Kurapika stuffed the keys into his pants pocket, and adjusted his white gloves. "I apologize again for Dr. Paladiknight's absence. His schedule is very busy, so you probably won't see much of him. I'm sure you will get to meet him soon, though." The newly-hired chef started earlier this morning, but she was unable to cook a proper breakfast for the owner of this penthouse. This didn't stop her from doing her job, as she still whipped up something for the two of them. It was totally unnecessary for her to prepare something for a butler, but he still accepted as to not come off as being rude. The whole time she was being nothing but sweet, caring, and generous. How can he just up and refuse something she worked so hard over? Not to mention the food was absolutely delicious! It had been a long time since he was able to enjoy a home-cooked meal like that. He sure did miss them, and that was proven by how fast he ate everything.
This woman was young herself, and rather beautiful at that! When she walked in through that front door, it really took the butler by surprise. There were no pictures attached to the application, so he had no way of knowing what she looked like. Her waist-long red hair was tied back into one thick braid, since she didn't want to get any of it into the food she will be preparing. Her outfit consisted of a long brown skirt, with a beige-colored long-sleeve shirt tucked into it. Not only that, but her voice was just as soft as her personality. How in the world did he find someone so perfect for this job? Even though she wasn't shown around the kitchen, she still managed to find everything just fine. As of right now she was in the middle of throwing lunch together, which smelled so delicious! It was making his mouth water.
He never got Leorio's permission to hire her, but it had to be done. How else will they eat properly around here? Again, he can't cook to save his life. Hiring a personal chef was a necessity, and hopefully he will see it as such. Besides, how can he not like her? And it won't be that much more money to keep her around. It will totally be worth it in the long run. This is just one more person to help keep the doctor company as well. All of those extra rooms were not being used, and now two of them have been taken. Things will become more lively around here, which is of course, a good thing! It was still his duty to make sure that there are plenty of groceries here to use. A list has already been made, since there wasn't a whole lot here.
Melody looked up from what she was doing, and gave the blonde a gentle smile. "I do not mind, Kurapika. I appreciate how hard he works for his patients. From what I have heard from you and others, he sounds like a good man. And it is so nice of you to bring him a lunch. Can't have him going hungry," she winked, waving her spoon in the air. The rice was finally done, so now she can start putting the bento box together. Since she has no idea what the doctor all likes and dislikes, she can only hope that he will enjoy the food she has prepared for him. It sure beat going hungry, since he apparently does on a daily basis. How he does it, she has absolutely no idea. You would think that someone like him needs all of the energy he can get!
This wasn't her first time being a personal chef for someone, so she was used to finding her way around an unfamiliar kitchen. It didn't take long to figure out where everything was. What she didn't like, however, was how empty the fridge and cupboards were. If Kurapika wasn't already going to the market later on, then she would have gone herself. "His heart must be made out of gold. No other doctor performs so many free surgeries, and even treatments, like Dr. Paladiknight does. I'm surprised that he has remained single for so long. It just goes to show how devoted he is to his career. If you ask me, that is very admirable."
Being poor doesn't make you any less of a human being. Unfortunately this is something that people often overlook. They see someone out on the streets, homeless and struggling, and automatically assume that they got there because of drugs, or alcohol. In their eyes they do not deserve to be treated when they are sick, or in need of medication. In Leorio's eyes, they matter just as much as those who do have money. Never has he looked his nose down onto someone who had absolutely nothing, nor will he ever. Yes he has money now, but that wasn't always the case. Obviously he had to work very hard to get where he is today. Growing up, he didn't have any of this. He had the complete opposite, actually.
Well that caught his attention. Kurapika blinked a couple of times, really letting what she just said sink in. So the rumors were true this whole time? "..." This left him speechless. It honestly shouldn't shock him so much like this. He so desperately wanted to believe that those who have a lot of money are greedy, selfish, and downright mean- That they view themselves as above everyone else. This however, did not seem to be the case for the man who hired him specifically to be his butler, despite the fact that there were better candidates out there. They just met the other day, but he has yet to lose his cool with him, or to mistreat him in any way. Instead he was late to work yesterday, all because he had to help him out with the Scarlet eyes. He took the time out of his busy schedule, just to help a stranger out. That says a lot about someone.
How could he be so stupid?
