The past couple of days have been very busy for Leorio. Not only has he had to perform three surgeries on the same little boy in order to save his life, but also, more people were in need of care. It is so impossible for him to turn someone away, knowing that he was their only option—their only hope. No one else in this hospital, or this city for that matter, offers up the same free medical treatment that he does. Because of this, it honestly felt like he was living there more than usual. When was the last time he even got some sleep? He hasn't even been home at all since Monday, and it was now Wednesday. There were dark circles underneath his eyes, and his hair was an absolute mess. As of right now he was running off of coffee, and whatever food he can find in the cafeteria. He can't even take enough time off to eat lunch with his favorite person right now. Thankfully the blonde was very understanding of this. It still bummed him out though, because he looked forward to spending that precious time with him.
His whole body was starting to feel jittery, and he wasn't sure if it was from the amount of caffeine he has consumed, or the lack of sleep he was experiencing—maybe even a combination of the two. How in the world was he supposed to go on like this? It definitely wasn't safe to cut into someone like this. You need a steady hand when going into surgery, or stitching up a wound. It's just that he always felt so guilty leaving the hospital, knowing that his patients still needed him there. But on the other hand, he was only one person. He can't tend to everyone at once! As much as he loves his job, it would be nice to take a small break from it all at times. That is why he felt so grateful to still have tomorrow off. Nothing was going to ruin that for him.
The sun was now setting, turning the clouds into beautiful shades of purple. Leorio couldn't help but gaze at them through the large windows as he stood there, leaned up against the wall for support. In his hand was an empty coffee cup—one of the very many he has had throughout the day. He had his other stuffed into his coat pocket. It was nice to take this moment to just relax, and look at something that helped calm his mind. Things were finally quieting down around here, so the waiting rooms weren't nearly as crowded as they were before. He also didn't hear any ambulances nearby. It was probably going to be a peaceful night, huh?
"Did you see the list for Heritage Auctions?" At first he thought someone was asking him that question. However, when he turned his head in the direction from which he had that just now, he noticed a group of people standing at the end of the hall. They were also looking out the window as they talked amongst each other. They must be hear visiting someone, because neither one of them were in uniform. It's not like he was purposely trying to listen in on their conversation. It was just hard with them being so close.
"Hell yeah I did! Sadly I can't afford anything on there. Those auctions are for the rich," the other male replied. You could tell that he was really disappointed by this. He was gripping at the railing, a look of irritation written all over his face.
His friend patted him on the back. "Our band will take off someday. We just gotta be patient until then. They always hold those stupid auctions anyways. And who knows, by then they might have a better selection," he shrugged.
He shrugged away. "In case you have forgotten, our singer is in a coma right now! There is no band without him!" Judging by the tone of his voice, you could tell that he really wasn't having any of it. How can they succeed without such a vital person? Unless they find someone else to sing for them, but that won't be an easy task. That would also mean giving up on their current one, and he just didn't want to do that.
The third guy rolled his eyes at his. "Just give it up already! What are you gonna do with those creepy floating eyeballs? Only a weirdo collects body parts like that," he snorted out. Why the obsession? Were they supposed to be for aesthetics? No way would he want something like that in his apartment.
This caught Leorio's attention. 'Floating eyeballs?' An uneasy feeling hit him almost immediately. What the heck kind of an auction was this? Was it even legal to sell stuff like that? He swallowed hard, and slowly pulled his phone out. After unlocking it, he clicked on the internet app to type in the name. And sure enough, the first thing that popped up was a listing of all the things that were going to be sold. It was a fairly long one—filled with items that only rich can afford. No wonder why those guys couldn't go. As he continuously swiped his thumb up to skim through everything, he saw a name that really stuck out from all the others.
Scarlet eyes.
His thumb hovered over the bolded letters, as he felt somewhat afraid to actually click on it. He already knew what this was, didn't he? And yet he kept hoping that it wasn't—that this was just some sort of sick joke. After another minute or so passed by, he forced himself to finally press down on it. Once he did, it took him to another tab. The reception here wasn't always the greatest, so it didn't load right away. Just as he was contemplating on exiting out of it, the photo suddenly popped up. In that very moment, he could feel himself stop breathing. Everything around him became still, and the only thing he could hear was the thud of his own heart as it pounded in his chest.
Leorio placed a hand over his mouth, feeling a bit horrified. What did this mean? Is this how Kurapika got his current pair that sat on his dresser? If so, then how many of them were being sold like this? The price on them was just insane, and he could no longer turn a blind eye to all of this. He left that website to search up the name "Scarlet eyes" then. If he can't ask him these questions, then he was going to find them out for himself. There was no harm in that, right? It is normal for someone to be naturally curious like this. Even if it is an invasion of his privacy, he just had to know.
Nothing could have prepared him for what he was about to read.
There were pages upon pages of articles, showing all of the people who were brutally murdered—who's bodies were found with their eyes gouged out. And if you scrolled down far enough, you could see the photos of each victim, both before and after their death. It was one thing to see an adult body like that, but to throw in some babies and young children into the mix? Leorio gagged. He felt so incredibly sick to his stomach, that he had to run over to the closest trash clan. Apparently those of the "Kurta clan" possess these eyes, and they change Scarlet when feeling certain emotions. They shine the brightest when in pain, and that is why each and every one of them were tortured beforehand—to set them in a permanent glow for others to enjoy.
He threw himself forward, and emptied his stomach contents into the trash can. Everything around him was spinning, and it felt like his legs were about to give out. 'What the fuck Kurapika?! What the actual fuck?!' He screamed in his mind. It all made sense now—why the blonde had to hide his true identity from everyone. If word gets out that there is a survivor, then they will be after him for his eyes. His people were slaughtered for that very reason alone. It made his blood boil, knowing that they were making money off of these. Why was that more important than human life itself? It just wasn't right.
It wasn't fair.
"Dr. Paladiknight?!" One of the nurses came running over to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Everyone in the general vicinity could hear him vomiting, and were concerned for his well-being. They have never seen him like this before. And well, it wasn't good for him to be around his patients like this. What if he is contagious, and gets someone else sick? It just wasn't worth it.
"I-I think you should go home. Can anyone come get you? Or should I call a taxi?" She quietly asked. He has been working non-stop for way too long now, and desperately needed a break. There is no way he can continue to work in this condition. His skin looked pale, and he was breathing heavily.
