**Read note at the end of chapter**
The Kitchen Butlers rose before the sunrise each morning, and today was no different. Hisoka was among them, leaning on a wall waiting for the water for Illumi's morning tea, taking in the sights and smells of the kitchen. Everyone moved with a quickness, making the quiet hallways bustling with movement. Flashes of butler uniforms passed before Hisoka's sleepy eyes. They hurried here and there, meaningless people hustling to please their masters. He smirked at their simple obedience.
He observed them all for a moment too long, lingering on their movements. He knew they all knew how to use Nen. There was a young boy chopping vegetables nearby, his hand moving so quickly it seemed nothing more than a tan blur in front of him. Hisoka eyed him, the young boy even reminded him a little of Gon. Hisoka couldn't deny that his youth and his speed would make for an interesting fight should they come to blows. Such a shame his natural talents would be wasted upon something so trivial as cooking food. Most of the butlers Hisoka observed were astronomically good at performing whatever job it was that they did, but he could sense that their lack of combat would give him the obvious upper hand in a duel. Even Gotoh seemed weak. Taking one of them on at a time wouldn't be much fun at all. But taking them all on at once... that was a different thought altogether.
Hisoka was startled out of his thoughts by a sudden presence invading his space. He looked over to see Chrollo leaning on the wall next to him, his eyes moving over the bustling kitchen.
"You see their potential too, don't you?" Chrollo spoke first without breaking his stare.
Hisoka's brows furrowed at Chrollo, who didn't seem to notice. Hisoka sighed and crossed his arms as he returned his gaze to the other butlers. "I see pitiful sheep."
Chrollo scoffed at Hisoka's comment. "Sheep are not pitiful. And by the look on your face I know you were just calculating how many of them you could kill in order to get some kind of rush."
"I don't get my kicks from killing people, contrary to popular belief."
"That's a lie and you know it."
Hisoka shifted his weight to one foot. "I enjoy a good fight. One where the stakes are high. Something interesting. I thought you knew this already."
"All the same, you still enjoy killing. When you get riled up on the promise of a good fight, the only way to quell your thirst for blood is killing. It doesn't matter who. If you only enjoyed fighting, you would be satisfied besting the other person and being done with it. But you don't leave survivors. You enjoy killing them too much. You like to watch the life leave their eyes. You're a common serial killer."
Hisoka glanced at the wobbling teapot, then back to Chrollo. He cleared his throat and said, "You said sheep are not pitiful. What did you mean by that?" Hisoka asked, hoping to change the subject.
"Sheep are noble creatures."
Hisoka couldn't help but laugh. Chrollo smiled. "Laugh all you want. I know better."
Hisoka calmed himself after getting side glances from other butlers for his noise. "Ahem. Please explain. I've got to hear this."
"On their own, sheep are quite stupid. They'll run in circles following the sheep in front of them trying to get out of the rain. They are preyed upon constantly, and they can't be used to ride on like a camel or a horse."
"I thought you were making a case on why you think sheep are, and I quote, 'noble creatures,' not to talk them down."
"They depend entirely on the people who care for them."
"And that makes them noble?"
"Sheep are almost the aristocrats of the animal kingdom. They can't survive on their own, and they don't even know that they can't survive on their own. They're that stupid. They are a creature that inherently needs a shepherd, someone to guide them and feed them and sheer them when their wool becomes too burdensome. Their survival and happiness depend entirely on someone else. Once they have a shepherd, they don't need to worry about themselves. Once they have that, they have it made."
"What if their shepherd is evil and lets them die?"
Chrollo smiled. "Then a new shepherd must take control and guide them away from harm."
The teapot's whistle began to blow, and Hisoka lifted it off the burner as he listened to Chrollo speak.
"So then do you think these sheep need a new shepherd?"
"Unlike you, I don't see the butlers as sheep. I simply didn't want you to disrespect the animal as 'pitiful creatures,' as you put it."