This doesn't mean he trusts the doctor. That has to be earned, which isn't an easy thing to do. His gaze slid over to the bento box that rested on the counter, and noticed how full it was already. To be honest, it looked very delicious. As much as he wanted to sit down and eat with Melody, he had errands to run first. It was already noon, and he still had so much more to do. Besides, he doesn't get paid to eat with the chef. 'What made him want to do something so generous in the first place? Both medicine and surgeries are very expensive. I get wanting to help, but to this extent?' An image of Pairo's smiling face appeared in his mind then, and he grit his teeth. He would have been the perfect candidate for Leorio's generosity. If only he hadn't of died that day! Instead he died never being able to see the world again.
"Oh! Should I brew Dr. Paladiknight some tea? Or perhaps, coffee? Surely he will want something to drink with his meal..." It totally slipped her mind. After putting the lid onto the bento box, she began to wrap it up nice and tight. This will make it a lot easier to carry.
Kurapika had to fight back the urge to roll his eyes. He did, however, shake his head. "That is not necessary. Dr. Paladiknight drinks enough coffee as it is. I can bring him a bottle of water, though." That is something he probably needs right about now. It is for the best that he stays hydrated, especially since he has a lot of patients to treat. If he starts to feel unwell, then it might effect his duties as a doctor.
Melody smiled in response to this. The blonde hides it very well, but deep down he was hurting a lot. His heart is filled with so much anger, and sadness, yet he doesn't let that effect his job in the slightest. Nothing can get past her amazing hearing! This is something she still needs to tell him, but will do so when the time is right. For now she just wanted to focus on getting settled in. "I'm sure he will appreciate that very much." Staying hydrated really was important, and that didn't just go for doctors like Leorio either. Everyone should be watching what they put in their bodies.
He grabbed a cold water bottle from the fridge, and walked over to take the bento box from Melody. The expression on his face remained neutral while doing so. "I am only doing my job. Dr. Paladiknight requested that I take care of him. If I fail in doing that, then I am not worthy of being his butler." There was nothing else between them, and there never will be.
Her smile never wavered. 'I wonder if you will continue to use that excuse for much longer,' she thought. It is hard not to get closer to someone when you're living under the same roof. Now it is the three of them, and even though Leorio works a lot at the hospital, they will still see him around the penthouse enough to form a close bond. Neither one of them will be lonely anymore! Maybe fat brought them all together for a reason? It may sound a bit silly, but she can't help but wonder if it really was. She just has this feeling that good things are destined to happen here. It made her feel all excited.
Kurapika stared at the stuff in his hands, and sighed softly. His mother used to make both him and Pairo these all the time. At that point in their lives, he really was like family. Well he was over practically every single day, and spent the night all the time. So in a way they were like brothers. She used to make their food look like cute little animals. At the time it didn't really interest him, but now he would give anything to receive those homemade bento boxes from her again. 'I wish you and dad were still here...' Not a day goes by where he doesn't think about them. They meant the world to him. What happened to them was absolutely horrific. No one deserves to die the way they did. Well, the ones who did that to them sure do. Someday he will deliver their karma, and it will feel so good!
He was always the closest with his mother, but that didn't mean his father was a bad person. As a matter of fact, he was the sweetest person he knew. It's just that he worked a lot in order to put a roof over their heads, and food on the table. The house itself was small, but that was never an issue. It was always kept very clean, and nicely organized. At the time he was just a small boy, but he still kept up with his room. His bed was made every single morning, and he was always on top of the garbage. For as long as he can remember, he has sort of been a clean freak. There was nothing wrong with that though. It was better than being a slob, and living in your own filth.
Melody could hear the change in his heartbeat, and almost frowned because of it. There was something making him feel sad, but what? You could see the shift in his eyes, but that was pretty much it. What she did notice, though, was the way he stared at the bento box in his hands. "...?" Did he perhaps want one as well? Now that she thinks about it, maybe he can eat lunch with Leorio when he arrives at the hospital. Wouldn't that be nice? Surely he would appreciate the company as well. She snapped her fingers, and walked over to the cupboard to grab an empty one. There was plenty of food to make another one. Well she needed to eat too, so of course she made enough.
"Don't leave quite yet, Kurapika. I'm going to make you one too!" This will ensure that they both eat. It is very important to get all three of your meals in. Not only that, but the blonde is so thin as it is. He just can't simply afford to skip out on any of them. This is something she would never say out loud, though. That would only offend him, and she really didn't want to do that. It was for the best that they stay on good terms with each other. Maybe there was a good reason for him being as small as he is. She knew nothing about him, after all. This is why you should never be so quick to judge someone.