Leorio flinched at the physical contact. Beads of sweat formed on his skin, and he used the back of his hand to wipe at his mouth. If only he could have made it to the bathroom. This was sort of embarrassing for him, since he wasn't used to showing this side to anyone. He just felt at his lowest right now, and he hated it. He pressed his hand against his stomach, trying to get that queasy feeling to go away. "N-no, don't call anyone. I just-… I need fresh air…" He just needed to clear his mind. It felt so stuffy in here—so suffocating!
He hurried on down the stairs then, since waiting for the elevator would take too long. And as soon as he reached that last step, he took off running for the front doors. 'If Kurapika's parents were murdered, then how did he make it out of there alive? Just how much has he suffered because of this? I never would have known he was hurting so tremendously.' Having grown up an orphan himself, he didn't know what it was like to have a family. Because of this, he couldn't even begin to fathom what the blonde went through. What made things worse, was that he had to deal with everything all by himself. There was no one there to ever comfort him, and that in itself was so heartbreaking.
Once he made it outside, Leorio took a minute to concentrate on his breathing. The cool air felt nice against his clammy skin. Maybe going home really was for the best after all. He needs sleep, food, and a nice hot shower. A bath would be even better, but that might cause him to pass out. And to be honest, he really didn't want to drown in the tub. That would be an awful way to go. He still has so much more to live for. Instead of calling a taxi, he was just going to walk home. He wasn't ready to face either of them quite yet. What would he even say? There was no way he could put on a façade right now. Besides, they would just see right through him anyways.
When he took his phone back out, he made sure to go straight to his messages. It takes a lot make a doctor like Leorio feels squeamish, but those photos were just too much for him to handle. He works on the living, not the dead who were brutally tortured to death. And he could go the rest of his life not seeing that type of stuff ever again. There was nothing else he needed to know on those cases. He clicked on his messages with Kurapika, and typed out something short.
I'll be home soon!
Leorio raked his fingers through his hair, heaving out an exhausted sigh. It feels like he hasn't seen the blonde in ages, even though it has only been a couple of days. He went from missing him, to not knowing how to properly face him. It is unclear what words were going to fly out of his mouth, or what his actions will be like. What he does know, is that he needed to choose them both wisely. Already he stuck his nose into something that wasn't his business at all. So, he needed to proceed cautiously.
He didn't want to ruin things between them, or to lose his trust.
The street lights flickered on, indicating that it was almost completely dark out. Traffic had picked up once more, since this is the time when most people get off of work. Some were in a rush to get back home to their families, while others dined out in the restaurants that lined the strip. That used to be Leorio, back when he had no one waiting for him to return. Ever since those two moved in with him, that is no longer his routine. Yes he doesn't make it to dinner most of the time, but at least the food is left out for him to reheat. That still meant a lot to him. It just goes to show that there were now people who truly cared about him, unlike before when he had no one.
His penthouse no longer felt empty, as it was now filled with people he cared about. Before Melody started working for him, he never woke up to the smell of breakfast being made. And before Kurapika became his butler, he never ate lunch—never took the time out of his busy work schedule to sit down, relax, and enjoy his food with a friend. His days of feeling lonely were long gone. Those two helped fill that void in his heart, and he couldn't thank them enough for it.
Leorio came to a sudden stop then. His feet literally wouldn't move forward, no matter how hard he tried to. This may have been the correct way to take going back home, but it didn't feel right. There was this nagging feeling he couldn't seem to brush off, and it only got worse the longer he chose to ignore it. 'But what if those eyes belonged to his mother? Or his father? Surely he had friends at one point…' This thought made his eyes grow wide. If that is the case, then some random person was going to buy them as decoration for their home. They will hold no deep meaning, other than to just sit there and look pretty on display. This did not sit well with him at all.
In fact, it infuriated him.
Whether they were from a relative of Kurapika's, or just another member of his clan, no one else had the right to own them but him. And if he turns his back on this once in a life time opportunity, he won't be able to forgive himself for it. Basically, it was now or never. He had to make the decision before it was too late: Continue heading home, or go to that auction to place a bid on the Scarlet eyes. He pulled his sleeve up to check the time on his watch. Based off of the information given on that website, it is set to start soon. Meaning, he needed to leave right away if he wanted to make it on time.
"Damn it!" Leorio hissed through clenched teeth. Before he knew it, he was running in the opposite direction from where his penthouse was located. His bed can wait. And having just thrown up, there is no way he would have been able to eat dinner. Declining Melody's delicious cooking would have been very difficult, so he's glad to be avoiding that entirely. He has always struggled with putting his money to good use. There was only so much you could buy for yourself. A lot of stuff was meant to be enjoyed with friends, or family. Up until now he had neither of those. However, that has all changed.
It felt like he couldn't give them enough.
Two hours. That is how long it has been since Kurapika got that text message. In the beginning he didn't worry. Being a doctor means that you are always on call. Keeping this in mind, he just figured that his boss got called back to help out with another patient. What really got him worrying, was the fact that he hasn't received a single response to the few he has sent. This was just so unlike him. Usually when they are having a conversation, he makes sure to at least answer with an emoji. It was a tad bit annoying at first, but he has grown to like them. Getting nothing in return made him wonder if he was doing alright. His phone was being uncomfortably silent. Any other time he would have appreciated that, but not now. If it could just ding, then that would be great.
He resorted to pacing.
It appears he has lost count on how many times he has swept the floors, or wiped down the glass-top tables. Everything was so clean that they practically sparkled! He has even resorted to polishing the coasters, which haven't been touched since yesterday. There was no one really around to use them. 'Is he in surgery? Is that why he won't check his messages? That has to be it. There is no way he would ignore me.' That might have been an arrogant thing to say, but it was true. Leorio always finds ways to either talk to him, or be by his side. He just enjoys his company that much. It has felt weird not being able to eat lunch at the hospital. It is something he has gotten used to, and actually looked forward to. And here he tried to fight against it when this whole thing began.
Oh how different things were now.
Ever since starting his job as a butler, he hasn't had the time to check around for any auctions. There has just been so much on his mind. If he had known about the one being held tonight, though, it would have only been upsetting. Yes the pay here was great! Nevertheless, he still didn't have enough saved up. Going there while being unable to afford his clan's eyes would have really riled him up, and he would have found a more.. illegal way to get his hands on them. It was probably a good thing that he didn't know about it for the time being. When he loses himself like that, it is hard to pull him out of that darkness.
