating.
"I.. I have never seen anything so beautiful before. Those actually belonged to a person? I can hardly believe it," Leorio spoke quietly. They were Scarlet-red, and shined brightly. Now he wanted to know what this person looked like. Man, they must have been equally as gorgeous! He reached out to place his hand over the crack in hopes to temporarily stop the leak, and leaned in to get a closer look. It was almost as if they were putting him in a trance.
"The doctor in me really wants to slice into these bad boys, and see how it's possible to get such a majestic color! But on the other hand, I wouldn't want to ruin their beauty. It's good that they are being well-preserved." More like they were being preserved. If this doesn't get fixed soon, then the whole specimen will go bad. If so, then that would just be a waste. He might not get to see such eyes ever again in his lifetime. Oh how lucky he felt right now!
Kurapika silently looked back at the doctor's face, taking in his reaction. Of course he thought they were beautiful. This is exactly why they are still being sold in the black market! They are going for a lot of money, and unfortunately he hasn't been able to afford any others. 'He looks so fascinated...' His body twitched when he brought up cutting into the Scarlet eyes, but he tried not to hold it against him. It's not like he knew what they were, and why he had them in his possession. He was completely oblivious to everything, and he wanted it to stay that way. The less he knows about him, the better.
It is for the best that they don't become friends.
"I will.. clean this mess up. You really should get going." It's not like he meant to sound so depressed over the matter. When it involves his clan, it just can't be helped. They were all he had in life, and that was taken away from him at such a young age. This was all he had left of them for the time being. Yet, he couldn't even keep this safe. He felt like such a failure! What he wanted the most right now, was to be left alone. The fact that Leorio was trying to stop the jar from losing more of its liquid did mean something to him. It showed that he cared enough to try. He wasn't trying to steal it from him, but rather, was only trying to help in his own way.
Leorio didn't like the look on his butler's face. This must mean so much to the poor guy. "Hey, don't lose hope yet! I got this! Just wait right here, okay? Keep your hand over the crack." This was the least he could do for him. Not wasting any more time, he took off running. How can he go to work, knowing that his butler felt so down in the dumps? He doesn't like seeing people so gloomy like this. Making people happy is what he loves to do! It was in his nature to put smiles on people's faces.
The blonde complied, but only because he was desperate to save his Scarlet eyes. 'Should I really be here? I already don't like this. The whole thing was a bad idea! Do I leave? Is that the right choice? I don't know anymore.' He bit his lip, feeling a bit nervous. His stomach was starting to hurt again. This usually happens whenever his anxiety flares up. It is something he can't control. He stared down at the eyes, and brought them closer to his face. Who did these belong to? Could they be his mother's? His father's? Perhaps, even Pairo's? If only he could tell! They could belong to another Kurta for all he knew. That is something he will never be certain of, though.
Kurapika is the only living Kurta left. Everyone else has been wiped out. This is why he wears contact lenses wherever he goes. They turn Scarlet when the host feels intense emotions, like anger, and sadness. This is something he has never had good control over. To avoid anyone finding out his true identity, he keeps them hidden behind prescription lenses. They irritate his eyes, and sometimes he forgets to take them out. If only he didn't have to go through the hassle. This is just one of the many things he will have to do for the rest of his life. Being a Hunter himself, he can ward off anyone who attacks him, unlike when he was a small boy.
If only he had the right answers in life. Instead he has to wing everything, and hope for the best. 'Just what is that idiot going to do about this?' It wasn't even his fault. A heavy sigh slipped through his lips, and he took this opportunity to really look around the room. It felt comfortable being in here. The colors all blend perfectly well with each other. Had they been very bright and vibrant, he wouldn't have been able to do it. "Hm?" Was there a small deck outside those glass doors? Looks like he can get some fresh air from the comfort of his own bedroom. That is going to come in handy. There doesn't seem to be a bathroom in here, which is fine. They passed one on their way here, which is only one door down. Again, he doesn't need any luxurious.
There was a beautiful, oval-shaped mirror just above the dresser that sat across from his bed. Now he can fix up his bed hair before leaving the room! The bedding looked absolutely soft, and fluffy like a cloud. He was almost certain that it had one of those real down comforters on it. Not only that, but there were a lot of pillows on it. Just who in the world sleeps with that many? The most he has ever used, was two. "..." His curiosity got the best of him, and he slowly sat down on the edge. He could feel his body sink into it, and blinked. "..."