This was unexpected. By the time he opened his mouth to respond, she was already scooping food into the empty bento box. "Ah, you didn't need to do that. I would have been fine without one," he mumbled. Okay so maybe he wouldn't have been. He plans on running over to his old place afterward, and so he probably would have forgotten to grab lunch on the way there. His mind was just a jumbled mess right now, but he was trying his hardest not to let that show. If he doesn't get his books by this weekend, then it will be too late. And since he doesn't have a car himself, and not very many bags, he will need to make multiple trips. Hopefully he has enough money for the taxi to run back and forth like that. If not, then he will need to walk there and back.
She just waved him off, and shook her head. "Oh please! Just like how it is your job to take care of Dr. Paladiknight, it is my job to make sure that you both are fed," she beamed with a warm smile. Isn't that what she was hired to do anyways? Like him, she too didn't want to fail in her duties. This is something she wanted to do.
Kurapika just stood there, silently watching as she threw everything together into one little box. Looks can be very deceiving, because there was still a lot of food packed into there. Even so, he doesn't eat a lot as it is. When he lost his parents, he had to get used to being hungry all the time. This is part of the reason why he was so skinny. When she was finished, and it was placed on the counter before him, he slowly blinked. "..." His heart flopped. It has been so long since he was last given one of these. It was even nicely wrapped up, just like Leorio's. Was it really okay to accept this? After hesitating for about another minute or so, he finally reached out to grab a hold of it. Just how in the world can he ever thank her for this?
He needed to keep it together.
"Thank you, Melody. You really didn't have to do this." It looks like her heart was made out of gold too. She is not only beautiful on the outside, but on the inside too. Has he really surrounded himself with such amazing people without even realizing it? This made him feel a bit uncomfortable, since he really doesn't want to get close with anyone. On the other hand, maybe this couldn't have been avoided forever. He was the one who hired Melody in the first place. And he was the one who chose to stay working under Leorio. If anything happens that he is not happy with, then it will be his own fault and no one else's.
Melody waved her index finger in front of the blonde's face. "Yes you are right, Kurapika. This is something I did not have to do, but rather, wanted to do. I enjoy doing stuff like this for others. If it puts a smile on their face, then it puts one on mine in return. Now, go run that over to Dr. Paladiknight before your guys' food gets cold. I'm sure by now he needs a break." If he was already gone so early this morning, then surely he has been on his feet this whole time. It must be really easy for a doctor to forget when to eat. They have a lot on their minds as it is.
Eating meals with other people is something that Kurapika will need to get used to all over again. It felt bizarre for him to eat breakfast with her this morning, but he tried his best to make conversation. Thankfully she was the one who talked the most. All he had to do was listen, and give a response when necessary. She is just so kind, that it would be wrong of him to shoo her away. With anyone else, however, it was much easier to do. And now he has to eat lunch with his own boss! Not only that, but they will be inside a hospital on top of it all. That place is filled with sick, and dying people. If he is not careful enough, he might wind up getting something himself. And then what? He will either be out of work for who knows how long, or he will need to continue doing his duties while feeling like crap.
He just can't allow for that to happen.
Being inside a hospital was both uncomfortable, and nerve-wracking. To be honest, he couldn't even remember the last time a doctor examined him. Obviously he was well over-due for a visit, but he refused to be seen by one unless he absolutely has to. If his life isn't in danger, then why bother? He just didn't feel like dealing with their annoying questions. That was the last thing he needed right now. Sure he gets sick every so often, but it was never bad enough to where he needed to go in. Seeing so many people in the waiting room made him feel a little uneasy, but he tried not to show his discomfort as he walked up to the front desk. "Excuse me?" He said, trying to get the woman's attention.
If it weren't for the blonde speaking up when he did, she probably wouldn't have noticed him standing there. That is because she was busy typing something up on her computer. Instead of getting irritated for being interrupted, she greeted him with a small smile. Many people walk through those doors and need help, so you need a lot of patience working in this field. "Welcome sir! How many I help you?" He didn't appear to be sick or injured, so maybe what he needed wasn't that serious.
Kurapika bowed his head slightly. "Hello. I am here to see Dr. Paladiknight. Can you tell him his bu-..." Did he tell anyone about this arrangement? Or would he rather no one know that he just hired a butler? People might treat him differently if they find out. Some probably won't care, but others might. He just didn't want to make things difficult for him at his own workplace. It is a good thing that he caught himself before it was too late. He cleared his throat, and urged a slight smile himself.
"Just tell him that Kurapika is here." No one needed to who he was to the doctor. If they ask, then they are just being unnecessarily nosy. People don't need to know everything that is going on in your life.