"Then what do you see them as?"
"People." Chrollo smiled at Hisoka before stepping away, leaving Hisoka to his duty.
Hisoka scoffed quietly at the thought. Chrollo, the leader of one of the most ruthless international gang of theives who were responsible for the complete wipeout of clans and murder of countless others, would think to value human life.
Hisoka mumbled under his breath as he prepared a tray for Illumi's tea. "What game is he playing at?"
…...
Hisoka allowed himself into Illumi's room silently. Illumi was already awake and getting dressed. Prytania slept quietly with a fluffy pink sleep mask over her eyes.
As she breathed quietly, Hisoka observed as Illumi chose an outfit for the day. Hisoka knew without a doubt that Illumi could sense his presence in the room, but Illumi kept himself focused on his wardrobe.
Hisoka crept up close and leaned on the frame of the sliding door of the closet, studying Illumi.
"Morning," Illumi offered a hint of a smile.
"Hey." Hisoka's thoughts swirled. Last night, Chrollo revealed he had his Nen back, and threatened Prytania's life. Hisoka didn't care if Prytania died, but he knew she had to stay alive if Illumi was ever to have a life outside his family's grasp. Then there was the matter of this morning's exchange. Chrollo was being cryptic as ever, and he hated the way the other butlers seemed to know something he didn't.
"Hisoka? You okay?" Illumi approached Hisoka, but Hisoka's mind was still somewhere else. He didn't even hear Illumi call his name. All he could think about was Chrollo's words. Chrollo was clear and right about one thing, Illumi was his weakness.
"Hisoka?" Illumi stepped right in front of Hisoka, snapping him back into reality. Hisoka's eyes surveyed Illumi's face for a moment. He could tell Illumi was worried. Hisoka realized he'd been staring at nothing and saying nothing.
"Oh, sorry. Did you sleep well?"
"I should be asking you that. You're spacing out on me. Are you okay?"
"I..." Hisoka paused.
"Don't even think about lying to me." Illumi commanded. His black eyes squinted ferociously.
"My head's not on straight today. Sorry." Hisoka inhaled and broke eye contact with Illumi by staring at the impressive closet.
"Did something happen?" Illumi moved himself to meet Hisoka's eyes, even if he didn't want to. There was no escaping those unforgiving black orbs and their seemingly endless gape.
"Yeah, but it's nothing."
"What is it?" Illumi insisted.
"Probably just... staying with Chrollo again. It gets me antsy."
Illumi watched Hisoka closely for any sign of faltering in his speech. "You still want to fight him, don't you?"
"Y-yeah." Hisoka sighed.
"Well right now you can't. He doesn't even have his Nen back. So, don't worry about it."
Illumi's words stung Hisoka. He knew Chrollo had threatened Illumi if he said anything to him, but he was never the kind of person to actually be worried about a threat on another person's life. It was as if Chrollo suddenly had a hostage that Hisoka truly cared about. This had never happened before.
"Let me take your laundry." Hisoka grabbed Illumi's laundry basket, still in a daze. Illumi watched him with a concerned expression. Hisoka said nothing as he left the room.
…...
Chrollo was learning quickly how to be the ideal butler. With Amane back from her brief imprisonment, Tsubone resumed her work and began teaching Chrollo the basics of being one of the Zoldyck family butlers. At least for now, while Chrollo learned the importance of proper uniform upkeep, Hisoka didn't have to worry about Chrollo getting anywhere near Prytania. He decided that he would take Illumi's bizarre clothes to be laundered himself while deep in thought. He had pulled one of Illumi's crop tops out of the basket when he realized his position of power over Chrollo. He had been charged with his oversight after his initial training. All he had to do was keep him busy enough with chores. Hisoka smiled.
…...
Just as Hisoka had planned, as soon as Chrollo completed his training Hisoka put him to work. Every day, from dawn till curfew, Hisoka had Chrollo working hard. Even if there was a chore that another servant could do, Hisoka made Chrollo do it.
