The wait was excruciating. Every so often one of the staff members were sent out into the waiting room to give updates, which have been somewhat good so far. Surgery was taking this long due to all of the injuries that he sustained, but Cheadle has it under control. It didn't take long for the others to arrive either, after receiving the group text message Kurapika had sent out. Of course his phone blew up because of this, but he didn't bother checking it. Instead he turned it on silent, and slipped it back into his pocket where it has been ever since then. He took to staring blankly at the tiled flooring the entire time, not saying much of anything when someone else spoke to him. What was he supposed to say in this situation? His body just felt so numb, his mind being completely blank.
The light in his eyes had faded—becoming more of a dull silver.
His hands were clasped tightly together, as he was sitting slouched over in one of the metal chairs. To the left of him sat Melody, and then on his right were Gon and Killua. Those two who were usually so bright and energetic, now held such a sadness on their young faces. Even they couldn't believe someone did such a horrible thing to their friend—he who has done nothing but give to others, and never expecting anything in return. Just what type of evil human being was this person? Just imagining the amount of pain he was in, all the while being left completely alone in that room, only added to the Kurta's heartache. How long did his boyfriend sit there as he bled out from his wounds? It was absolutely horrifying to think about. If only he had arrived a little bit sooner! If only he had willed his legs to move faster, despite them already going past their limit.
How many hours have passed by? It felt like the time was trickling away at such a slow pace. People were coming and going, and yet here they were, still waiting on the news if whether or not the surgery was a success. Not only had the bullet ripped through a vital organ, but a couple of his ribs were broken from some type of blunt trauma—his nose having been broken pretty badly, hence why there was so much blood covering the lower half of his face. Since two very loud gunshots went off earlier, word got around fast on what was really going on. This caused some panic within the hospital, but the workers were doing their part in trying to keep everyone else calm. Apparently the shooter was long gone. If they had stuck around, he would have definitely made them pay for what they did.
There would have been blood on his own hands once he was done with them.
As he buried his face into his hands, he took this opportunity to inhale Leorio's scent from the sweater he wore. It felt like he was on the verge of throwing up—his stomach a big ball of nerves. An intense shooting pain went right through it, and he grunted while squeezing his eyes shut. This is the main reason why he had to turn down the food his friends offered him a little while ago. If he tries to shove anything down his throat, it will immediately come back up. He managed to take a few sips of water in the beginning, but that was it. Even that was hard to choke down. How can he hydrate himself when feeling so ill like this? His leg started to shake, and what was left of his patience was now vanishing. It took everything in him to not get up, and storm in that ER to see what was going on.
Melody laid a gentle hand on the blonde's back, and leaned in so that she could speak quietly into his ear. "Would you like for me to get up so that you can lay down?" It won't be the most comfortable thing in the world, but the sound of his heartbeat was really worrying her. Only she could sense how much he was truly suffering. Sometimes her supersonic hearing wasn't exactly viewed as a gift. It was moments like these that made her wish she didn't have such an ability in the first place. A headache was actually starting to develop, which happens way too often in her case. Between all of these loud noises, and the stress of having their friend so incredibly wounded was getting to her too.
Kurapika responded by shaking his head. As tempting as that sounded, he really didn't want to draw attention to himself. If someone sees him taking up two chairs, then surely they will complain. And right now he really wasn't in the mood to be dealing with that crap. The place was already packed as it is—full of people coughing, sniffling, and crying. If he makes it out of this without getting sick himself, then that will be a damn miracle. "Thank you, though," he muffled. It was the least he could do for denying another offer of hers. To be honest, he didn't want anything from anyone. He just wanted to sit here and be left alone. On the other hand, he couldn't just push his own friends away. They were only trying to help, and he did appreciate that.
This was just so hard. It felt like he was about to break.
It was obvious that the blonde wanted to lock himself up in a room all by himself, so that he can have some peace and quiet. And well, she couldn't blame him. This was all so much to take in, and no one knew how to handle it. Hopefully they find whoever did this, and throw him into a prison cell. Until then they all needed to stay strong, for Leorio's sake. He would do the same if any of them were in his position. Melody reached up so that she could slide the tiny ponytail out of his hair, and smoothed the strands out with her fingers. Once it was laying flat against his head, she took a section from the side and began to braid it. "He's going to be just fine. It will take some time for his injuries to heal, but with our help he will be back to normal soon!" She said reassuringly. With everyone pitching in to tend to his needs, then it should be no problem.
How can she say that so confidently, especially when he wasn't even out of surgery yet? The sensation of delicate fingers raking through his soft blonde hair made him relax slightly, and he let out a sigh. Kurapika's entire body has been so tense and rigid this whole time, and it was beginning to ache because of it. "And if he isn't? Then what?" Someone will have to hold him down if that is the case.
Once that braid was finished, Melody took a bobby pin out from her own hair, and clipped it in place so that it wouldn't unravel. Then she moved over onto the other side to do the same. A gentle smile spread on her lips when asked that. "You don't need to worry about such a thing, because it is not going to happen, Kurapika. Have more faith in him. There is no way he would leave all of his patients behind." No other doctor is as generous, and big-hearted to take them all in for free to little cost.
That was a valid point right there. All of those people under Leorio's care would be so screwed—some might even lose their very lives. If he really does make it out of this, then he is going to have to pay some other doctor to take care of them in his absence. Not that he will mind, but still. They are going to miss him like crazy until he returns to work. But at the same time, this will give him the break he has been needing for so very long now. If only it didn't have to happen in such a terrible way. "You didn't see his injuries. The blood. There was.. so much of it…"
Melody reached around to slide the bobby pin out from the other braid, and grabbed them both so that she could tie the rubber band around the ends. When that was done and taken care of, she proceeded to straighten out the hair underneath it, getting all of the tangles out. And using her fingertips, she ruffled his bangs to make them appear fuller. "Again, don't let that waver your faith in him. There is a reason why this is the best hospital around. He is in excellent hands!" She stepped aside to dig through the bouquet of flowers sitting in Gon's lap, and snapped off a little red flower.