Her head tilted to the side when hearing this. This whole time she just assumed that Leorio didn't have any friends, because he never talks about his personal life. Although, some people are just like that. That, and he is just way too busy to stop and chit-chat with the other workers here. He is so absorbed in his own little world, that he fails to notice whenever someone is flirting with him, or has taken an interest. Every single time he is completely oblivious to their advances. It is either that, or he simply isn't interested in the first place. She looked down to see what he was holding, and blinked a couple of times. Were those bento boxes? "..." Now she felt even more confused than before. Was this a lunch date?
If so, then that would explain everything. 'Leorio.. isn't interested in women?' That could also be why he wasn't interested in any of the women here, and why he doesn't have a girlfriend in the first place. This guy standing before her has feminine features, and is absolutely adorable! Guess she can't blame him for being interested. Still though! She never would have thought he swung that way. A droplet of sweat ran down the side of her face, as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I will let Dr. Paladiknight know that you are here. You may take a seat in the waiting room." She gestured in that direction with her hand, all the while avoiding eye contact with him.
"..." Kurapika stared blankly at the crowded waiting room. There were a couple of chairs available, but if he gets that close to either one of those people, surely he will catch some type of illness. This is also why he wasn't going to touch anything unless he has to. It sure is a good thing that he is already wearing gloves. Those can easily be washed once he is done here. When he made his way over there, he chose to just stand away from everyone else. He could hear people coughing, sniffling, and groaning. As loud as it was, he still managed to get lost in his own thoughts. That was an easy thing for him to do- To drown out the world around him. Because of this, he didn't notice all of the stares he was receiving. Not like he would have cared anyways.
To his surprise, he wasn't left waiting for very long. It only took about forty minutes for Leorio to arrive, and boy did he look exhausted! Just what in the world did he go through, in order to achieve such a disheveled look like that? His breathing was a bit heavy as well, which meant he must have ran all the way over here. Did he come at a bad time, he wondered. On the other hand, when exactly was a good time? A doctor can't just take off at a certain time, especially when they are in the middle of taking care of a patient. You have to be patient in situations like these, and the blonde definitely has plenty of that!
'Did he even get any sleep?' This is also something that Kurapika couldn't help but wonder. Not only did he get home late, but he was already gone by the time he got up early this morning. How someone manages to function like that, he has no idea. You would think that being so sleep-deprived would effect your job as a doctor. Or maybe you just get used to it after a while? You're not given much of a choice, when you really think about it. The sacrifices these people make are incredible. "Your glasses are crooked," he pointed out.
That statement caught Leorio off guard. He actually just stood there staring at him, with this dumfounded look on his face. Give it to someone like his butler here to say something so completely and utterly random. As shocked as he may be, he still appreciated it. Well he didn't want to walk around looking like an idiot! And so with that, he fixed his glasses so that they sat properly on the bridge of his nose. These weren't even necessary. He just enjoys wearing them, since he thinks they make him look cool. By now he doesn't even notice them on his face most of the time anyways. "Hello to you too, Kurapika!" He said, placing a hand on his hip.
His warm brown eyes trailed down then, noticing that there was something in the blonde's hands. Whatever it was, there was two of them. That, and they were all wrapped up. Between not getting any sleep, and having to deal with so much at work right now, he honestly couldn't piece it together. His brain was probably fried from everything, but he still tried his hardest to remain being so upbeat and positive. "Eh? What are those?"
Kurapika followed his gaze, and then slowly held one of them out. "Your lunch, Dr. Paladiknight. I was being very serious during our interview." If he has to do this every single day just to make sure that he eats lunch, then so be it. Just by looking at him, he could tell that he desperately needed to eat something. It wouldn't even surprise him if he left without eating breakfast first. If that is the case, then he really couldn't afford to skip out on this.
"Our interview? What are you-... Oh!" A look of shock washed over his face. How could he have forgotten? Only a couple of days have passed since then. On the other hand, he has had a lot on his plate lately. When he is at work, he leaves his personal life behind to remain more focused on his duties as a doctor. This place is like a second home to him, after all.
"A bento box, huh?" Leorio murmured, while taking it into his own hands. Having grown up poor, and in an orphanage, he was never able to receive one of these. What little food they did provide for him, it was always slapped onto a plate and served to him just like that. Not that he ever complained about it, since he was grateful to have food in general. His childhood was rough, but it helped mold him into the person he is today. If he grew up in a rich household, his life would have been completely different.