Kurapika leaned over to grab the bottle of Febreze, and used that to spray down the couches once more. For them being pure-white, they sure did look brand new. There wasn't a single stain, or dirt spot anywhere. It also helps that, yet again, there wasn't anyone to sit on these. The penthouse has always been a large place, but it felt even bigger without the doctor's presence. Things were more quiet—almost eerie, in a way. That is why he perked up a little when reading that message. Did this mean he missed him too? It is hard to put his feelings into words, so he wasn't entirely sure. What he did know, was that he wanted him to come back home. But even that wasn't working out so great.
"You're not supposed to use the whole bottle," Melody commented quietly. It was hard seeing him like this. And since she could hear literally everything that was going on, it was making her feel really nervous—the constant shuffling of his feet going back and forth, over and over again, to him sighing and heaving every two minutes. The way that broom scratched against the wooden flooring, to the rag squeaking against the glass tables—it was honestly too much. As much as these things bothered her, she could also understand why he was behaving in such a way. The situation in itself was rather odd, and she had questions of her own.
She walked over to Kurapika, and grabbed a hold of his wrist. "You can stop now. There is nothing left to clean…" With dinner having been made and served, and everything being wiped down and put away, there was nothing left for her to do. Normally she would be getting ready to go to bed at this time, but that just wasn't possible for tonight. Until they find out what is going on with Leorio, she can't put her mind at ease either. There is just so much tension in the air.
He removed his fingers from the nozzle, and inhaled deeply. Perhaps he really was going overboard here. "Dr. Paladiknight said that he would be home two hours ago. This has never happened before. I want to believe that something came up at work, but.. what if it didn't? Do I dare go out there and look for him?" The temptation was high.
Melody lowered herself down onto the couch, and smoothed out her dress. "You're worried he's hurt," she pointed out. In a way she couldn't blame him. Their bond has become fairly strong over the course of just a month. It goes to show that they were meant to be in each other's lives.
Kurapika couldn't sit. He was too antsy to stay in one place. When he heard her say that statement, he held his breath. Is that why he couldn't calm himself down? Was he truly afraid that something bad happened, and that Leorio was lying somewhere seriously hurt? But it would take a lot to bring someone like him down! Even he acknowledges that a single punch would knock you out cold. You can tell by the size of his arms. "He can hold his own. It's just.. I don't know…" He trailed off.
Her eyes softened at this. It was so sweet how much faith he had in him. "Just because he can hold his own, doesn't mean he is invincible. Even the strongest of people get hurt." It's not like she was trying to make him worry. That isn't what she wanted at all. However, this was something she wanted him to understand. No one is perfect.
He didn't even want to imagine that. "I doubt he has enemies," he mumbled. That didn't make him feel better at all. If anything, he felt like going out there to look for him even more now. If he is not at the hospital, then where else would he be? This is a huge city, so he could be anywhere. 'What is the right thing to do? Come on Kurapika, think!' His gaze drifted up to stare at the clock on the wall, watching as the seconds ticked by.
Melody nodded in agreement with that. Who would hate someone like him? "It would be a-…!" Her eyes widened all of a sudden, and she whipped her head in the direction of the window. They were at the very top of the apartment complex, but she was able to hear just enough as to what was going on from down below. Compared to everyone else in this city, no one else had a more pleasant heartbeat than the doctor himself—so soothing. Her relief soon turned into concern, when she noticed the change in its rhythm. She did not like what she was hearing at all.
"Leorio just entered the building, and is making his way over to the elevator." They were going to find out about her abilities sooner or later, so there was no avoiding it forever. It's just that this isn't how she wanted to tell them.
Well this confused the blonde.
His eyebrows scrunched together, as he took this moment to fully process what she had just said. How in the world did she know that? It just didn't make any sense to him. How does one even respond to something like that? He had his lips parted like he was about to give a response, but nothing came out. Instead he just stood there and stared at her. "…." Was she just saying that to make him feel better? To prevent him from aimlessly roaming about the city, in hopes of finding the doctor? Or was he just missing something here?
The look on his face would have been amusing, had the situation been on a lighter note. Melody clasped her hands together, readying herself for his reaction. "I have supernatural hearing. Just now I could hear the change in your heart when I mentioned him being here—like your entire being lit up with joy and relief."
Kurapika touched his chest, and blinked. "You.. can hear that much?" He murmured. Why didn't she mention this sooner? No one would have judged her. At least, not in this household. Although, did some stranger's view on her really matter that much? This whole time she was able to hear what was everything going on here. It made him feel sort of uncomfortable, to be honest. Was there really no privacy at all? How many conversations has she listened in on? It wasn't necessarily her fault, but still. It almost felt like his own thoughts weren't even safe anymore. His feelings were also exposed. This meant there was no hiding anything from her.
He was completely stripped of privacy.
Melody gave a simple nod. His feelings were justified. If she were in his position, she would probably react the same way. It isn't an easy thing for people to accept. "I apologize for not saying anything until now. I just-… didn't want to be treated any differently because of this—for you guys to walk on eggshells with me around. I wanted that opportunity for us all to get close before I unveiled my secret," she explained.
This made him frown. Is that how she has felt this whole time—that they wouldn't accept her for who she is? Yes it was a lot to take in, but that wasn't an excuse to end a friendship, or to push her away. It was just going to take a while to get used to. That's it. "Neither I, or Dr. Paladiknight would have judged you. And if you ask me, that is a very handy ability to have." So much can be done with it. But at the same time, it would also be annoying. Imagine never being able to find any peace and quiet. That would drive him crazy. Or maybe after a while you just learn to live with it? Guess he will never know.
Kurapika gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and then went over to unlock the door. 'Everyone has their fair share of secrets. It isn't something to feel ashamed of,' he thought. You actually shouldn't go around telling people everything about yourself. First of all, it wasn't any of their business! And secondly, it could be dangerous depending on what it is. You should only tell those who you trust with all of your heart. There are things about himself that were just too painful to talk about, and that most likely will never change. It is harder for someone like him to open up, and he had very good reasons to be that way.
No one will ever understand his pain and suffering.