"Dr. Paladiknight does so much for us, and so it is our turn to return the favor," she explained, all the while sticking the flower into one of his small braids. It stuck out from the side of his head beautifully, almost matching perfectly with the earring that dangled from his ear- such a gorgeous shade of dark red.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, the Kurta removed his hands from his face. He brought one of them up to touch the thin petals, and glanced over at the flowers that were meant for Leorio. They ranged from all sorts of colors—both big and small. Then he trailed his fingertips along both of the braids that sat evenly at the sides of his head. This wasn't the first time she has played around with his hair, which is something he has never minded. "Faith in him, huh?" He whispered to himself.
Gon leaned forward to get a better look at his friend, and blinked. "Wow Melody! He looks so pretty!" He gushed, slapping his hands against his cheeks. Not saying that he wasn't before. It was just different, but in a good way of course. You only ever see him in two hairstyles: pulled back into a ponytail, or leaving it down to rest at the end of his neck.
The young teen's reaction made Melody giggle with delight. "Doesn't he? I wanted him to look his very best for when he goes in to see Dr. Paladiknight." Everything else on him was fine. As a matter of fact, she just loved how he was wearing a sweater that is way too big. It works, since it belonged to the doctor himself, and that just made it ten times more adorable. Their love for each other was so precious.
A grin spread from ear-to-ear when hearing this, and he nodded his head in agreement. "Well you did an amazing job! Leorio is gonna love it!" The rest of them were going to stay behind, so that those two can have some privacy. What matters is that they are here, and will wait as long as it takes for their turn to see him.
Killua's bright, ice-blue eyes scanned over their friend's new hairstyle, and noticed just how much neater it was. That little red flower really did add a lot, didn't it? "Yeah, that old man isn't going to croak. He has never given up before, so there is no way he would up and stop now of all times. I'm personally not worried," he shrugged. It was scary hearing the news at first, but ever since arriving here and having the time to calm down, that has all changed.
"…" Was Kurapika the only one out of their group to literally be worrying himself sick? What he would give to have their confidence. 'But they weren't there. Those images are not fried into their brains like it is with mine,' he thought sadly. To believe that Leorio will be okay was just easier said than done. And having already lost so much in his life really didn't make things any better, either. It was bad enough when his boyfriend came home that one night with his face all bruised up. His eye was just starting to go back to normal, and the cut on his lip had healed nicely. At the time he felt so angry that such a thing happened to him, but now thinking back on it, he would gladly take those injuries over the ones he has now. At least those were not life-threatening. At least it didn't involve so much damn blood, and tears!
Back then he found his family covered in their own blood, and now years later it has happened all over again. How many times will this cycle repeat itself?
It is just so exhausting to have your happiness hanging on by a thread, when it has already been ripped away the first time. And he does understand that these three were only trying to make him feel better about the situation, and to bring his hopes up. But until he sees Leorio for himself, and has that proof that he is in fact alive, he can't get himself to calm down. His mind is racing. His heart was pounding. It felt like his head was about to split open from the massive headache he was suffering from. There is no way either of these things were going to improve otherwise. He needed to be by his side—to hold one of those big hands in his own, and stroke his fingers over sun-kissed skin.
Melody leaned in to wrap her arms around the Kurta. Normally she wouldn't overstep boundaries like this, but it just felt like this was something he really needed—a nice, friendly hug from someone who cares about him so much. "I would know if his heart stopped beating, Kurapika. His is so easy to pick out from all the others, because of how unique it truly is. And you know I would tell you if that were to change."
Tired, bloodshot eyes widened at this realization. The contact lenses that he once had in them were now sitting in the garbage. Since he didn't have a carrying case on him, what else was he supposed to do after taking them out? Besides, he has plenty of extras to use. They weren't even that expensive either. For the time being he just didn't care if someone saw his eyes shining a gorgeous, deadly red. Anyone who doesn't like it can just look away, and mind their own business. He really should ask one of the staff members here for some drops, but damn it! He only wanted to accept such a thing from Leorio! It would feel wrong going to another doctor, when he was dating one of the very best.
Only Leorio can take care of him. No one else was allowed to.
Kurapika let out a deep, and heavy sigh then. "Of course. He.. is alive. He's alive, and I need to keep that in mind…" He mumbled. The surgery wasn't over though. Something could still go wrong. Even if there are no complications now, an infection can still occur. Just because his heart was still beating, didn't mean he was out of the woods quite yet. 'Why am I like this?' His way of thinking has always been so messed up—assuming the absolute worst no matter the situation, and coming up with bizarre scenarios that he himself found to be ridiculous. This is one habit he seriously needed to work on, for the sake of both his mental and emotional health.
Maybe he really did appreciate the hug after all. Melody is one of the sweetest people he has ever met, the other obviously being Leorio. What would he do without these amazing people in his life? And now add Gon and Killua to the mix, and it was like they were all one happy family—and oh did he want it to stay whole. He brought a hand up to rest over one of her arms, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you." If neither of his friends were here with him, then he would be an even bigger mess. They were, essentially, keeping him calm during such a rough time.
It took a lot to get Kurapika out of that ER. In the beginning he fought to hide his tear-soaked face from the others, since it was embarrassing showing such a side to them all. But after some much needed words of encouragement from literally everyone, they finally got him to stand back up, where he was then lead into the waiting room. And this is where the gang has been ever since then. Gon and Killua left at some point to get the doctor some flowers from a nearby shop, and eventually Melody went to fetch the blonde some water. Not once has his butt left this chair, for fear that he will miss something important. He needed to be here for every single update!
Gon shifted in his own seat, and smiled fondly at the flowers in his hands. "I was abandoned as a baby by my birth father—left to be raised by my aunt. To this day I still don't know who my mother is. Not like I stress over it, since Mito is the only one I have ever known! But.. I have come to view Leorio as a sort of father figure. And Killua's situation is no better. Actually, it is a lot worse than mine! He won't admit it, but I'm sure he feels the same way." It wasn't his place to go into full detail about it, so that is all he was going to say about his boyfriend's family.