"Your personal chef started this morning. Her name is Melody, so when you are able to get off of work, make sure to introduce yourself. She is looking forward to meeting you." It is a good thing too, because he really can't cook to save his life. If he attempts to whip something up himself, he might burn down the kitchen, or the entire penthouse for that matter. Either that, or the food could end up under-cooked, or not seasoned enough. Maybe he should watch her prepare a few dishes, and take some notes himself.
Well this is odd. Leorio never hired anyone to cook for him. 'Is Kurapika's cooking really so awful, that he had to hire someone to prepare meals for us?' In a way it was amusing to the doctor. Not only that, but it was also impressive how he managed to find someone so quick. He trusts that this woman is really good, and can be trusted to be left alone in his home. This is why he wasn't going to worry too much about it. Her name in itself sounded very pretty, so hopefully it matches with the type of person she is. If he gets off later on tonight again, then she won't be up to greet him. And he definitely will not wake her up, just to introduce himself. He would have to wait until the next morning, and that is only if he is still there by then.
That is if he comes home at all tonight.
"Wait, there are two of these.. Does this mean you will be joining me for lunch?" You could hear the excitement in his voice as he asked this. His eyes literally lit up, and he took a step closer toward the blonde. Once in a while one of his coworkers will join him in the cafeteria, but that is always cut short due to being called away for something. It was already rare for him to be in there as it is, since he skips out on eating most of the time.
Kurapika was hoping that he could sneak off and eat his food alone somewhere else, but nope! This guy just had to notice. It was probably for the best anyways, since Melody did insist that they eat lunch together. "If that is what you want. Would you like for me to join you, Dr. Paladiknight?" He stared directly into the other male's eyes, as he waited for an answer- An answer he already knew.
"Yes!" His answer was immediate. How could he say no to something like this? Now he gets to show off this adorable blonde to the staff here. They were all going to be jealous of him, that's for sure. And no, he hasn't told anyone about hiring a butler. If so, then they might view, or even treat him differently; and he really didn't want that. It doesn't help that he now has his very own personal chef. He was just going to tell them that this is his roommate. There was no harm in that, right? Technically he did just move in, so he wasn't entirely wrong.
"Come on! I'll lead the way to the cafeteria," Leorio cheerfully said, before turning on his heels. If this becomes an every day thing, then that will make him feel very happy. It will definitely help him to feel less lonely, which is something he has always struggled with. Being the proud man that he is, he would never admit to such a thing to anyone else. Instead he hides how he is truly feeling rather well. The last thing he wanted, was for others to worry about him. It just wasn't necessary.
Kurapika gave him a slight nod. It would be nice to eat outside so that they were away from everyone else, but he wasn't going to complain. This is what his boss wants. "Here. I want you to drink this entire bottle before heading back to work," he instructed. The water wasn't as cold as it was before, but it should still be better than nothing. Plus there might be ice available in the cafeteria. It won't matter as long as he keeps himself hydrated.
"Eh? You really-..." His eyes softened. Maybe his butler really was doing all of this because it was his job, but regardless of the real reason, he appreciated everything that was being done for him. It was so easy to forget something so simple, yet important. He happily accepted the bottle of water, and cracked it open. Upon bringing it up to his lips, he tilted his head back a bit so that he could take a few big swigs. It was actually hitting the spot! Guess this was something he really needed after all. Coffee may taste better, but boy was it dehydrating! That is why he suffers from headaches a lot. It is just a hard thing to give up, especially when you don't get a whole lot of sleep to begin with. Without caffeine, it is a lot harder for him to function.
"Whoa! Thanks a bunch, Kurapika! I really needed that." It wouldn't hurt to finish the rest, and then re-fill it before heading back to work. Of course he will toss it in the garbage after his shift, since it wasn't good to keep plastic bottles like that. It just won't hurt for the time being.
Again, the blonde nodded his head. "You are very welcome, Dr. Paladiknight." He can only imagine how many cups of coffee the guy has already had. It may taste good, and it may give him the energy to keep going, but that can't be the only thing he drinks every single day. 'I can't help but understand where he is coming from, though.' It's not like he was any better here.
As soon as the cafeteria came into view, Leorio quickened his pace a little. "Man I'm starving! I can't wait to dig into this food. And yes, I had a protein shake before leaving this morning." He didn't want to get scolded for skipping out on meals again, when this time he didn't.
Kurapika glanced up at the doctor when hearing this, and blinked. "So you haven't consumed actual food at all today is what you are telling me, sir." He was literally running on nothing but liquids. It sure is a good thing that he will be getting something solid in his system. Maybe this will help boost his energy levels, rather than having to rely so much on coffee.