"Alrighty then! Sorry it took so long. I had to wash up. Can't be handling body parts with dirty hands!" Leorio said, as he made his grand entrance. There was a huge grin on his face while making his way over to the blonde. In his hold was a nice looking jar, which he set on the floor at his feet. This was so that he could put a pair of gloves on his hands. It was a little dusty from having sat on the shelf for so long, so he had to give that a quick wipe down as well. Being a doctor and all, he needs to be able to act quickly. Because of this, he is able to get tasks done right away.
"This one will do the job much better! The glass is thicker, and more sturdy. That one you have right now wouldn't have held up for very long, to be honest. So, I'm not surprised it broke so easily. Your precious rubies will hold up a lot longer in this baby!" He carefully pulled it out of Kurapika's grasp, and knelt down on the floor. It was a simple fix for someone like him. Once popping the lid off, he set that aside, and tilted it into the other open jar.
All Kurapika could do, was just sit there and watch as the doctor handled his precious Scarlet eyes. It was making him feel nervous all over again, but deep down he knew that he was only trying to help. "Rubies?" His voice was barely above a whisper as he said this. Did he really refer to them as such? 'That jar really does seem to be of much better quality. It won't be so easy to break that thing...'
Leorio chuckled, and nodded his head. "Yup! When I look at this magnificent eyes, images of rubies appear in my mind." He paused to pour some of the solution into the jar. Once it was about half full, he reached in to grab one of the eyeballs. As he held it in his hand, he couldn't help but examine it some more. It was definitely real alright. How was it shining so brightly though? Even if their natural color was this shade of red, they still don't have this effect. It just amazed him a lot. Not wanting to dry it out, he quickly placed it into the jar, and then grabbed the other one. Once they were both in there, he proceeded with filling the rest of it up.
As soon as he took his gloves off, and tossed them into the trash bin, he screwed the lid on tightly. Now that it was finished, he held it up towards the light. The look of awe was still written all over his face as he did this, but he didn't care. This really did make his day! "I would date anyone with these eyes. I imagine myself getting lost in their gaze all the time. Maybe someday I will meet someone who has them." Wouldn't that be something?
Kurapika shifted uncomfortably from where he sat. 'If only you knew...' He is the only survivor of his clan. So no, this guy won't get that opportunity. It's not like he was going to go around showing off his own Scarlet eyes. Again, he needs to keep his identity a secret. No one can be trusted. The way that they were handled did put him at ease, though. The doctor was so gentle, and careful with every move he made. No damage had been done to them, and this caused him to sigh in relief. This was just one less thing for him to worry about now.
He stood up from the bed, and reached out to Leorio. "You can put that on the dresser. And while you're at it, give me the t-shirt you are wearing. I will wash both of your shirts when I do laundry later." They can't forget the reason why he was here in the first place. Plus if he doesn't leave soon, then he was going to be late to work. What happens when a doctor arrives late? It has been so long since he last saw one himself. Also, he didn't want to sit around and watch this moron gush over his clan's eyes anymore. It was making him feel a certain way, and he wasn't sure if it was a good or bad feeling.
"Oh? You want me to strip that badly, huh?" Leorio teased. As soon as he said this, he waved it off. No need to take it seriously. He did as he was instructed, and placed the jar right in the middle of the dresser. That looked like a great spot for them! 'Do these glow in the dark? Maybe I can sneak in here during nighttime, and test it out for myself.'
Kurapika just blankly stared at him. As much as he wanted to say something smart in response to that, he bit his tongue. At least he wasn't being difficult here. He did, however, look away slightly once the taller male began taking his shirt off. 'Why couldn't he have been some fat, ugly old guy?' Sure he probably wouldn't have been so nice and patient with him, but at least his feelings wouldn't be all jumbled up. He cleared his throat, still trying to avoid looking at him.
But one peek wouldn't hurt, right?
He tucked a strand of blonde hair behind his ear, and side-eyed the doctor from where he stood. Just as he did this, both shirts were shoved into his face. This caught him off guard, and he stepped back a bit to distance himself. "...!"
"Here ya go! I have some other laundry that needs to be washed, so might as well throw it in there with the rest. I'll find something else to wear, and then head out. I think now I'll take that taxi you offered." If he doesn't get to work soon, then he will definitely be late. This has never been a problem for him anyways, so he wasn't too worried about it. It was a shame he couldn't wear that specific shirt, but oh well. He has many others that are similar to it. And with that, he disappeared from the room to go back into his own. How far away was that? It was literally across the hall. This means that they won't be too far away from each other. Funny how that worked out.