The other teenager's cheeks turned a soft shade of pink then, and he folded his arms across his chest in a huff. Talking about his family wasn't easy at all, and to be honest, he still wasn't ready to discuss it with the blonde. Not that he didn't trust him or anything! He just really hated explaining it, since it makes him feel so angry. Maybe another time when they are in a more private place, will he then discuss himself more. However now really wasn't the time to do that sort of thing—not when there were so many people within earshot of them. "Hmph!"
This got a giggle out of Gon. Yeah, he didn't expect much of a response out of him. Seeing his blushing face was more than enough. "Don't be like that, Killua!"
Kurapika would have never expected that out of such a happy and cheerful person. How could his father do such a horrible thing, and actually throw away his own flesh and blood like that? And if Killua's story really is worse, then did he even want to know? Just how bad did he have it? What were their lives like growing up? No wonder why they grew so attached to the doctor! He has a healing soul. Just being around the guy lifted your spirits, and put a true, genuine smile on your face. It was effortless for him to make others feel better—to heal them more than just physically. Was there something he couldn't do? Everything he does, he excels at.
Have they all lived a hard life? Melody's past was still a mystery.
When he felt her pull away from the embrace, he blinked a couple of times. There was a more serious expression on her face, as she was now staring ahead- hands clasped together as they rested in her lap. His heart immediately sank, as he once again assumed the absolute worst. "M-Melody..?" Something must have happened that caught her attention like this, and he didn't like it. What could she hear? If only he had that ability. It would be so handy for this!
When the pace of his heart changed so drastically, Melody shook her head. "Calm down, Kurapika. It's not like that. Rather than have me explain things, why don't you let Dr. Yorkshire?" Her footsteps were nearing closer pretty quickly. Before all of their updates were given by one of her assistants, but this time they were getting the real deal—the one who did the actual surgery herself.
"Dr. Yorkshire? But she's in-…!" Oh. This must mean that the surgery was finished. Kurapika's anxiety shot through the roof when it hit him, and he actually gripped at his chest. 'So it was a success then? It has to be. She wouldn't leave me hanging like this if that weren't the case.' If only he could hear all of the details this very second! But, he did understand why he should wait on the surgeon herself. His eyes were darting all over the place—trying to see which direction she was coming from. At this point he had gotten out of his chair, and was slowly spinning around, just watching as each person disappeared in and out of the waiting room.
And then she appeared. A look of pure and utter exhaustion filled her eyes, while she pulled the cap off of her head, allowing long green hair to fall back down as it cascaded well past her shoulders. After tossing it into a nearby trash bin, she stuffed her hands into the pockets of her long white coat, and heaved a heavy sigh. "Kurapika," she greeted while approaching the lot. Of course she recognized the two teens that sat next to each other. Aside from their obvious change in height, they looked about the same since the last time she saw them. Who knew they were back in town? It sure has been a long while, hasn't it? Time sure does fly by.
The Kurta took a step forward, a look of worry washing over his adorable face. "I-is he-… Please tell me he's okay!" It was hard to tell what this woman was thinking, because she's not the type of person to smile very often. So even when she gives out good news, you would never expect it beforehand. The uncertainty was just eating him up!
Cheadle's gaze saddened ever so slightly. "Leorio made it out of surgery, but I wouldn't necessarily say that he is 'okay'. His injuries were severe. Not only did I struggle to patch up a vital organ that caused him a great amount of blood loss, but he also suffered a few broken ribs that could have been very deadly, had it punctured a lung, or worse, his heart. And you already know the state his nose was in. I had to fix that up too. For some reason his back is all bruised up… So for the time being he is in stable condition, and will need to keep a close eye on him for the next couple of days," she explained.
Kurapika drew in a shaky breath, and held it in. Of course. What else did he expect? There was just so much blood all over him, that he couldn't see the full extent of all of his injuries. Here some of them were not even visible, so he never would have known otherwise. What the hell did that gunmen do to his boyfriend?! He grit his teeth as the anger began to rise within him again, finally letting the air he was holding in out. "I would like to see him. I.. I made a promise to be there when he woke up…" He said quietly.
Yes she was there when he made such a promise. And she didn't plan on depriving him of that, either. "Will it be just you, or…" She trailed off, looking at the other three who were still sitting in their seats. It was for the best if there weren't too many people in the room right now, but she also didn't want to deny another doctor's friends to come in and see him. This left her feeling torn.
Gon responded before anyone else could— flinging his hand up in the air to get her attention. "Hi Cheadle! Long time no see! But uh, we're just gonna wait here and give those two some privacy." It was the least they could do. If that were Killua in there, he wouldn't want anyone else lingering around. They just needed to be left alone for however long it takes.
"Gon…" The blonde whispered under his breath. That was very kind of him. As much as he wanted them all to be there for Leorio, he really did want some alone time. Guess the feeling was mutal.
"Go be with your man," Killua snorted. It really wasn't an issue to wait longer. If anything, they can take a walk around the hospital, and check out the cafeteria. If they wander off too far, then someone can just call one of their cellphones. It is not like they have anywhere to be.
Cheadle gave the two teens a quick wave, and then turned around. "Come on then. Keep in mind that he will be drugged up for a while, so please be patient with him." This was to prevent him from feeling any pain. And if that means making him a little whacky, then so be it. She would rather not see him in agony, and the others most certainly felt the same way.
Giving a slight nod, Kurapika followed after her. As if he would actually lose his temper over something like that. It isn't something his boyfriend will be able to control. Even so, there would be nothing to get mad at anyways. "If it makes him feel nothing, then good. I'm used to him being a dork on any other day as it is." Once the drugs stop, then it will only break his heart more than it already has. He honestly didn't want to think about that right now.