Once he pulled that little chain over to unlock it, he wrapped his fingers around the doorknob. "Thank you, Melody." It was because of her that he felt more at ease. He worked himself up quite a bit for a while there, huh? How silly. This made him want to laugh. Next time he will have to learn to be more patient, and not assume the worst. Whatever was holding his boss up must have been very important. Besides, he has always been a busy man. That is why he hasn't been home these past couple of days.
"Ah—" Kurapika pushed his tie up to make it look more presentable, and then grabbed the bottom of his blazer to straighten it out. Well he needed to look his very best! Once that was taken care of, he finally swung the door open. It never took long for the elevator to reach this floor, so he was expecting to see the doctor before him. When that wasn't the case, he tilted his head to the side. Where was he? Unless there were a bunch of people getting on and off of it, in which case that would slow things down. Some like to really take their time. They figure, why not? They have nowhere else to be, so why not hold up everyone in the whole building.
And then he saw it. There, sitting on the floor to his right, was Leorio himself. He was perched up against the wall, with his body slumped over. There was something in his arms that appeared to be wrapped up in his work coat? Why he brought that home was beyond him, but okay. Whatever it was, he hugged it tightly against his chest. His head hung low, which made it impossible to see his face from where he stood. What was wrong with him? Why wasn't he coming inside? 'Don't tell me he passed out from exhaustion. That man,' he thought while shaking his head.
The blonde got right in front of him, and crouched down to be more on his level. "Do you need help getting back up, Dr. Paladiknight?" Don't let his size fool you. There is still a lot of strength packed into his small body. It just goes to show that you really shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Going inside was easier said then done.
"Here. I.. I want you to bring this inside first. But be careful! It is breakable," Leorio instructed in a soft murmur. Making sure the jar was all wrapped up nicely in his coat, he held it out for him to take. It wouldn't be wise of him to peek underneath it while out in the open like this. He kept his head lowered, since he wasn't ready to face those piercing silver eyes yet.
"Uhh… Okay?" Kurapika placed his hands underneath the object, and carefully pressed it against his own chest. It was heavier than he expected it to be. What the heck was he trying to hide here? Today sure was a weird one. He slowly stood back up, since it would be bad to lose his balance with this thing in his hold. Then he turned around, and made his way over to the door. There was a sort of sloshing noise coming from whatever was wrapped up in the coat. So it was breakable and wet? He raised an eyebrow at this. Well that was quite the combination right there. Now his curiosity was really starting to kick in.
It wouldn't hurt to look, right?
When he entered the kitchen, he set the strange object onto the counter with a small thud. And once it was nicely secure in place, he began to peel back the layers. What he discovered was honestly the last thing he had ever expected. That very moment his eyes came into contact with a pair glowing right back at him, he felt his heart drop. He even wanted to believe that his mind was playing tricks on him, but nope! This was very real—the cold glass against his fingertips, and the scent emitting from the doctor's coat—it was definitely reality. His head was about to burst, from all of the questions that were forming in his mind. 'Where did he find these? And how did he get his hands on them?!' It is no wonder they were being hidden like that.
His hands were shaking uncontrollably, and he had to tear them away from the jar. It was also his goal to get back all of the Scarlet eyes, but he never imagined that there would be someone out there willing to help out with that. Actually, he didn't even want any. Involving yourself in this was very dangerous, and that is one of the reasons why he felt angry. Why would he put himself at risk for him? Is this why it took him two hours to come home? Why he wouldn't answer any of his text messages, and left both himself and Melody worried? He wasn't even sure how he found about all of this. Clearly he was sticking his nose where it didn't belong.
That wasn't going to fly with him.
Kurapika threw the coat back over the jar, and left with his hands clenched tightly into fists. There was only so much a person can take, before they reach their snapping point. There was just so many emotions flowing through him, that he didn't know which one to focus on. "Dr. Paladiknight! Explain yourself!" He demanded, while looming over him. For such a small person, he sure was coming off as very intimidating right now.
Leorio was untying his shoes when he heard the blonde approach him. It gave him an excuse to keep his head down for a little longer. "You looked." It was obvious judging by the tone of his voice. Anyone would have, to be honest.
That wasn't the response he wanted. Although, maybe they should take this conversation inside the penthouse. That way the wrong people won't end up hearing them. His patience was already wearing thin as it is. He placed a hand on his hip. "Yes I did. It was kind of hard not to. I get that you were so intrigued by my clan's eyes, but you didn't need to go out and get yourself a pair. How disrespectful—"
Wait, what?
His head whipped up without any thought. "T-that is not why! You got it all wrong!" Leorio was quick to say. As much as he loved the color of those Scarlet eyes, and how they glowed in the pitch dark, he would never do something so low. That would only result in hurting the blonde, and in no way did he ever do that. Hasn't he already been through enough in his life?
Kurapika was about to retort, when he got a good look at his face. His glasses sat crooked on the bridge of his nose, with one of the lenses being cracked—the other missing entirely. That wasn't the problem though. He lowered himself down to his knees, and reached out to grab the doctor's chin. This was to force his head to turn slightly. Not only did he have a busted lip, but also a black eye. There was some dried blood on his face, but that should be easy to wash off. 'I knew it. He paid a price to get his hands on those…' And here he really did view him as being invincible.
Oh how wrong he was.
He clicked his tongue. Whatever his reasoning, it just wasn't worth it. Being careful as to not hurt him any further than he already is, he pulled the broken glasses off of his battered face, tucking them neatly into the pocket of his blazer. "Come on. You can't sit here all night—" He wrapped an arm around his waist, and used what strength he had to help pull him back up to his feet. In this moment his own feelings just didn't matter. His boss was hurt, and he needed to tend to his wounds. That came first. Having known him for a month now, he could tell that he was truly a good person. So maybe his intentions were good here. Who knows. But he certainly wasn't going to let this slide.
Not wanting all of his dead weight to squish the poor guy, Leorio mustered up what little energy he had left in order to stand back up. His injuries didn't really bother him. If anything, his body was sore all over, and he felt light-headed due to the lack of sleep he was experiencing. "I'll.. transfer those into a better jar. That way.. they won't get ruined. I.. I know how important they are to you…" He said quietly. His arm was draped over his shoulders, since it really did help to have some support.