Leorio huffed in response to that. "Well, no.. But there is nothing wrong with protein shakes!" They are surprisingly delicious, and packed with nutrients. On the other hand, he can see where the blonde is coming from. Eating a more balanced, and home-cooked meal for breakfast was definitely way better! It is just a matter of actually being there to eat it when this new chef is finished cooking it. Hopefully he gets the chance to meet her soon here, because he was curious to see what type of person she is. The more the merrier, right? This just means that his place was filled with more people to talk to. If anything, this was for the best!
"Ah, a table!" He practically ran over to it, and set the bento box down. As he did this, he cracked his knuckles, and wriggled his fingers in anticipation. He was so excited, that he forgot to sit down first. Instead he used his right leg to kneel onto one of the chairs, as he proceeded to unwrap his lunch. Once the cloth slipped off, his mouth hung open slightly. 'This is.. a two-tier bento box?!' Given how loud his stomach was currently growling, he really needed it.
The blonde watched him carefully, all the while taking a seat across the table. What was that reaction for? Never has he seen anyone look so utterly happy to receive food. 'It is official. My boss is a complete weirdo.' He has never met anyone quite like him before, and he didn't know how to react to it. Did he want to learn more about him and his strange behavior? At the same time, he didn't want to get close to anyone- To let them into his heart, only to crush it later on down the road. Everyone he has ever loved in life, has been brutally ripped away from him. He honestly can't take another loss. It will destroy him.
As long as people keep their distance from him, then all is good.
"Hey, Kurapika! Do you see all of this? I feel so spoiled right now. I'm gonna have to thank Melody myself for this! Ah, it smells so tasty! My mouth is watering." As much as he wanted to wolf the whole thing down, he also wanted to savor each bite. No one has ever cooked for him before, and so he really appreciated the effort that went into this. He finally sat down in his seat, and broke apart his chopsticks.
"Is this salmon? Look at the carrots! They're shaped like flowers!" It didn't take much to please someone like Leorio, that much was certain. He couldn't help but smile, as he started shoveling in the food.
If Kurapika wasn't such a stubborn person, he would have laughed at all of this. His lips twitched, but he refused to actually give into those urges. "Yes, Dr. Paladiknight. I have the exact same thing as you," he pointed out. Well he was standing right there when it was being put together. After he opened his own bento box, he too broke apart his chopsticks, and stuck them right into the pile of rice. The food really did smell delicious. 'Mom, you used to cut your carrots this exact same way,' he thought. It really was nice to be eating out of one of these again.
"If you can, Dr. Paladiknight, I would like for you to inform me whenever you leave work. I will give you my cellphone number, so that all you need to do is send me a simple text message when you're about to clock out. This way I can have things more.. prepared for you." This way if he hears strange noises from downstairs, he won't assume that it is an intruder again. There is now a third person living inside the household, but he highly doubts that she will be up in the middle of the night cooking something in the kitchen. Now that would just be really strange.
The doctor held up his index finger, since he had a mouth full of food. Guess he wasn't taking the time to savor everything after all. It wasn't his fault though! Why did this have to be so heavenly? Hopefully this Melody chick was here to stay, because damn did he want to eat more of her cooking! When he was finally able to swallow everything, he took a quick sip of his water to help wash it all down before responding. "Are you really giving me permission to text you?" He couldn't help but grin when saying this.
Kurapika arched an eyebrow when hearing that just now. Well, it was too late to take it back now. He just had to roll with it. "Yes. The same goes for phone calls. If you ever need anything while we are apart, then do not hesitate to contact me." As much as he hated talking on the phone, he didn't have much of a choice here. It is his job to take care of him. He pulled out a small notepad and pen from his jacket pocket, and wrote down his phone number. His hand writing was very clean and elegant looking- Almost like someone had printed it off from a computer. Once he was done, he ripped it out, and set it in front of the doctor.
"..." Leorio stared long and hard at the small piece of paper. His hand writing was absolutely perfect, and he couldn't help but feel in awe over it. It made him feel embarrassed over his own penmanship. It was more like a scribble, if he were to describe it. Doctors have to sign a lot of paperwork, which makes it hard to keep their signature decent most of the time. 'All I need to do is call or message him, and he will always respond back to me? Whatever I need, he will do it.. no matter what? I get he is my butler, but I still can't help but feel happy about this. It will feel like I finally have a friend to turn to.' He folded it in half, and flipped it into the pocket on his shirt. His scrubs were a light blue color, which contrasted his eyes rather well.