It was a huge relief to hear that. Everyone around here adores Leorio's goofy personality, too. If anyone were to dislike the doctor, it would purely be out of jealousy. What other reason would there to be? The guy is a saint! "Some of the staff members are mad that you 'stole' him from them. I don't understand why, because he never showed an interest in any of those catty women. The fact that he chose you must mean you're very special, so don't ever forget that. Make sure to take good care of him," she instructed kindly.
Kurapika threw a long stare at the doctor. His boyfriend wasn't some object that the women here owned. So if anything, they needed to get over themselves and move on. Clearly he is taken. Why was that so hard for some people to accept? It's not like he could have, or would have dated them all anyways. No matter who he would have chosen, there would have been an issue. "I will try my best," he responded. That was all he could guarantee. The entire hospital could hate him, and he wouldn't give a shit. All he needs is Leorio.
His soulmate.
"I'm counting on it." Cheadle slowed down as they approached a door at the very end of the hall. It was in a less busy area of the hospital, which was done intentionally on her part. There was no way she could just stick him in a room with someone else, or to be disturbed by loud noises from the other patients. A valuable doctor such as himself deserved the very best treatment! When they came to a complete stop, she hesitated. It really wasn't easy going in there, even for someone who sees this sort of thing every single day. It just hits differently when it is one of your own.
"If you need anything, just press the red button on the remote connected to his bed. You can also flip the channels to watch something else on the television with it. Otherwise he's all yours." She will need to come by at some point to check up on Leorio, but until then she was going to keep herself occupied with other patients. Who else was going to take his in for the time being?
"Got it. Thank you again, Dr. Yorkshire, for everything. You.. saved him…" Kurapika slowly reached out to grasp the doorknob in his hand, and turned it. And then after taking in a couple of deep breaths, pushed the door open to step inside. Once he was fully in, he made sure to close it behind him. The click that followed was loud—almost deafening, as he stood there. There were other noises too that he noticed right away. They were coming from the machines that Leorio was hooked up to. He had on one of those masks that must be helping him get in enough oxygen, and a couple of IV's going through both of his arms. All he knew, was that each one held a different purpose.
As he drew closer to Leorio's bed, his heart started to beat faster and faster—making him feel nauseous in the process. He pressed a hand into his stomach to try and ease the uncomfortable sensation. After having waited for so many hours to see him, he wasn't about to ditch, just so that he could puke his guts up into the toilet. No, he needed to push past this! It was one thing to see it all from far away, and another once you're so close like this. The details he hadn't noticed before were now absolutely shattering his heart all over again. As he hovered over his boyfriend's wounded body, he inhaled sharply. 'Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't.. cry…'
Small, wet droplets formed on the white bedding, as tears fell from Kurapika's face. "Oh Leorio—" His voice broke. Making sure to be extra careful, he grabbed one of his hands, and just held it in both of his own. His thumb lightly brushed over the knuckles, taking in the softness of his skin—the warmth radiating wonderfully from his palm. His fingers slipped in between the larger ones then, interlacing them together. From there he kept his hold on him firm. Yeah, this was nice. This only gave him more proof that he really was alive. He stared as his chest rose and fell, counting the seconds between each session. It seemed to be pretty normal in his eyes. However, it felt like as soon as he tears his gaze away to look at something else, then it will stop.
And it scared him.
"Leorio.. Leorio…" He just wanted to stare into deep, chocolate hues, all the while listening to his deep and soothing voice. Was that really too much to ask for? A sob ripped right through him all of a sudden. 'I shouldn't be so selfish. What matters is that he survived! So then why is it still not enough?! Why do I feel so devastated?!' A gasp slipped out without warning, as more tears began to stream down his flushed cheeks. His own eyes glowed Scarlet from the intensity of his emotions, but he simply paid no attention to it—had not a care in the world, over something he didn't have to hide from the person who he loved more than anything. To him they were nothing but beautiful "rubies".
"W-who.. did this to you? Just-… why?!" The Kurta cried out. In the end he didn't lose him, but at what cost? If he pulls his hospital gown up to sneak a quick peak, what will he be met with? Where exactly did the bullet enter? Was there an exit wound? If so, then where? Cheadle mentioned there being a lot of bruising on his back, and he has absolutely no idea what could have caused such a thing. Although, the mere thought left him horrified. He must have taken quite a beating in order to receive those. It had to of taken someone a lot stronger than Leorio to hurt him this badly. And that was actually impressive, because he alone is built very well.
Despite that, this person still would have stood no chance against his chains.
Kurapika was afraid to touch him anywhere else, for fear that he will only make things worse. It is hard when your significant other is hurt all over—his face, back, chest, and stomach all sustaining injuries. Some were just worse than others. The only plus side to this, is that he was no longer covered in his own blood. They somehow managed to clean him up real nicely, because there wasn't a stitch of it anywhere to be seen. "You didn't leave me behind. Leorio, thank you! T-thank you so much! I don't… know what I would have done, had I lost you too!" For hours on end he was forced into having to hold everything in, and so now that they were finally alone, it all came spilling out.
"Thank you," he repeated more quietly.
And then, out of nowhere, his hand was squeezed. It was weak—but enough to be noticed. This made him flinch instantly. Tear-filled eyes dropped to stare at Leorio, watching as his dark eyebrows scrunched together. Small grunts and groans could be heard coming from him, which was a given for someone just waking up from surgery. For the first minute or so he kept opening and closing his eyes—fluttering from both the bright artificial lighting, and still being under the effects of the anesthesia. The entire time Kurapika was on edge, holding his breath for what was about to come next.
Dry. That was the first thing to hit Leorio. It made trying to swallow difficult, and he desperately tried to wet his lips. His body felt so heavy. The lighting was almost blinding against the white walls and ceiling, and it took him a bit for his vision to properly adjust to it. Once everything came into focus, his gaze wandered about the room—taking in its familiar setting. He has been in these rooms a million times, so he knew where everything was. Judging by how everything was set up, he could even determine where exactly in the hospital he was located.
Only this time he wasn't the doctor, but rather, the patient.