God did he look awful. It was like he had been to hell and back. Kurapika kept his gaze ahead, while making his way toward the door. "So, they're for me then? You should have said so…" That made him feel an ounce better about the situation. At least he didn't buy them for himself to slice up, or do who knows what to them. He's a doctor, so anything is possible.
Leorio licked his lips. The taste of blood was strong on the one side. It wasn't deep enough to need stitches, so that was one less thing to worry about. To be honest, he had no idea what his face currently looked like. He remembers being hit in the face, but it wasn't enough to knock him down. "Thought it would be kinda obvious, ya know?"
"…." It took everything in the blonde not to argue with him. As soon as they were both inside, he made sure to close and lock the door. Who knows if anyone followed him back here. This might even put him on edge for the night. If he doesn't get any sleep, then at least he will know why.
Melody walked over to the two, a look of concern in her eyes. Normally by now she was getting ready for bed, but tonight was different. When you have to wake up early enough to prepare breakfast for everyone, you need to hit the sack a lot earlier than everyone else. "C-can I get you anything, Dr. Paladiknight? Something to drink, perhaps?" She offered nervously. It wasn't easy for her to see him like this.
His eyes immediately softened when looking at her. There wasn't a whole lot she could do for him at the moment, but he appreciated the offer. "Maybe in a little bit. I just really need to wash up first. But, thank you for askin'." His body desperately needed water, that he can't deny. However, he also needed to wash all of the dirt and grime off of his skin.
"I will get him some water once he is all cleaned up, since that is the only beverage that I am offering," Kurapika said sternly. He can only imagine how much coffee this man has consumed during these past few days. It would be bad if he were to dehydrate himself even more. He already looked like crap on the outside, so no need for that to affect him on the inside.
Despite his bottom lip hurting, Leorio still cracked a slight smile. "For once, I'm not gonna try and turn that down. Make it a tall glass with lots of ice cubes!" It will probably help with the pounding headache that he has.
"Well if you need anything, don't be afraid to knock on my door. I won't mind at all." Melody also loves to help others. And it wouldn't hurt to lose out on some sleep. If she gets tired throughout the day, then she can just take a quick nap. It is usually pretty quiet around here. 'These two need some alone time anyways,' she thought. They can't exactly be themselves with her lingering around.
Kurapika nodded, also appreciating the offer. "Can you make it up the stairs? Or do you need my help?" They were definitely going to talk, that's for sure. Their conversation from out in the hallway wasn't finished yet, and he still had many more questions that needed to be answered.
Leorio pulled away from his butler, making it so that he was now standing on his own. "Yeah. Just make sure I don't trip and fall, okay?" It was meant to sound funny, but in reality that would just be sad. He can just imagine himself squishing the blonde in his fall, and hurting him very badly—or worse. That is something he didn't even want to picture.
Breaking his fall would indeed be a horrible way to go.
But the blonde didn't plan on becoming a pancake! With his hand firmly placed on the upper part of his back, he helped guide him up the stairs. This didn't take long at all, especially since there wasn't any slip-ups. If it weren't for the railing, then things might have been a bit rocky. That is probably what prevented the doctor from losing his balance—he had something to hold onto the whole time. In situations like this one, an elevator really would have been handy. However, it would just be absurd to have that inside your own home. Wouldn't that be too much? At least, that is what he believes.
Once they entered the bathroom inside of his bedroom, Kurapika brought down the toilet seat and lid. "Sit. I will prepare a bath for you," he instructed with the snap of his fingers. It will take a good few minutes for the tub to fill up with water, and he was pretty sure that the guy needed to sit and take it easy until then. After making sure that the temperature wasn't too hot, he poured some bath salts into the water.
This made him feel more awake.
Leorio wanted to sit anyways. As he made himself comfortable on the toilet, he watched his butler's every move. "So.. you're giving me a bath?" He was trying his hardest not to smirk at this. It just sounded like a fantasy to him. Was this really not a dream? The only thing giving him doubt, was the throbbing pain in his eye and bottom lip.
This clearly did not amuse Kurapika, as he turned his head slightly to give him a blank stare. "You're not off the hook yet. Besides, I have already seen.. everything. And I can't let you crawl into a clean bed when you're so…" He shouldn't have to finish that sentence. They both know the state of his hygiene right now, so words weren't necessary.
Did he smell? Just to make sure, he pulled at the collar of his shirt to get a quick whiff. Well that answered his question. "I-it's not my fault! I've been at work," he mumbled that last part out. And now he wondered if any of his patients noticed. If so, then they were too nice to speak up on it.
"Whatever you say. Now, I need you to stay here while I run downstairs real quick. Do not move from this spot." Oh he was being very serious. His patience was basically non-existent at this point.
Leorio's lips twitched, and he gazed directly into large silver eyes. "Yes mother." Seeing his butler like this was amusing. How can he be afraid of such an adorable face? Why was he leaving anyways? Was he going to grab him that glass of water? That would actually be nice. It would be even better to numb his pain with some gin, but he knew that wasn't an option.
Kurapika suppressed an eyeroll. Must he keep calling him that? In what way was he being motherly? "…." He wasn't even going to respond to that. Instead he walked past him and out of the bathroom. Give it to him to try and crack jokes during a situation like this one. There was nothing funny about this. Honestly though, what was he going to do with him?
Once it was certain that he was gone, Leorio let out a deep and heavy sigh. 'Everything hurts…' He thought, leaning down to rest his face in his hands. If he allowed himself to, he could have seriously fallen asleep right here in this very spot. Getting into that bath tub was going to be easy, but what about when it is time to get out? Forcing himself up so many steps already took a lot out of him. Even lifting himself up off of this toilet might be difficult. He was so completely, and utterly drained.
He was just glad to finally be home.
The sound of the water plummeting into the tub was quite relaxing. Leorio almost wanted to rip his clothes off, and hop on in there this very second! The only thing holding him back, was the order given to him by the blonde himself. If he so much as lifts his butt off of this toilet seat, then it will feel like he has betrayed him. And well, he has already angered him enough as it is. He just needed to be patient, and wait for his return. 'Actually—' When removing his hands from his face, he grabbed the bottom of his shirt. Then in one fluid movement, he yanked it over his head. This left him with just his pants and boxers on, which will be easy to remove when the time comes.
And then out of nowhere, he felt his shirt being pulled out of his grasp.