"..." It was weird how their rooms were across from one another's. Was it necessary to be located so close like that? Now he has to be extra careful with what he does. However, he couldn't just abandon this bedroom. It really was nice. The others might be too much for him. Sighing, Kurapika adjusted the shirts in his hands. The laundry will have to come later. For now he needed to take care of the puddle on his floor, and to properly dispose of the broken jar. He stepped over it to leave the bedroom, and pulled his cellphone out of his pocket. 'I should have just called him one anyways.' They would have been here by now.
Kurapika feels like he is going to need a lot of patience with this guy.
The penthouse honestly wasn't even that dirty. While the clothes were being washed, Kurapika dug through the doctor's closet to iron anything that looked wrinkly- Which was indeed all of his suits. Does he let them sit in the laundry basket for days on end, before being put onto hangers? That is what it looked like. One could say that he simply didn't have the time to take care of it right away, but it only takes a matter of minutes to properly hang each item onto a hanger. Despite being such a hard worker at the hospital, he sure is lazy when off the clock! This is something he would never say to his face, though. It is his job to take care of these things anyways. Now his wardrobe is freshly cleaned, ironed, and put away. For someone who has a lot of money, he doesn't even own a whole lot to begin with. It must be pointless to own more than he does, since he doesn't go out enough.
Since he spent the day getting settled in, and taking care of smaller things around the penthouse, he was unable to run a lunch on over to Leorio. It would have been take-out anyways, since he really doesn't know how to cook. He did, however, look into hiring a personal chef for him. After having looked at all of his options, he finally found someone who was perfect for the job. This person will be expected to arrive first thing in the morning, so that they can whip up a nice, hearty breakfast. Also, the fridge and cupboards were pretty empty looking. This means that the blonde will need to go grocery shopping. There is a market just down the street from here, so it's not like he will have to travel very far.
Kurapika also took it upon himself to organize the office that clearly hadn't been used in a good while. There were papers strewn about everywhere, and the shelves had a thick layer of dust on them. Not to mention there was a trash bin alongside the desk, that was filled with garbage. It was mainly crumpled up pieces of paper, but still. Clearly this room has been neglected for quite some time. Now everything was sparkly-clean! Hopefully he can find the time to go back and grab his books. There are so many, that he will need to make a few trips. If not, then he will need to start over from scratch. It won't be the end of the world, but to him it will be a waste of money to re-buy everything. Some of those he would love to read again.
He still found it unnecessary to have such a big place, but it wasn't his place to voice such an opinion. Leorio can do whatever he wants with the money he works so hard to earn. Just how is he going to fill in these extra rooms? Will they just permanently be guest and spare rooms? There was nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, who will he invite over to spend the night? Or the weekend? People spend their money on crazy things they really don't need. All that matters, is that the blonde finally has a good enough job! Now he can start putting money away, and get justice for his fallen clansmen. He is one step closer to achieving his goal, and it felt great.
What with being so busy all day long, Kurapika didn't go to bed until later on that night. It's not like he gets the best sleep anyways. His sleep schedule is all over the place, and he's plagued with horrible nightmares. This is why he will often avoid going to bed entirely some nights, just to avoid all of that. Since he is no longer living alone in his tiny apartment, that means he has to be careful with what he wears. Before he would sleep in just his boxers, but now he can no longer do that. He may not have a big chest, but there was still something there. It was enough to give away with really lies underneath his clothes. A binder wasn't even necessary, but he still wears one anyways just in case. You can't be too safe, right? Unfortunately now he even has to sleep with that on. It isn't very comfortable, but he has no other choice.
His sleepwear now consists of fuzzy dark red and black plaid pants, and a black t-shirt. This was nice for someone like Kurapika, who tends to get cold fairly easily. Well he's a small guy, so it can't be helped. It sure felt nice when crawling underneath the thick, fluffy, down comforter. It was like his entire body was wrapped up in a blanket of clouds. He just couldn't get over how amazing it was. Between that, and the squishy mattress, he wasn't sure if he ever wanted to leave the bed. Not only that, but boy did it smell good! However, it was still a bit ridiculous to be sleeping in a Queen-size bed. All of that extra space on either side of him will never be used.