His memory from before was a little hazy, but he could recall enough to know how he wound up here, and why. 'I made it.' Towards the end there when he was being wheeled off into the ER, there was a part of him that believed he wouldn't make it out of there alive. So when his gaze finally landed on the person standing at his bedside—holding his hand so tenderly in his own—his heart skipped a beat. That is when he remembered the words that had been said between them earlier, especially the ones from Kurapika stating that he would be here when he wakes up. Guess he made due on his promise, huh? Here he was just like he said he would be.
But he looked so sad, and there were teardrops rolling down his face. The Scarlet Eyes he usually finds to be stunningly beautiful, held nothing but pain and sorrow in them. There was no doubt about it—he has been stressing himself out to the max. Just how long was he under for? He pulled the mask off that was covering his mouth and nose, and cleared his throat. "Shhh. I-I'm.. okay now. Please don't.. cry…" He rasped. It wouldn't be wise of him to try and move, given how serious some of his injuries were. Not like he can feel a whole lot anyways. Everything was just sort of numb.
Kurapika silently leaned over to lightly touch his warm cheek, caressing his fingertips along the stubble as he pressed his lips against the doctor's—maneuvering himself in a way so that their noses weren't touching. He kept it quick and sweet. "Do not say that you're okay, Leorio, because you're far from it!" He said in a hushed whisper.
The doctor swept a gentle hand over his boyfriend's cheeks, trying to clear them of the tears that continued to fall. "I'm.. I'm sorry, K-Kurapika." The kiss was nice, and he appreciated the fact that it wasn't forgotten about. In all honesty though, he couldn't blame him for being so upset over this. If the roles were reversed, he would be a sobering mess too. But it didn't make seeing this any easier. What happened to him was traumatic to the both of them, and so they just needed to take this time to heal, and be there for each other.
"You were shot and terribly beaten! So no, you don't get to say that you're okay! I almost-… you almost…" His hold on Leorio's hand tightened, but not enough to cause any pain. Not that he would feel it anyways. You could tell that he was still out of it, but was trying his hardest to hold a conversation.
"You could have died. If it weren't for Cheadle, then…" He couldn't finish that sentence—absolutely refused to go there! The mere thought of his true love dying shot a pang right into his chest. Him surviving didn't change the fact that he is still suffering—which was something he couldn't get over. It made him wonder how long he was going to be stuck here in this bed for. There is no way he can go back home. They will have to physically throw the blonde out, which, good luck with that. If the gunmen returns to finish the job, then he needed to be here to protect him! He won't allow anyone else to lay a finger on him.
If they so much as try, then they are dead.
There will be no hesitation in murdering the person who did this.
Leorio was in good hands the entire time, that much he knew. Cheadle is a tough, strong, and stubborn woman. So of course she wasn't going to let him die so easily! They may not always get along, but that all goes out the window when one of them is hurt. A lot of the stuff that he has learned throughout the years came from her as well, not just his own boss. He owes her so much, and even more so now that she literally saved his life. "B-but I didn't. These.. wounds? They'll heal. I.. I get it's not easy, s-seeing me like this…" There were bandages wrapped snuggly around his chest, and he could only assume that something happened to his ribs. Why else would they be there? And if he can recall correctly, that Spider kicked him real good with his giant foot.
He brought Kurapika's hand over to rest against his chest, where his heart was beating steadily inside, and stared longingly into bright red eyes. "Feel that? I-I'm alive. And.. and I'm not going anywhere… Not until I get that future with you…" A faint smile played on his chapped lips when saying that. That was one thing he most certainly would not forget. It meant the world to him, after all.
Kurapika laid his hand palm-down against the doctor's chest, and spread his fingers out. Suppose this was another area on his body that he could touch without causing any harm. The feel of his heart thumping gently against his hand made him sigh in content. That did help a little. 'Ah. Our future. I said some things in the heat of the moment, but it just felt so right at the time. I would love to marry Leorio one day! But to bare his children? To give up my body for nine months, and go through an agonizing birth.. just to give him a family—to make us a family? I'm not even sure if I will make a good enough parent. What if I go through with it, and I don't bond with the baby? What if he or she won't love me?'
Since the father of said baby is a doctor himself, he would definitely have the easiest, most safest pregnancy at least. The thought of pregnancy in general just freaks him out. He is already uncomfortable with how his body currently looks, so surely that feeling will only intensify as it goes through the changes that come with carrying a growing baby for that long. 'But it would be Leorio's. I will essentially be carrying a piece of him inside of me wherever I go.' This thought gave him such a warm and fuzzy feeling, and his cheeks flush a lighter shade of red. Giving up his body sounds like it will all be worth it in the end, if it means being able to hold that cute baby in his arms. And really, it would be nice to have a family again—to have another Kurta he can relate to.
His gaze flickered up to meet with Leorio's once more. "Don't buy me anything too flashy, or gawdy. Just a simple band would do. And I prefer silver over gold. But if we are to get each other rings, I think gold would suit you nicely." It would be awkward for him to wear a diamond. Not only that, but they were also unnecessarily expensive. He didn't need something like that to prove his love for him. It was already ridiculous having to buy a ring in the first place, since they show their love for one another on a daily basis without them. But getting married is very important, and he wanted to become his husband—be known as Kurapika Paladiknight. The name rolled off of his tongue nicely, and oh how he couldn't wait to legally claim it.
He nervously bit his bottom lip, hesitating to continue onto the next part. "There's that extra room no one is really using. Guess that could be a.. a uh.. n-nursery. Depending on what.. gender it'll be.. we can paint the walls accordingly to that. But I swear if people try sticking me in a dress, I'm going to kill someone," he muttered. This was such a strange thing to talk about. Never in a million years did he ever expect to be in this position—discussing marriage and babies of all things. He was still trying to get used to the whole loving, and being in love thing. And now this was added into the mix.