Gotoh and Tsubone had noticed this, but didn't mind one bit. They didn't like Chrollo at all, in fact, nobody seemed to like him. After three weeks, even the other servants in the house began to give him work to do. Chrollo would come back to the room pissed off at Hisoka, but all he did was glare at him each night.
Having grown tired of this, Hisoka sighed and glared back, saying, "If you keep looking at me like that you'll give me a boner."
Chrollo stopped his nightly stare-down with Hisoka after that. It didn't stop Hisoka from lying awake at night with his skin crawling and blood boiling. Chrollo was always there. Right across the room, sleeping soundly. Hisoka wanted to fight him more than anything. It was getting to be too much. He needed to kill someone. Anyone. At times he'd find himself staring over Prytania's sleeping body with a full intent to murder her as she slept, only for Illumi to calm him down.
The constant denial of satisfaction was driving Hisoka up the walls, but he tried not to show it.
It did ease Hisoka's mind that Kalluto left with the Phantom Troupe. Kalluto didn't have time to investigate Hisoka any further himself and left everything to Milluki - who Illumi "took care of," although Hisoka was not sure just how yet. But he worried it was only a temporary fix. If Kalluto came back and asked Milluki about it, he'd probably know something was up and suspect him further. He wondered if Kalluto was keeping communications with the family regarding this.
But Hisoka's main problem at hand was figuring out what Chrollo was up to while keeping Illumi safe.
Whenever Hisoka thought about Illumi, though, he knew Prytania was with him, trying to fulfill the contract that Illumi's family imposed on them. Hisoka hated every bit of it, and his general annoyance towards Prytania grew into hungry murderous intent.
He hadn't killed anyone in so long, and Chrollo was right there, day in and day out. Like a taunting siren, he'd diligently do his chores without much resistance. Chrollo was up to something, Hisoka could feel it. He didn't know yet what it was, but he was wary. He piled on Chrollo's chores as if it could give him any relief, but tormenting anyone was only ever fun if the victim showed their pain, and Chrollo knew better than to give Hisoka what he wanted.
…...
"Come on!" Illumi pushed Prytania off of him despite her protests. It had been three and a half weeks since the wedding and Illumi still wouldn't touch her. His excuse every night was that she was still recovering from being poisoned.
"Nope. You're still not better. You're feverish." Illumi crossed his arms.
"I am not!" Prytania's face was red as she spoke.
"Yes, you are, look at you. Your face is red." Illumi dodged Prytania as she jumped at him from the bed.
"It is not!" Prytania landed gracefully and quickly pounced towards him again.
"Is too." Illumi dodged her again with ease.
"I was better after a few days, Illumi! This has gone on long enough!" Prytania managed to jump up and wrap her arms around Illumi's neck, stopping him from running away.
"Get off me!"
"Either you decide to do this on your own or I get Hisoka involved!"
"Oh, and what is he going do to make me change my mind?"
"I don't fucking know but I'll get him involved!"
Illumi wiggled away from her, letting her land back on the ground from where she'd been hanging on to him.
Prytania huffed. "You know, the longer I'm not pregnant the longer you'll have to wait to leave!"
"Shut up, I know that."
"Then come on!"
"No."
Prytania was beyond frustrated. She grabbed the first thing her hand reached for- the lamp on the nightstand – and chucked it at Illumi. He dodged it easily, and as expected it crashed against the wall behind him.
"That's it!" Illumi walked over to Prytania and picked her up with her arms pinned to her side.
"Put me down!" Prytania wiggled. Illumi opened the door and pushed her out of the room. She stumbled forward and turned around as soon as she got her footing, ready to scream obscenities at her good-for-nothing contract husband. But just as she was face to face with him again, the door slammed shut. Just as her hand reached for the doorknob, she heard the lock click into place.
"God-fucking-dammit, Illumi! Let me in!" Prytania slammed her palm into the wood of the door. She could feel a familiar presence behind her and she sighed.