"I'll take care of that," Kurapika said. Otherwise it would have probably wound up on the floor. Not saying the doctor is a slob or anything, but rather, he is just too tired to do anything right now. It only took him a couple of minutes to gather the necessary things that he needed, and by now the tub was full enough. After tossing the shirt into the laundry bin, he walked over to shut the running water off. It smelled of lavender because of the bath salts, which was a lovely scent to him.
Leorio blinked, looking down at his empty hands. "That was fast," he mumbled. For some reason he expected to be left alone longer than that. Regardless of that, he was still happy to see his face. It always brightened his mood! As for his shirt? Yeah, he most likely would have just aimlessly tossed it somewhere.
Kurapika shoved a cup in his face, keeping it just below his mouth. "Hold this right here," he ordered. In a separate cup he had some warm salt water, and a washcloth. Sure he was no doctor himself, but he knew the basics on certain things—this being one of them. When he lost his family, there was no one around to take care of his wounds. So, he had to learn everything on his own.
"It's empty—wait, is that water? Man you're a saint!" Just as Leorio was trying to grab the other cup, his hand was swatted away. This just made him frown. What was the deal? Before he could even open his mouth to speak, he felt his chin being grabbed in one of those small, delicate hands. This forced their gazes to lock, and for that split second his heart jumped.
"This is warm salt water for your lip. It's not meant to drink." Why would you want to anyways? That was just disgusting. Plus it just isn't good for you either. He tipped the cup over Leorio's bottom lip, and made sure that most of the water got on the part that was busted. The access water dripped into the empty one, just as he was hoping it would. After setting that aside, he used the wet washcloth to wipe away at his face, focusing on the spots that had dried blood on it.
Touching his face like this was a whole different experience.
As their faces stood just mere inches apart from each other's, Kurapika took in the state of his eye. There was a nasty blueish-purple bruise hugging the sides of it, and oh did it look painful! Was he able to return to work like this? If so, then how will his patients feel about it? It might even scare the smaller children. And since he has personally met a lot of the people that he works with, he can tell that they will not want to see him like this either. 'I will have to order him a new pair of glasses,' he thought. They were unnecessary for him to wear, but by now he was so used to having them on his face. Were they even prescription? That is something he will need to ask him later on.
After laying the washcloth over the sink, Kurapika took his white gloves off. He tucked them neatly into the back pocket of his dress pants. Then he pulled out a small container from his front pocket, and unscrewed the lid. "I'm not sure what doctors like yourself use, but my people have been using this for a long time. I just made it not too long ago." Since he apparently was so interested in the Kurta, might as well give him some more information on them. It was some homemade lip balm, made with only the freshest, most organic ingredients. There were no dyes, or fragrances added to it. It was meant to heal cuts, and dry lips.
Leorio just stared as the blonde swiped his index finger through the lip balm, making sure it was nicely coated. "…." Was he seriously going to put it on for him? His eyes widened slightly at this realization, and he gulped. It was already hard with them being so close, and now this? 'So his clansmen made remedies?' That was very interesting. He would like to learn more about that, and what they all used for other injuries and illnesses. The Kurta seemed like a unique set of people, and it was such a shame that they were wiped out. With his butler being the only one left, it made him want to protect him that much more.
His breathing hitched as soon as he felt that slender finger glide along his bottom lip. This time he wasn't wearing a glove, which meant he could feel everything. It was like his heart was about ready to leap right out of his chest! 'He's so beautiful. Wish I had a reason to touch his face…' When looking at him like this, it was hard to believe all of the hardships he has gone through. Obviously he lost his parents to those sadistic thieves. It is just a matter of when. How long has he been all by himself like this? And how much did it affect him? He is probably hiding all of that hurt deep inside of him. "…."
As Kurapika was rubbing some of the lip balm onto his top lip, he noticed the way that he was being stared at. It was a look he wasn't used to seeing in his eyes. Just what was going on in that head of his? He slowly pulled his hand away, and screwed the lid back on. "Put another coat of this on before going to bed. I suggest using it whenever your lips get dry. If you do this, then it should heal quickly," he explained quietly.
He stepped away for a brief moment, but only so that he could grab another cup that was sitting on the counter. This one was made of glass, and filled to the top with ice water. "I want you to drink this first." Well he was in the kitchen anyways.
Leorio instantly smiled. So he had that all along? "Thank you, Kurapika," he murmured. The glass was so cold to the touch. This is exactly what he wanted! He was careful to not wipe off any of the lip balm as he drank from it. And before he knew it, the water was all gone. He had managed to chug it in a matter of seconds. Guess he was thirstier than he thought. That was no surprise though, taking as how he has been surviving off of mainly coffee these past few days.
"You continue to impress me. That stuff you used smells amazing!" His lip didn't hurt as bad, now that it wasn't all dried out and whatnot. Moistening it like this was a good idea. Is there anything his butler wasn't good at? As soon as he set his cup aside, he stood up from where he sat. From there he pulled both his pants and boxers down to his feet.
"…!" Kurapika thought he was prepared for this—that since he had seen his boss naked before, that he would be able to handle it. Sadly this was not the case. His face grew considerably warm, and he had to force himself to look away. 'Was that really necessary? Unbelievable…' Where was he even getting all of this energy? Just a little bit ago he struggled to go up those stairs.
Leorio made his way over to the tub, and dipped his foot into the water. "Perfect! You know me all too well, Kurapika!" He beamed with a wink. Yes he likes it hot, but he didn't want to be cooked alive while trying to clean himself. The temperature was just right. As he lowered himself into it, he let out a sigh of content. This was already hitting the spot, and should help soothe his aching muscles.
Oh how heavenly it was.
Don't think about it. Just do your job. That is what Kurapika had to do. If he allows his mind to go there, then he won't be able to concentrate. And if he can't concentrate, then how will he be of help here? He snatched one of the empty cups from the sink, and walked over to the tub himself. Then hesitantly, he sat down on the edge. Without uttering a single word, he dipped the cup into the hot water, filling it completely. Once that was done, he brought it up to dump over the doctor's head. Well he wasn't just going to sit here and watch him bathe himself. He had to do something.
Leorio flinched when he felt that just now. Not only was it hot, but it also caught him off guard. Was that done on purpose for payback? If that is the case, then he honestly couldn't complain. He glanced back to see what he was doing, and that is when he saw the shampoo bottle in his hand. "…." Oh. That explains why his hair had to be wet. Still, he could have warned him first. He didn't even know what to say about this. He wasn't used to someone else doing stuff like this for him. As long as he could remember, he has always bathed himself. Not once did he receive help from anyone.