This is also why he found himself smiling softly right back at the blonde. His heart felt full. "Thank you, Kurapika. That.. means a lot to me. Don't worry though! I promise not to abuse it." He already struggles to find the time to eat at work, so how would he be able to send out multiple texts messages? The same goes for phone calls.
The blonde froze as soon as he looked up. Even the small piece of omelet that was being held in between his chopsticks slipped out, and landed back into his bento box. 'My chest feels funny. What is this? And.. why in the world is he smiling at me like that for? Just what is going on in that head of his?' Nevertheless, it was a relief to hear that he will not be receiving any random text messages, or odd phone calls. He cleared his throat after another few seconds of silence passed by. "Of course," he said quietly. It was hard to think of a response, when so much was going on inside his own mind.
Wait, what kind of response was that?
His eyebrows furrowed together at this realization, and he shifted in his seat to sit more upright. It was for the best that he try and change the subject. "Have you performed any surgeries today, Dr. Paladiknight?" They didn't need to discuss the details while they ate. However, he couldn't help but feel a little interested in his line of work. Being a doctor must be beyond stressful, and he can only imagine what they go through every single day.
Leorio's smile faded. Normally he loves to brag about what he does here at the hospital. That is, when things go well for him. When something goes wrong, or he loses a patient, then he doesn't want to mention it at all. He poked his chopsticks into one of the tomatoes, and sighed. "I was actually in surgery when you arrived. That is why I was so late." It would also explain why he looked so tired in the first place. This really has been a rough day for the poor guy.
Maybe changing the subject wasn't for the best after all. How was he supposed to know? Kurapika swallowed thickly. Something bad must have happened in the operating room, and that is why the expression on his face changed so drastically. "You arrived sooner than I expected, actually. Even if you were any later, I would not have minded. I am here to serve you, Dr. Paladiknight," he explained. No, he wasn't going to ask him what happened. It was none of his business. Besides, he might not be ready to talk about it so soon anyways. There was nothing wrong with that at all.
"You ate your vegetables," he blurted out. It may have seemed like he was desperately trying to change the subject again, but that wasn't the case this time. The blonde was genuinely shocked when realizing this. Did it help to have them cut into fun shapes? Usually this type of method is used on kids who are being picky. The fact that Leorio was a grown adult, and a doctor of all things, just made the situation even funnier.
"Pffft- Hahaha!" Leorio burst out laughing. It almost felt like he was trying to cheer him up. Obviously that wasn't the case here, but still. Convincing himself that helped lighten the atmosphere around them. This is exactly what he needed, and he appreciated it tremendously. As long as he stays in a good mood, then he won't let what happened earlier during surgery ruin the rest of his day.
"I didn't want you to nag me over some vegetables, so I made sure to get those out of the way first!" He said this with a wink. It sure was great having a lunch buddy to laugh, and have fun with. This is exactly what he needed, what with the kind of day he was having up until now.
Kurapika scoffed a little under his breath. "Saving the best for last?" It was a very common thing to do, as a matter of fact. He almost felt proud of him for eating something he doesn't really like. There was no way he was going to say this out loud, though. It is bad enough that he didn't want to feel this way to begin with. And now he was cursing himself in his mind for it.
The older male snapped his fingers. "Bingo! No one has ever made me one of these before, so I'm trying to enjoy it to the fullest." He pulled off a big chunk of the salmon, and plopped it into his mouth. All of the flavors packed into it were incredible! 'Not trying to be greedy here, but.. I really wish I had some more of this! Maybe I can request for this to be made again.' Well he is Melody's boss, so why would she deny anything from him? It wasn't a complicated thing to make either. First he needs to introduce himself, which he plans on doing! It is just a matter of when. Who knows how long this shift will last.
This caught Kurapika's attention. He stared right back at him in confusion. What was that supposed to mean? "Your mother didn't prepare stuff like this when you were growing up?" Hopefully he wasn't being too nosy in saying that just now. It just sort of came out. Why was he even showing any interest in this to begin with? He had absolutely no idea.
Leorio fell silent for a minute. There are many different ways he could have reacted to this. He could have felt sad for having his past brought up so suddenly, or he could have gotten angry at all of the horrible things he went through growing up. And maybe he would have reacted that way if it was his old self, but now he was a changed man. Life goes on, and so dwelling over things you cannot change will get you nowhere. He has made it his motto to keep moving forward, no matter how hard things may get. The past should stay in the past. Keeping that in mind, his lips spread into the softest smile he could muster up. It's not like his butler knew of his situation, and what kind of life he had. This is also why he needed to be patient with him.