"Trouble in paradise?" The voice was Hisoka's, and it was as annoying as ever.
Prytania rolled her eyes as she turned around. "Shut it, clown!"
Hisoka stood in the hallway with his smug face holding a basket of laundry. He exhaled a short breath trying to calm himself. He wondered if Prytania could sense his bloodthirst.
Attempting to keep his mind off homicide, he decided to talk to her. "I think you may have come on a little too strong."
"I shouldn't have to be subtle! He knows what I'm here for!"
"Yeah, and how's that workin' for you?"
"Shut up. If I knew he was going to be this childish I would have just asked him to jizz in a cup."
Hisoka frowned. "He doesn't want to be with you. Can you blame him? I mean, look at you." Hisoka couldn't stop his words coming out of his mouth.
Prytania looked at Hisoka for a moment, slightly shocked, but after looking at his face for just a moment, she sighed. "Shut up. I'm not the problem here and you know it."
Hisoka's eyebrow twitched. "Then maybe don't act so eager?"
Prytania rolled her eyes. "Might I remind you that completing my end of the contract is literally life or death for me? And Illumi wouldn't have to be dealing with me at all if it wasn't for his parents so don't you try and turn against me."
Hisoka shifted. "Doesn't make it any less gross."
Prytania turned away from Hisoka to face the door again, ignoring his last remark. She exhaled and held her hands on her hips, looking the frame up and down as if somehow it would just open if she willed it hard enough. Hiskoa was amused for a moment seeing her red face huff at the closed door and the metaphorical wall between her and Illumi. He smiled thinking about how little Illumi had changed.
"Move," Hisoka said to the small angry woman as he walked over to the door and knocked on it. "Illumi. It's me."
There was a short pause before Prytania heard the click of the lock turning, followed by the door opening ever so slightly. Hisoka could see one of Illumi's big, round eyes peeking through the small crack between the door and the frame.
Illumi whispered to Hisoka, "Is you-know-who still there?"
Prytania pushed the door into Illumi and barged back in.
Illumi sighed, exasperated, as Prytania made her way into the room.
"I'm telling you I'm fine!"
"I don't care!" Illumi yelled. "I said no, I'm not ready."
"Ready? You're not ready? It's been nearly a month!" Prytania waved her hands as she spoke. Illumi looked on unimpressed.
Hisoka watched them argue with an amused expression. He couldn't help but think Illumi was adorable when he was annoyed.
Prytania huffed. "You know what? Fine. Take your time. I guess you must love living here in this god-awful mansion with your twisted family!"
Illumi shot her a dirty look. "Don't you dare speak ill of the very family you work for, woman!"
Prytania grit her teeth. The air in the room felt heavy. Hisoka and Illumi both glared at Prytania as she stood with her hands balled into fists.
After what seemed like years, Prytania unclenched and sighed. "Forgive me. I was wrong. Your family is the reason I even get a chance at life."
Illumi crossed his arms. "Look, give me some time alone with Hisoka and then we'll talk about it."
Prytania nodded slowly before grabbing a jacket from the closet and making her way out of the room.
Hisoka set the basket on the bed and began putting clothes away. Illumi sat on the bed next to where Hisoka was working and gave Hisoka a pouty face. Hisoka pretended to ignore it and took a stack of clothes to the closet to hang.
Illumi sighed loudly before Hisoka decided to say anything.
"You still haven't gone for it?" Hisoka spoke from the closet.
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"What? You know you have to fu-"
"I'm worried that... You might actually murder her."
Hisoka sighed. "That is... a possibility."
"More like an inevitability." Illumi mumbled.
Hisoka breathed. "It's just hard with Chrollo being around. I can't..." Hisoka felt himself shaking. He gripped the doorframe of the closet. He could hear Illumi get up from the bed and walk over. He looked up at his lover with weary eyes.
"She doesn't change anything."