This was indeed a different topic to talk about, but Leorio didn't mind. It was actually nice just laying there, and listening to everything that the blonde was saying. When he brought up possible wedding rings, his heart about melted. The silver would compliment his eyes beautifully—as the gold would also compliment his own brown ones. Despite them being a different color, they can still match in other ways. Yeah, this was an idea he absolutely loved. He will need to keep this in mind whenever he does decide to propose. It has to be memorable! But he knows better than to pop the question in front of a crowd of people. That just might get him murdered. Besides, who wants to be put on the spot like that anyways? He certainly would not like that at all. Talk about making things uncomfortable…
His smile grew at the mention of a nursery. That would be perfect! It is so close to their own room, so they would be able to keep a close eye on them. Before all of this, he never thought much about being a father. Now that the idea has been put into his head, he couldn't get it out. Having a family was always something he craved, and to be able to create one with his beloved boyfriend made him feel ecstatic. When he heard the bit about Kurapika being shoved into a dress, and how he would kill someone for it, he couldn't help but chuckle. Unfortunately what with some of his ribs being broken, and there being stitches in his abdomen, he felt an uncomfortable tug, and a slight twinge of pain because of it. "Ah! Shit, I-I shouldn't laugh.. Ugh…" He winced.
Concern filled the Kurta's eyes then. "Leorio? Are you okay?! Do I need to get Cheadle—" He was already in the process of reaching for the remote when asking this. It was lying right at his side on the bed, so it wasn't hard to miss. The television was turned off for the time being, so he probably didn't even know it was there.
"N-no! Kurapika, please, don't.. bother her over s-something like this. I'm fine. Just.. sore is all…" That is all it really was. Making someone as busy as Cheadle come all the way over here was just a waste, and will only irritate her. There is nothing else she can do for him right now, other than make sure he's doped up on enough pain medication—which was glorious, by the way. Without it, he would be writhing in pain. 'Okay, so try not to laugh until my ribs have healed. Damn that's gonna be difficult.' That is something he does a lot of, so how was he going to hold it all in for that long? This is going to be torture for him. Guess he will need to lay off of the corny dad jokes.
Speaking of which…
Leorio captured that delicate hand within his own once again, and brought it over to his face. From there he placed a kiss on the top. "You're.. actually serious about g-giving me a baby. A-are you sure? If.. if you really don't.. I know that things got a-a little scary earlier, so.. I won't hold it against you i-if you changed your mind. But, I'm d-definitely making you my husband. That.. you can't back out on…" He just wanted to give him an out before it was too late. This should be something that they both want.
It was nice of him to give Kurapika an out like that, but, he just couldn't take it. A fluttery feeling filled his stomach, and he stared down at their hands. "I'm not sure on a lot of things. If it were with anyone else, then I wouldn't have even offered in the first place. But because it is you, whom I love with all of my heart, and want to spend the rest of my life with, then.. I figure it won't be so bad making some sacrifices for the sake of our happiness. I would like to give you the family that you never got to have, Leorio," he murmured.
"And maybe.. I would like to have another family that I once had twelve years ago. I hate being the only surviving Kurta. As of right now I have no one to relate to. I want to sew my clan's attire for them, and pass down my native language. There are so many stories that my mother used to tell me at night while tucking me into bed, that have been passed down for generations. There is even a lullaby that I remember so clearly—one that my mother used to sing. It feels like just yesterday I was listening to her sweet voice putting me into a deep slumber…" Where has the time gone? That is what happens when you waste so much of it, trying to track down the people who slaughtered said family.
Wait, he speaks another language? His accent must have disappeared throughout the years. This seemed to really fascinate the doctor, as he was dating someone who came off as such a big mystery to everyone else. Hearing all of the things that he wanted to pass down to their future child, or children, made him smile warmly. Guess that settles it then. "Mm. N-no dresses. I will.. buy you all the comfy clothes you need.. Like my s-sweater you're wearing. It looks so nice on you…" Of course he recognized it. Once upon a time he wore that exact same one all the time. But after buying such luxurious suits, he shoved it aside and hasn't touched it since. It looks better on him anyways.
Now that he took the time to really look at Kurapika, he noticed that it wasn't just the overly-sized blue sweater making him appear so damn cute—it was everything! Part of his gorgeous blonde hair was done in two intricate braids, and wrapped around his head where it was tied off. On the right side rested a flower, that was nearly the same shade of red as the earring dangling from his ear. And the combination of those shorts and leggings really made his body shape stick out so much more. It was very pleasing to the eyes. 'I bet his butt is very shapely in them,' he thought with a blush. If only he could get him to turn around, and see for himself.
There was nothing wrong with admiring his boyfriend's body.
And, hopefully soon, he will have the pleasure of unwrapping him like a gift. How exciting!
"D-did you dress like that on purpose to surprise me? I could.. eat you up with how delicious you look." Leorio extended his arm to poke his tummy, and instead of laughing, resorted to letting out a snort. This is what he needed right now. Rather than being all sad and depressed over his current condition, he just wanted everyone to help take his mind off of things by making him smile, and giving him a good time. It was so much better for his mental health.
Has Kurapika ever explained how ticklish he was, and in that specific area? Or was it purely a coincidence, that he knew the exact spot to get a reaction out of him? Either way, it still caught him off guard. A giggle slipped out of his soft lips as he took a step back, wrapping both of his arms around his midsection. "H-hey!" How embarrassing. The heat was continuing to rise in his face, and he was pretty sure that his cheeks were now the same red as his earring that glistened against the lighting, and the tiny flower sitting comfortably in one of the braids.
"I was at the market when Cheadle called me, so sorry to burst your bubble. I didn't plan on coming here looking like this. Before Melody fixed up my hair, it was kind of a mess. Um, I'll make sure to wash your sweater right away. I should have asked before going through your clothes. I-it was wrong of me to do. I just-… I don't know, missed you?" His voice got incredibly low, as if feeling ashamed to say that last part.