When he felt the blonde's fingers rubbing at his scalp, he closed his eyes. It was just so relaxing! It felt like he was getting a massage—which is also something he has never received before. He rested his hands flat against the water, and moved them from side-to-side. "A Kurta's eyes turn Scarlet when enraged," he mumbled.
Kurapika's eyebrows instantly furrowed when he heard that. His hands froze as they were deep in his boss's thick, dark hair. "How…?" Where did he get that information from? It's not like he told him anything about his eyes. This left him feeling very confused.
"The Kurta were all been wiped out—having been tortured to death for their eyes, as they glow the brightest when pain is inflicted. They are usually sold in auctions, or in the black market for a lot of money. Everyone wants them for their rarity, beauty, and worth," he continued to say.
"But what they don't know, is that there is a survivor."
And just like that, Kurapika felt sick to his stomach. Everything he was saying was the absolute truth. His eyes became shadowed behind blonde bangs. "Dr. Paladiknight, how did you get your hands on those?" His voice trembled slightly as he spoke. This man knew too much. He stuck his nose far too deep into his clan's business, and now there was no going back.
Leorio sighed, and opened his eyes to stare at the wall in front of him. "I overheard a group of guys talking about an auction, and the one mentioned something about the Scarlet eyes. Just something about the name clicked, and my curiosity got the best of me.. So I looked it up." He clasped his hands together tightly, trying to contain all of the anger and sadness that was resurfacing.
"And then I researched the Scarlet eyes themselves. In doing so, a lot of articles about the Kurta clan popped up—each one explaining their horrific death. And then it made me realize that you probably lost your own parents the same way. I became so overwhelmed with it all, that I got physically sick. One of the nurses had to actually step in, and send me home for it. And I really was planning on heading home when I sent you that text message! I was walking in that direction! But then…" He trailed off.
Kurapika stared him down intensely. "But then…?" He asked barely above a whisper. So he wasn't in surgery after all. His messages got ignored for a whole different reason.
For a long few seconds there was nothing but silence.
His head tilted back a bit, and with that he gazed directly into the blonde's eyes. "But then I wondered if they belonged to your mother, or your father- perhaps even a friend of yours you once had. If that was the case, then how could I have let someone else own them? The guilt would have ate away at me. It just felt like something I had to do, ya know? It is wrong for anyone other than yourself to possess the Scarlet eyes. And I hope that someday you will be able to collect them all."
"…." His eyes burned. No one in his entire life has ever gone so far for him. Just how much money did he blow on those Scarlet eyes? There is a reason why he only possessed one set of them. They sell for an ungodly amount—making it so that only the richest of people can afford them. And yet, he didn't even hesitate to spend that much for the sake of his happiness. Words can't even describe how much this meant to him. They have only known each other for about a month, and yet he was willing to go so far for him. That speaks a lot of volume on the kind of person his boss is. His heart really is pure after all.
"That doesn't explain your injuries," the blonde couldn't help but point out. Just what the heck happened at that auction? Did anyone else get hurt as well?
Leorio let out a quiet chuckle. No, that did not explain his injuries. "I may have gotten jumped by a group of guys, who were not too pleased by me out-bidding their friend. But let's not focus on that, okay? I managed to get the Scarlet eyes back here in one piece. That is what really matters here." He said, shrugging his shoulders.
That was not funny in any way.
Kurapika grabbed a fistful of the doctor's hair, and yanked at it just enough to grab his attention. "Have you seen your face?! Yes I want all of the Scarlet eyes back, but that doesn't mean-…" He bit his tongue. Since when did he grow so attached to this man sitting in front of him? He really didn't want anything bad happening to him, because then his heart would ache even more than it already does. His hold on him loosened.
"Do not devalue your worth, Dr. Paladiknight." He scooped some more water into the cup, and used that to carefully rinse the shampoo out of his hair. So this is one of the reasons why he smells good. Well, that mixed in with his cologne. Apparently he used to put a lot more on before becoming a doctor, but was forced into toning it down due to being around so many people. Some are just too allergic to that type of stuff.
Leorio had the softest, most heart-warming smile on his face right now. It was nice to hear how much the blonde actually cared about him, and his well-being. It goes to show how much their bond has truly grown. He reached up to poke him in the cheek. "I'm sorry, Kurapika. I will be more careful next time."
There was a brief pause, as Kurapika touched the same spot that was just poked. Once his mind fully processed what had just happened, he used his sleeve to wipe away the water. "You're getting me wet!" He huffed out. That was just him trying to play off being embarrassed, since he always felt awkward having his face touched in any way.
He jabbed a finger at him then. "And what do you mean by next time? I don't want you getting any more involved in my clan's matter than you already are. It is way too dangerous for an outsider to—"
"Nope. It is too late for me to back out now. After everything I have learned, and knowing that I can still be of help to you? There is no way that I can just ignore what is going on. If I see a pair of Scarlet eyes being sold, then I'm gonna buy them for you.. because you're my friend!" The doctor said defiantly.
A soft pink color appeared on the blonde's cheeks, indicating that he was blushing slightly. Did he hear that correctly just now? They had been pretending to be friends around his coworkers this entire time, but it was never made official. He stared down into his lap, and bit down on his bottom lip. This was the very thing that he tried so hard to avoid, and yet it happened anyways. Why was he so damn weak?! "Dr. Paladiknight, you are my emboss/em. Isn't it wrong for us to be anything more than that?"
The very second that he stopped talking, Leorio was already shaking his head. "People befriend their bosses all the time! Heck, some even date them." He said this in a husky-tone of voice, all the while leaning in closer toward the blonde.
Well that escalated quickly.
Kurapika responded by leaning back a bit. He still wasn't used to anyone being all up in his personal space like this. "I am not that desperate for a raise, thank you very much," he mumbled. Of course that isn't what the doctor was insinuating. However, he didn't want to talk about that sort of thing with him of all people.
This made Leorio snort. "If I wanted to throw my money at someone, I'd go to a strip club. I'm not the kinda guy who sleeps around like that. As shocking as it may sound, I have never been with anyone in that way. If I'm gonna date someone, it's going to be long-term!"