"Why can't you try to convince the doctor to do-?"
"The family doctor, Dr. Ito, reports to my mother and father. She'd tell them."
"Then what if you just, you know, get a cup and-"
"That's so gross."
"It's less gross than letting you have sex with that woman!" Hisoka raised his voice. "I'm just. I'm not okay with this. At all. I thought I could be, but I'm not. I'm not okay with spending every night next to Chrollo while she's here in your room trying to get you to-"
"Wait," Illumi frowned. "Chrollo stays in your room?"
"Yes. I thought you knew that."
"You two were at each other's throats when we lived in your apartment and you at least had your own separate rooms. How the hell are you managing?"
"It's not that bad. We scrape by."
"Hisoka!" Illumi whined.
"Look, I don't trust Chrollo for a second. We still don't know what he's doing here and it's easier to keep an eye on him this way."
Illumi walked back over to the bed to sit down. He held his head in his hands and sighed.
Hisoka sighed too, looking at Illumi fondly. "I wish I could take you away from here. Right now."
Illumi looked up at Hisoka from where he sat at the edge of the bed. "Don't get my hopes up. You know we can't leave yet. My family would never stop trying to get me back."
"I know... I just hate that you're so miserable." Hisoka sat down next to Illumi and wrapped his arm around Illumi's waist.
"We don't even get to talk that much nowadays." Illumi whined.
"Yeah, I know. I miss you." Hisoka rested his head on Illumi.
Illumi looked at Hisoka. A thought crossed his mind and he grinned.
"What is it?" Hisoka couldn't help but smile with Illumi, even if he didn't know yet what he was grinning about.
"You know what I miss?"
"What?"
"I miss waking up with you."
Hisoka remembered waking up with Illumi. He remembered the morning before Hisoka left for Greed Island, and he remembered being embarrassed because of his bedhead.
"Yeah? I thought you hated that."
Illumi ran his hand up Hisoka's back. "No, I miss it. I even miss your snoring."
Hisoka laughed. "Not everyone can sleep like the dead like you can."
"False. I sleep stealthily, as an assassin should."
"An assassin should this- an assassin should that. You really haven't changed much since you moved in with me."
"I think I've changed a lot."
"You sure have." Hisoka looked at his boyfriend's face. It was true, he had changed. Illumi no longer pretended to be nothing more than a cold machine. He was softer, easier to read. At least, when it was just the two of them.
"Yeah, you have. You let your emotions show more often."
"Hopefully, only to you. I'd hate to show any weakness in front of my family."
"Yeah, well your family is... different."
"Assassins are... my family trained us to be very cold and unfeeling. They have their set of rules and their principles. You don't ever show emotion."
Hisoka pondered for a moment, putting a hand on his chin before looking and smiling at Illumi. "You know, they might have told you that to protect you from getting attached to people, but they show emotion too. They are people, after all."
"What? Them? People? Hardly."
"Your family- Your dad and your grandfather. Especially your mother. They all express what they're feeling in one way or another."
Illumi thought about how over the top his mother was all the time.
"She hasn't always been like that."
"Oh?"
"She used to be as cold unfeeling as they come. Don't get me wrong, she can still kill without even blinking, but she used to be more stoic. I noticed that she was excited when she had Killua. He was always her favorite."
Hisoka eyed Illumi's profile as he spoke. It was the first time he'd heard him really talk about anything regarding his childhood.
Illumi continued. "I think it wasn't until Killua started acting up. All his talk of friends and life outside these walls really put her mind somewhere else. She's always been so in control of everything that we did. When he left, I think she felt like she was losing control of everything, even if she was still proud of him for doing what he wanted. She started having these tantrums. It's been that way ever since. If anything doesn't go as planned she loses it."
Hisoka nodded. "You know, I think it runs in the family to be a little possessive."
"Yeah, you could say that." Illumi half smiled.
Hisoka watched Illumi's expression carefully, sensing pain in it somehow.