Leorio's heart soared at the sound of his boyfriend's giggle. If he were any closer, he would sneak in another poke. He cracked a smile at his apology. "I-I don't care if you wear my clothes. Knock yourself out. If.. anything, my sweater looks better on you. Wish I could hold you in my arms…" They can still hug, but not like before when they would hold onto each other tightly. It has to be as gentle as possible. So even though it wasn't impossible, it still wasn't going to be enough.
"I missed you too. Always do when I'm at work. You have no idea how much our lunch dates mean to me. Getting to see you at the same time every single day gives me something to look forward to. It isn't about the food anymore. Hasn't been that way ever since I started fallin' for ya!" On the bright side here, it was getting easier for him to talk. He felt more awake, ignoring the fact that there were a bunch of drugs running through his system. It is going to suck once Cheadle cuts him off, and he will be left to deal with the lingering pain from his injuries all on his own.
For a moment nothing was said. Only silence followed. When Kurapika did finally respond, the tone in his voice became more serious. Long, delicate fingers were fidgeting with the sleeves of his sweater as he stood there. "Leorio, who did this to you? Did you get a name? Can you give out a description for a professional to draw, so that they can be tracked down? I just don't get why they would hurt you so badly like this. You have never done anything to deserve this! All you do is help people. So why?"
The doctor's smile turned into a frown. This isn't what he wanted to discuss—not after just getting out of surgery. There is no way he can sit here, and lie to his boyfriend's face. It took so much effort to gain his trust. Once that has been destroyed, there is no going back. "Not now, Kurapika." His voice was stern, as well as the look in his chocolate-brown eyes. He was not budging on the matter.
Kurapika flung his hands out in front of him. "And why not? The sooner we catch this person, the better! What if they're on their way to hurt someone else? Don't you want to prevent that from happening? Look at what they did to you. Not everyone is strong like you are!"
"I said no, and that is final. Trust me Kurapika, I understand where you are coming from. I would love to save the next person from becoming his victim.. But I highly doubt my statement will do anything to help." The police don't stand a chance against those Spiders. So even if he wanted to give a description, it would be pointless.
That just wasn't good enough.
Shaking his head, he drew closer to the bed. "You won't know unless you try! What about the cameras? I'm sure they have them set up all over this place. They might have caught footage of him entering or leaving. We could send them to the police, or maybe even—"
"Or maybe have you track him down?" Leorio cut in. It was very obvious that he wasn't having any of it, and just wanted this conversation to come to an end.
Kurapika almost gasped when being called out like that. How did he know? "L-Leorio, come on. You can't just expect me to let this guy walk around freely, after putting you in this condition. If I can just track him down and give him what he deserves, then he won't come back to do it again. Why is that so wrong?"
"That is exactly why I'm not telling you. God Kurapika, I thought you gave up that revenge crap when getting together with me. We were just planning our future, and yet you wanna run off and kill the guy who attacked me? Do you not see the wrong in any of that? You're supposed to be progressing forward, not backwards!" The words came out a bit too harsh, but he simply didn't care. He just needed to get through to him, and let him know what he was trying to do.
"…" How can he argue against that? Everything that had just been said was true. If he goes back down that path to vengeance, his heart will be shrouded in darkness like it was before. There was nothing to gain in murdering someone. Sure it might feel good in the moment, but that is it. His life has changed for the better, and he didn't want to ruin that by doing something so incredibly stupid, and damaging. Those words were tough to hear, but he appreciated them nonetheless. His gaze saddened tremendously when realizing what he had just done. As if he wanted to upset his wounded boyfriend, and especially over this of all things.
Kurapika reached out to place his hand over the doctor's cheek, softly caressing its warmth. When it comes to choosing a future with his soulmate, and seeking revenge, it really wasn't a hard decision to make. He just can't have it both ways, and that is something he has come to understand. "Please forgive me, Leorio. Of course I would rather spend the rest of my life by your side, and start a family together. I wouldn't give that up for anything. I just hate what they have done to you…" Was it really so wrong in wanting to hurt the person responsible for this?
In a way Leorio could see his point of view. But if he were to find out that it involved the Phantom Troupe, then he will probably lose his shit. The blonde has been trying to track them down for the past twelve years, so he most certainly would not let something like this slide. And he just can't lose him to that same darkness again—not when he has already made it this far. Maybe one day he will tell him, but not now. He just can't do it. His eyes slowly closed, and he leaned in to nuzzle the hand giving him such loving affection. "It's over now. What's done is done. Let's just move on from this, okay?" Staying mad at him just wasn't possible. Besides, he wasn't one to hold grudges anyways.
"Ahh—be careful! Your nose is broken!" Any other time Kurapika would have melted at the gesture. However for the time being, they both needed to be very careful. Since he is still under a lot of pain medication, he must not feel a thing, and that is why he forgot about it. It is going to be his job to remind him. He lowered himself to sit on the edge of the bed then, and sighed. Moving on from this is going to be a challenge, but he was willing to do it for him. As long as he is happy.
Oh. That's right. Earlier he fell flat on his face, and felt it break pretty badly. That is why so much blood came gushing out of his nose. Leorio lightly trailed his fingers over the bridge, and noticed that it was all bandaged up. That explains why it felt so weird. When he felt him sit down on the bed, his eyes wandered up at everything that he was hooked up to. 'Great. A catheter. How embarrassing…' Guess he won't be getting out of this bed any time soon, huh? Well he can barely move as it is, so how would he get up and walk to the toilet? This means he won't get to go back home for a while. He was already beginning to feel like such a burden. Now it was his turn to be taken care of. This is going to be such a weird experience for someone who always does the job of taking care of others.
Being a doctor himself, he knows that his healing process is going to take some time. That is why he felt so frustrated. Not only did a bullet rip right through him, but he suffered multiple broken bones in different areas of his body. He won't be able to really do anything on his own, and will have to rely on others for basic needs. And of course, he was worried about his own patients. What is going to become of them? Who will take over in his place? Most, if not all of them, are going to be so upset over this. He hasn't felt this weak and helpless, since Pietro fell sick and died. If in the wrong hands, then some might even die because of this.
That just didn't sit well with him at all.