Kurapika ended up drifting off into a deep slumber rather fast- Faster than usual. Was it because of all the hard work he did today? Or was it because of this incredibly soft bed? Even though he slept hard for a few hours, that didn't change the fact that he is a light sleeper. It didn't take much to wake him up. This was proven by him hearing the front door open and close. At first he tried to brush it off, but then he remembered where he was now living. If anything happens to the doctor's penthouse, then he might be held responsible. It was up to him to look after it, and make sure nothing happens to his possessions. His large eyes flew open, and he groggily sat up to look around. "..."
'Two-thirty in the morning, huh?' The blonde set his cellphone down after checking the time, and slid out of the bed. His bare feet felt cold against the hardwood floor, but he didn't want to waste time in putting on socks. Since he had no idea what was downstairs, he had to prepare himself. His fingers flexed, as chains slowly appeared on his right hand. It has been a while since he has had to use these. He ran a quick hand through his soft blonde hair, and then made his way towards the door. After poking his head through the doorway to check his surroundings, he slowly and quietly walked over to the staircase. That is where he kept hearing the strange noises from, after all. Was there only one person in here? Or was it a group of people? Either way, he needed to take care of the problem quickly.
Kurapika took each step with caution, and when he finally made it to the bottom, he paused to look around some more. "..." So the noises were now coming from a different room? 'I haven't even been here a day...' He couldn't help but think this, as he inched closer towards the living room. Just what were they doing in there? Did they want that huge flat screen television that hung on the wall? Or did they want those nice couches that obviously cost a fortune? Well good luck getting them through the door unnoticed! For once he was grateful that the floorboards didn't creak underneath the weight of his body. Not that he weighed much to begin with, but still.
Kurapika pressed himself against the wall, and peered around the corner to see what was going on. As he stood there in complete silence, his silver-colored eyes wandered over to one of those luxurious couches. The lamp beside it was turned on, and there was someone sitting there- No, It wasn't just any ordinary person. There, sitting slumped over with his face in his hands, was the owner of this penthouse himself. In front of him was a bottle of gin that was half gone, and a small glass that had clearly already been used. 'How much did he have to drink?' The mere sight was somewhat depressing, in a way. He was so used to seeing him all happy and cheerful, so this took him off guard. Something serious must have happened, in order to cause this type of behavior from him.
Should he walk away from this? Or should he go over there and say something? It was a hard decision to make. It is not like Kurapika has ever been good at comforting others. When he was going through the toughest time in his life, there was no one around to help him out. Instead he had to suffer all alone for so many years. "..." Is that really how things should be though? It might be wrong of him to turn a blind eye to this. This man didn't have to hire him. He could have chosen someone more suited for the job, and yet he didn't. The chains on his right hand slowly faded away, and he straightened his posture. 'I am his butler now. It is my duty to make sure that he is taken care of.' Didn't he promise to do just that? Keeping this in mind, he stepped out into the opening.
It is now or never.
"Dr. Paladiknight? Is.. everything alright?" It felt a bit odd going up to him in his pajamas like this. Well, at least he was wearing clothes at all. When Leorio tilted his head back to look right at him, his eyes widened a bit. Those silly sunglasses weren't on his face, and he appeared absolutely worn out and exhausted. When was the last time he actually got a good night's sleep? Part of him wanted to frown the longer he stared, but he suppressed that feeling. Instead he took another step toward him, and held his hand out.
"Your jacket, sir. I can hang that up for you. Why don't you get ready for bed? You have to be up early for work," Kurapika spoke quietly. Of course he had to be drinking hard liquor on top of it. That is no way to get yourself to fall asleep! 'Tch! It's not like I am worried about him. That would be absurd.'
"..." Leorio blinked, and dropped his gaze to stare at the blonde's small hand. His mind was a bit hazy for the time being, so it took him a little longer to process things. It is hard to get back up once you make yourself all comfortable on the couch like this. That would explain why his legs didn't move. It sure was different seeing his newly-hired butler dressed in such clothing, but he liked it. He could probably pull any look off perfectly, knowing him. The color red really suited him for some reason, and he wondered if that was his favorite color. He will need to ask him that sometime, but not now. Instead of complying with that order, he reached for the bottle of gin, and poured himself another glass. His cheeks were flushed due to feeling so warm, but he still refused to take his long, black, peacoat off.
He leaned back against the couch, and crossed one leg over the other. "I like to enjoy a nice drink whenever I have had a rough day. No need to worry about me. I'll be upstairs in a little bit." Except for it wasn't just one drink. This was now his second, and who knows if he will stop at that. From the looks of it, he will probably have another without even realizing it. To be honest, he just wanted to forget about everything for now- To numb the pain he was currently experiencing. Drinking away his sorrows probably wasn't the best thing to do, but he really didn't care.