"I don't know who my mother is. Actually, the same can be said for my father. They gave me up for adoption when I was born. No family ever officially adopted me. It may have been because I was quite the trouble-maker.. Or because after a while, I wasn't a brand new baby. Once you hit a certain age in an orphanage, it is nearly impossible to find to find a home. Because they had so many kids to take care of, it was hard to feed us all. For the longest time I resented the place I was stuck in- The people that took care of me, and the families that kept sending me back. What was wrong with me? I kept thinking that no one would ever care about me. I even questioned my existence in general. Why was I born in the first place? What was my purpose in life, if no one cared about me, or loved me?" Leorio paused to look down at his hands, which were now clasped together on the table.
"But that is when I met my best friend Pietro, who was like a brother to me. For the next few years we did everything together. We were inseparable! I started to believe that he was all I needed in life. That is.. until he fell sick. My first and only friend was dying right before me, and I couldn't afford the treatment that would save his life. One day we were outside playing, and then he just.. collapsed. I was devastated at first, and those dark thoughts slowly began to return. After a little while I finally snapped back out of it, and made a promise to both him and myself. I vowed to keep fighting, so that one day I could become a doctor- A doctor that would help people like us who couldn't afford the proper treatment. I knew it would make him feel very proud if I accomplished it.. And look at me now. I did it!" You could see how proud he was of himself.
It threw him off that he went on and on about his past like this. Normally he doesn't like talking about himself so much, and yet here he was, spilling his heart out to someone he just met the other day. There was something about the blonde that made it easy to say these things. It was like, in some weird way, he trusted him. 'Now he's going to look at me differently. I don't need anyone's pity! I love my life now. There are just some things missing, but I'm working on that!'
"..." Kurapika was speechless. He never would have thought that someone like him had such a tough childhood. It is because he is so happy and positive, that it was only natural to assume he had it easy his whole life. The pieces were starting to come together now. He leaned back in his seat, and stared ahead at nothing in particular. His eyes appeared glazed over, as he became lost in his own thoughts. 'Leorio didn't have anything until becoming a doctor. That is why he is such a good person. It is why he welcomed me into his home, and offered me the butler's position, despite never having done this before. Even when talking about his past like this, he kept that smile on his face. How does someone like this exist? It shouldn't be possible. I just.. I can't...'
He placed his hands flat against the table, and inhaled deeply. "Dr. Paladiknight, I deeply apologize for the intrusion. It was wrong of me to bring up your mother in the first place. I only assumed you grew up with two loving parents.. I hope you can forgive me." Unlike him, he at least had his parents for most of his childhood. He was able to be a happy kid, who ate home-cooked meals every single day, and got taken care of whenever he was sick. It just goes to show that you really shouldn't judge someone based on their appearance. Everyone has their own demons that they are struggling with, and he understands that now. Even the nicest of people can have a dark past.
Leorio reached across the table, and patted him on the head. "Why are you apologizing? You had no idea! Don't sweat it, okay? Life is too short to be stressing over stuff you can't change. Besides.. if it weren't for my past, I wouldn't be the person I am right now. Heck, I probably wouldn't have become a doctor! Isn't that a scary thing to think about? Everything happens for a reason."
Does it really though? Kurapika's body tensed up a little when he was touched, but he didn't shoo his hand away, or flinch. Instead he just sat there staring at him. If everything happens for a reason, then why did he have to lose his parents? His best friend? Why were the Scarlet eyes being sold for a ton of money in the black market? What made fate decide that he had to be the sole survivor of his clan? So much had been taken away from him, and for what? It was so absurd to him, that he didn't even know how to respond. And how can you not think about your past? That was easier said than done. He can't just give up his revenge on the Phantom Troupe. How else will he get justice for his fallen clan? This was something he just had to do, even if it costs him his very life.
It is not like he has anything left to live for.
He stood up from his seat, and began gathering their things together. They were both done with their food, and he was sure that Leorio needed to get back to work. There were still patients he needed to tend to, and he didn't want to get in the way of that. "Wherever Pietro may be right now, I am sure that he feels very proud of you." That was all he could say in response to everything. If he voices his disapproval on the doctor's views, then it might cause some problems between them. The sooner he gets out of here, the better. It is going to take a while to get all of his books to the penthouse anyways, so he needed to get started on that as soon as possible.
'I can never let go of the past...'