When his gaze fell back to Kurapika, he smiled softly, and patted the empty space next to him. "Lay with me," he instructed quietly. If he is going to stay here, then didn't he need to be comfortable too? There was a chair at his bedside, but that will only give him back problems. There is no way he can fall asleep in that thing. Even if he does manage to do so, he will suffer the consequences. At least this way they can still be close to each other.
Blonde eyebrows furrowed at this request. Is he insane? Sure he can squeeze himself in if he lays on his side, but should he really do that? Their bodies would be pressed up against one another, and that might cause more harm than good. 'He's in such a fragile state right now. If I move the wrong way, it could hurt him more than he already is…' The main issue were his ribs. It is uncertain which ones needed to be patched up, but it's not like he could ask. Only Cheadle knows the answer to that question, and he wasn't about to bug her over something like that. She probably wouldn't be happy about this either, knowing her. "Yup. The drugs have turned your brain to mush," he muttered.
Leorio tugged at the sleeve of his navy-blue sweater, a pleading look in his chocolate-brown hues. "Kurapikaaaaa! I'm cold! Come keep me warm!" That wasn't a total lie. Hospitals are usually cold, and that is why they always offer up blankets that have been warmed up.
His eyes slid down to the doctor's arms, noticing that there wasn't a single goosebump in sight. "Uh-huh. Sure you are. It is going to take more than that to convince me," he responded in a huff. What did he expect? As if he was going to be fooled so easily.
Another tug at his sleeve. "I'm wrapped up pretty good, so you're not gonna hurt me. I promise. You would have to shove your fist into my side in order to do any damage, and clearly that won't be happening. This is coming from a guy who is a successful doctor, so please, trust my words." Being a patient doesn't take away all of his medical knowledge. He knows his limits better than anyone, even Cheadle.
Did he really just go there? If Kurapika denies the offer, then it will show that he doesn't trust his words, and that definitely wasn't the case. There really was no use in arguing with someone who knows what they are talking about, though. If he says he will be okay, then he really will be. There was no doubt about it. Despite all of this, it still made him feel nervous. He gulped, and shifted his body to face him better. "You really sure it will be okay? Because if it causes you any pain…"
"I would never lie to ya, Pika. Now get your butt over here!" His demand came out sounding more kind and gentle, as the smile on his face grew wider. Receiving such serious injuries didn't stop him from being his usual goofy self, and nothing probably ever will. He has everything a person could ever want in life, and then-some.
This is something Kurapika already knew. To lie to your significant other would only break their trust in you, and ultimately cause the relationship to fail. Silver eyes darted from that loving smile, to his hands as they rested in his lap. This was done for a good minute before making a decision. "If I hear one yelp, grunt, or groan, I am moving. You got that?" He wasn't going to tolerate inflicting pain on his own boyfriend, no matter the amount of it. It was already bad enough that the images from earlier will probably give him horrible nightmares. They might not happen now, but eventually when he is left alone to suffer.
Leorio's eyes glistened with tears, making them appear like liquid chocolate as he gazed at the blonde. "Got it," he whispered. That was a fair deal, wasn't it? His heart picked up with excitement at being even closer to him, and he lifted his arm up to make more room.
Some may say that having brown eyes is nothing special, but to Kurapika that was not true at all. This man right here owned such a beautiful set of them. They held a warm softness deep within, making it nearly impossible to look away at times—never judging, or holding any real hate. As he carefully switched to a laying position, he made sure to kick his boots off in the process. Not only will this make things more comfortable on his part, but he really didn't want to dirty the bedding. It was all-white, and would show all of the dirt underneath them. Not saying they were filthy, but still, he didn't want to chance it and add more work onto the staff.
And he certainly didn't want to make Leorio lay in a dirty bed.
After taking care of that, he let his head fall against the same pillow that his boyfriend was laying on. His hands gripped anxiously at the sweater he wore, since he didn't know where to put them. There really was no space left—their legs touching, and faces just inches apart. But he appreciated getting to see such a handsome man up close like this, and found himself staring with reddened cheeks. And when he felt an arm wrap around his much smaller body, he about melted. "Don't scare me like that ever again. I won't be able to take it," he mumbled.
Leorio plucked the flower from his hair, and brought it up to his nose to take in its scent. "I can't prevent another attacker from entering this hospital. But, we can hire more security in hopes that will help. The guy was a freakin giant, and that is the only reason why he took me down." Making empty promises was a huge no-no. As much as he wanted to guarantee that he will never get hurt like this again, it just wasn't realistic. He tucked the little red flower behind his ear instead of putting it back into the braid, and sighed. 'But I would give it my absolute all again if that is the case,' he finished in his mind.
That wasn't the answer he was hoping for, but he really couldn't ask for the impossible here. Kurapika leaned in closer—enough so that he could place a kiss onto the doctor's cheek. His lips lingered there, brushing against the short hairs that ran along his jawline. "I love you, Leorio. I love you, I love you, I.. love you…" He will say it as many times as need be, because oh did he deserve to hear it.
With each "I love you", Leorio could feel his heart fluttering more and more. It was hard to believe that not too long ago, he struggled to say those very same three words. Now they were coming out so effortlessly. His hand moved over to rest against the back of Kurapika's head, preventing him from pulling away quite yet. He wanted to soak all of this up for as long as possible. "You don't gotta say them all in one sitting. We've got a whole lifetime to use them up! But, I love you too. Always have."
Kurapika's eyes fluttered shut, as he rested his face into the crook of his neck. 'A whole lifetime with Leorio. It sounds like a dream, or some sort of fairytale.' This realization made his heart squeeze with joy, and he couldn't stop the smile that was now forming. Perhaps his love for him has always been there too—hidden behind denial and stubbornness, and his will to seek revenge on those who once destroyed his life. But no more. He won't allow them to take anything else from him. For the first time in twelve years, he was learning how to truly live again, and he never wanted it to come to an end. This was his family now.
"Our love is infinite, you dork," he mused quietly.