Yes, that was indeed rather shocking to the butler. And here he thought that he had already been with at least a couple of women. To hear that he was still a virgin took him by surprise. That was also something he didn't need to know, by the way. Why were they even talking about this? He let out an exasperated sigh, and stood up from the edge of the tub. "Just-… wash up. I will help you out once you are done with that."
At some point he had to draw the line, and this was it.
Kurapika scooped up the dirty clothes off of the floor then. But before tossing them into the laundry bin, he made sure to fish his phone out of the pants pocket first. It didn't have a case on it, and there was a small crack in the screen. Why did this not surprise him? 'I'll have to get this fixed for him too,' he thought. Just because he makes a lot of money, doesn't mean he should treat his belongings so poorly. Although to be fair, it wasn't his fault that his glasses broke. That is what happens when you get into a fight with someone—or in this case, multiple people.
As much as he hated to admit it, the fact that Leorio took on more than one person while protecting the Scarlet eyes was actually impressive, and dare he say, badass? At the same time this worried him though. What if he isn't so lucky next time, and he gets more than just a black eye, and a busted lip? But no matter what he says, it won't change his mind. This is exactly why he didn't want to get anyone involved. As if he wanted someone to get hurt for his sake! The state of his boss's face made him feel guilty. It's unfortunate, but there was nothing he could do about it.
It didn't take long for Leorio to scrub himself down. And since his hair was already clean, there was nothing left for him to do. With there being no reason for him to stay in there, he pulled the plug on the drain. His showers were always quick, since he is usually in a hurry to get ready for work. As the water began to descend, he used the edges of the tub to help hoist himself up. "Mind grabbin' me a towel while you're over there?" He asked. There wasn't any close by for him to reach. And well, he didn't want to walk around soaking wet like this.
Kurapika wasn't expecting him to get out quite yet, and so that is why he wasn't prepared. Not that this was an issue or anything. Nodding, he grabbed one of the fluffy navy-blue towels. Obviously this was his favorite color, since it is literally everywhere. It suited him though. All the while making his way over to the tub, he made sure to keep his gaze on the doctor's face and nowhere else. As long as he doesn't look down, or even acknowledge that part of his body, then he won't feel all flustered and embarrassed. Things needed to remain professional between them.
"Thanks a bunch! You're a life-saver." Leorio took the towel from him, and used it to dry his hair off first. Then he stepped out of the tub and onto the mat, proceeding to wipe down the rest of his body. It was actually refreshing being out of that hot water. Once he was done making sure that he was dry all over, he tossed it in the general direction of where the laundry bin was. Of course it ended up missing, but he didn't focus on that. Instead he grabbed the small container of lip balm, and made his way into his bedroom.
"…." Did that seriously just happen? It landed so close to the laundry bin. Laziness at its finest, right? Kurapika glared at the doctor's back as he walked away, and pinched the bridge of his nose. 'Just breathe. You can't hit him,' he repeated in his mind. Not that he really would have, especially what with him already having sustained a couple of injuries. The last thing he wanted to do, was add onto the pain he was already experiencing—even though he was annoyed by what just happened. It only took a second for him to place it in there, and so when he was done with that, he followed after him into the other room.
In that moment, he saw him climbing into bed with nothing on.
Great.
Kurapika's face flushed. Does this mean he sleeps in the nude every single night then? He could have went without getting a shot of his ass—his perfectly-sculpted ass, more like it. 'Breathe,' he reminded himself.
"Everything smells so fresh!" Leorio crawled into the bed, making sure that his bottom half was covered by the covers. As fun as it was to tease his butler, he didn't want him to leave quite yet. Once he was fully situated, he started applying some of that lip balm onto his lips. It was much better when Kurapika put it on for him, but he wasn't going to push it by asking. He felt grateful that it happened at all.
"I did laundry earlier this afternoon," the blonde replied. He was pulling a clean pair of boxers out of his dresser for tomorrow. When he wasn't able to eat lunch with him again, he settled for washing all of the bedding. It was to help keep his mind from wandering. As long as he is busy, then he doesn't have time to worry about things like, whether or not his boss ate properly for the day. Not only that, but he also had a diffuser going on in the corner of the room. It stopped a little while ago, but the aroma was still in the air. He ended up putting a couple drops of Bergamot essential oil in there to help relieve the doctor's stress.
Seeing him put that on made his eyes soften. You could tell how much he loved the stuff. "Is there anything else you want before I leave, Dr. Paladiknight?" He asked in a gentle voice. It was so quiet in here, that it would feel weird to raise his voice any louder than that.
That was a good question. He still didn't have much of an appetite, so food was out of the question. Because of this, he is going to be absolutely starving by tomorrow morning! At least he has a wonderful breakfast to look forward to. Leorio held his hand out, palm-side up as it rested on his bed. "Sit down and hold my hand? I don't want to be alone right now."
Kurapika felt something go right through his heart, but he wasn't sure what it was. There was just something about this very moment that made him feel all warm and tingly. 'Given the kind of day he had, I don't blame him for wanting company.' It might even make him fall asleep faster. Either way, he was willing to help out. When he had that nightmare earlier this week, he was there for him, and stayed until the very end. Might as well return the favor. "What's next, a bedtime story?" He teased, while taking a seat on the edge of the bed. This one was much comfier than his, and he could feel himself sinking into the mattress.
And then he grabbed his hand—his big, warm, hand.
The moment their hands met, Leorio interlaced their fingers. It's not often that he isn't wearing those gloves, so he couldn't pass up this opportunity for some skin-to-skin contact. This just felt so right to him, that he didn't even care about the blush spreading across his face. "If you don't mind telling me a story from your childhood, then yes."
Silver eyes widened. Well he got him there. For a second, he could feel himself squeezing the doctor's hand. This was of course, done by accident. He muttered a quick apology when noticing this, but not once did he try to pull away. It still made him feel weary talking about not only his clan, but also his past. But as he sat there and stared into such soft, brown eyes, he could feel his doubts slowly fading away. He already knows so much about him, so would it really hurt to delve into that part of his life? Anything after his childhood was just too sad and depressing to talk about. His best moments in life happened before the death of his family, and best friend. He tore his gaze away to look down at their hands, and that is when he smiled to himself.
"I will tell you about Pairo, and of our adventures together."