This didn't sit well with Kurapika at all. "Dr. Paladiknight, you have to get up in a few hours. You are not leaving yourself enough time to get the rest you need. How will you be able to perform any surgeries if you can't keep your eyes open? That doesn't sound very safe to me," he mumbled.
Leorio paused as he brought the glass up to his lips, and glanced over at the butler. That was a good point there. If he slips up and makes a huge mistake, then he will have no one else but himself to blame for it. And then what? He would be putting his patients' lives at risk. It really wasn't worth it. He let out a deep, heavy sigh, and leaned forward so that he could set his drink down. After doing this, he proceeded to slip out of his jacket. "You're right. I'm sorry." He really didn't want to argue right now, and especially with someone he barely knew. That would only rile him up, and then he really won't get any sleep.
Kurapika raised a brow at this, and walked over to take the jacket from him. He smoothed it out before laying it over his arm, but he didn't move from his spot. Instead he stared down at the doctor with a serious look on his face. "Now, go brush your teeth. I washed your bedding earlier, so everything is clean." It was a hassle having to make such a huge bed, but he managed it rather well. It was wrinkle-free, with each pillow laid out perfectly on either side.
It is going to take a long time to get used to this. No one has ever been there for him when going through such a hard time, and he didn't know how to react to it. 'He's just doing his job...' Kurapika promised to take care of him, because it was his job to do so. It didn't mean anything else. However, for some reason, it still made him feel a little happy. "Have you ever let someone down who was really counting on you?" Was that question too personal? He just wanted someone to talk to, and this was the perfect opportunity.
"..." That question really was personal, but it didn't make Kurapika feel uncomfortable. It's not like he was expecting details out of him. Besides, he can't just act heartless towards him when the guy was obviously suffering from something that happened during work. Sometimes it does help to vent, and let it all out. He stepped away to hang the jacket up on the hook, and when he returned, he took a seat beside him. For a minute he awkwardly rubbed his hands together, as he tried to find the right response. This was just so unexpected. Now he was kicking himself for having gotten out of bed in the first place.
The blonde thought of his former best friend, Pairo. Back then he had made a promise to find him a doctor- One who could fix his eyesight. Unfortunately he never got the chance to do that. It felt like he had let him down. If only he had worked harder to find someone quicker. Instead he let his only friend down. What kind of person did that make him? He hung his head low, and sighed. "I have," he replied quietly. There was nothing he could do to make up for it either, which only made things that much more frustrating. He was stuck having to live with the guilt for the rest of his life.
"You lost a patient today, didn't you?" That was the only explanation. If he let someone down, then that means they died under his care. Either that, or the family of said patient. It must be really hard to dealt with that. You work so hard to save that one person, only for them to die in the end. He can imagine it being traumatizing in certain cases. No wonder why Leorio is drinking with that look on his face! Just what all happened? He wanted to ask, but knew better than to do that. Anyone would naturally feel curious about the matter.
Leorio's hands trembled, but he tried to hide it by clasping his hands together. Even though he can't save everyone, it still takes a toll on him sometimes. It just can't be helped, especially since he invests so much into his patients. "It never gets easier. Each loss hurts just as much as the last. When you spend eight hours in surgery trying to save a pregnant woman's life, only for everything to fall apart in the end.." He clenched his jaw, and inhaled deeply.
"I couldn't even take the baby out, because it was far too under-developed. Her husband begged for me to do everything in my power to at least save his wife, since they could just make another.. But..." Leorio let out a frustrated sigh, and rubbed at the side of his face. He would rather not go into too much detail here. Some people can't handle hearing about stuff like this, and he would rather not make his own butler sick because of it.
Kurapika listened carefully to everything that was being said. Even though he wasn't good at comforting others, he sure was a fantastic listener! When the doctor fell silent, he waited a good minute or so before speaking up. "The husband shouldn't have expected the impossible out of you. You're a doctor, not a God. You cannot perform miracles like that on people. I'm sure you did everything humanly possible to save her life, and that is enough. Going home and drinking away the pain will not bring them both back. Instead, this loss should drive you to want to work that much harder for your future patients." This is what he signed up for. No doctor can save every single person under their care. It just isn't possible.
"No one is meant to live forever. We all die at one point." That doesn't make the loss hurt any less, but it was the truth. Unfortunately for some, theirs are cut short. His former best friend never got to experience life to its fullest, and that will always haunt him. If anyone deserved to live a long and happy life, it was Pairo. Now he is gone forever, and who knows which Scarlet eyes belong to him.
The doctor stared at him wide-eyed. He was feeling both shocked, and in awe over everything that Kurapika just told him. 'He's very wise for his age.' Well okay, he wasn't that much older than him! This still impressed him greatly. It isn't very often that he comes across someone like this, and he absolutely loved it. To be honest, he can listen to him talk for hours on end, and not get tired of it. It helps that his voice is so calming to listen to.
"Heh. Wow. It felt like you were my own personal therapist just now," he joked. It's not like he would know what that is like, since he has never gone to one before. Maybe he should have, now that he thinks about it. Being as stubborn as he is, it just wouldn't have been possible. He appreciated all of this, more than the blonde could ever imagine. If only there was a way to properly thank him. 'You're right, thought. I am no God at all...'
Those bright, silvery eyes just bore into Leorio's when he said that. In no way would he make a good therapist. His dislike for people would definitely get in the way of that. Besides, he has his own issues to work on. If anything, he needs a therapist desperately. Unfortunately for him, he is also stubborn. This will prevent him from ever seeking help from a professional. He doesn't even see much of a future for himself. All he wants in life, is to bring down the people who slaughtered his clansmen. Nothing else. It is the only thing that has ever, and will ever matter to him. "It is my duty to take care of you," he repeated quietly.
This earned a chuckle from Leorio. "Right. Well, you're a really cool butler! And.. I'm glad I hired you. I hope you stick around for a long time." It helped to get everything off his chest. During his whole career so far, he has never had anyone to turn to like this. Looks like he really does need to make some friends of his own.
Kurapika blinked a couple of times. Wait, what in the world was going on? Why did it feel so natural to sit here and talk with him like this? He looked away to stare ahead for a brief moment, and then stood up from the couch. They can't stay here all night chit-chatting. Tomorrow is another busy day, and they both needed their sleep. It is already past three, so they're pushing it here. "Let's take everything one day at a time, Dr. Paladiknight. Now, we should head upstairs and go to bed. Come on," he instructed, motioning for the darker-haired male to follow after him.
"I will take care of the liquor when I wake up, so don't bother with it." That way he can wash that glass when he does the rest of the dishes. It is better to get it all done and over with at once. For now he just needed to get Leorio to actually go to bed! One thing he found to be odd, was the fact that he didn't own a single pair of pajamas. Just what does he sleep in? Was it really just his boxers? Or rather, did he sleep in the nude? That is something he didn't need to imagine, so he quickly shook that thought from his mind.
Leorio took one long stride to walk alongside the blonde, and placed both of his hands behind his head. "Okay, mom." Again, he was only teasing. When he saw the look on his face just now, he couldn't help but burst into a loud laugh. If looks could kill! Man was this going to be a blast. He really couldn't have hired anyone better for this position after all. Going with his gut instinct was the correct thing to do in the end, and he felt so lucky to have him here. In a way, this is what it feels like to have a roommate. He never got to have one when in college, so it felt like he missed out on a lot. Things have been very lonely for him, but now that has changed.
He looked to the butler again, and couldn't stop the wide smile that spread on his lips. "Sooo if I asked you to tuck me in?" Now that would be something. Since he grew up in an orphanage, he had no idea what that was like. The places he temporarily stayed at
didn't really show him any love or affection, so he always got neglected.
Kurapika almost twitched when hearing that one. Why does he have to be such a weirdo? "Adults do not need to be tucked into bed, Dr. Paladiknight. If I am still around when you have children of your own, then I will do it for them." Part of him wasn't expecting to still be here by then, but he didn't want that to be known. For now he was just going to play along like everything is fine.
Leorio's heart skipped a beat. "C-children?! Ah, well..." His cheeks suddenly grew warm. Would he even make a good father? It's not like he had one when growing up himself. Who would he go to if he needs help, or advice? Also, who would he spend the rest of his life with? It was so weird to think about. Everything has always been about him being a doctor, and nothing else. Would he even know how to be anything else at this point in life? This is something he has never considered before. Suppose he is at that age where he should start looking, huh? Where will he even find the time to date anyone? That wouldn't be fair on any girlfriend or wife of his. His career will always take up most of his time, and he can't change that.
Never had he felt so confused.