"My father's range of visible emotions tend to be anywhere from slight discomfort to contempt. He gets angry, but he doesn't let it control him. He's always been able to keep a level-head."
"He's a good leader."
"Yeah. That's why I'll never be the heir."
"Hmm?"
"My father chose Killua to be the heir over me or Milluki because of the flaws in our ability to stay focused."
"What about Kalluto?"
"It's the same with Kalluto. My father thinks none of us value human life enough. Kalluto may have been too young when my parents chose Killua, but Kalluto has proven to be just as bad as Milluki and me."
"That's probably true."
"Yeah, but it still hurts when your own father knows you're insane and can't be trusted."
Hisoka sighed. "If it helps, all the best people are crazy."
Illumi laughed "That means jack shit coming from you. You're just as bad as me if not worse."
"Hey, now."
Illumi stared at Hisoka. He loved that Hisoka's presence was comforting somehow. It wasn't just heated tension, although there was much of that. But Illumi truly felt at ease.
"What was your family like?" Illumi watched Hisoka's expression flinch, as if he'd hit a nerve.
"They- uh. Well I..." Hisoka stumbled on his words nervously. He calmed himself, remembering that it was Illumi he was talking to. If anyone would understand, it would be him. "My family wasn't really a solid unit. I was born in Meteor City. Everyone was out for themselves, so they didn't care about me. Understandably so, I mean who has time to feed a brat? My father was really strong. He would fight and win money for himself. My mother was the only person strong enough to fight him and win so we could get enough to get by. They never killed each other, which I thought was odd. They killed everyone else, just not each other."
"Do you think they loved each other?" Illumi posed his question carefully.
"I... I don't know. Maybe. They knew that they were pretty evenly matched. It was always a thrilling fight to see. It was like watching two Lions go at it. And they knew each other well. They each knew the other person's fighting style so well that it was almost a draw every time, but they always ended the fight before they killed each other."
"What happened to them?"
"They were killed."
"Who killed them?"
Hisoka frowned. "You'll laugh."
Illumi's mouth stretched in a slight smile. "I won't, tell me."
"I killed them."
"That's not surprising in the least."
"I just got tired of their endless fighting and no resolution. I wanted to see who would win if they actually tried."
"But now you'll never know for sure."
"Quite the opposite. I know for sure they would have both died. They were strong, sure, but they couldn't even kill their own offspring. They let their emotions get the better of them both and didn't finish the fight. They let themselves be killed. They were equals to the end."
Illumi frowned. "And what about us?"
"What about us?"
"Do you think we let our emotions get in the way of killing each other?"
Hisoka scoffed. "We are far more rational than my parents ever were."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because we're actually together and we know how we feel. We already know we don't want to kill each other because we'd rather be in love. My parents were clueless fools stumbling at the edge of their emotions, trying desperately not to give in to them when they should have given in to them at full force, not half-heartedly like they did."
Illumi kissed Hisoka gently. Hisoka's face flushed pink.
"Maybe emotions aren't so bad." Illumi said, his face a beautiful hue of red.
…...
Chrollo scrubbed the cold white marble floor in a ballroom. He hated the castle. He hated the mixture of traditional Padokean themes and furniture mixed with the castle architecture. As he scrubbed, he wondered if this would all be worth it. He heard small footsteps approach him. He sat up straight and rested on his knees. Amane stood before him with her hands at her sides.
"Amane, angel!" Chrollo smiled sweetly. "Where you able to find anything?"
"N-no..." Amane looked over her shoulder carefully.
"That's okay, sweetie. You are trying, right?"
"Yes, I am... It's just..."
"What is it?"
"After what happened... I don't want to do this anymore. What if I get caught? Then they'll really-"
"Amane." Chrollo stopped Amane's rambling with a strong voice. "You agreed to this. The Zoldycks need to pay for what they put you through. You thought they were really going to kill you."
Amane could feel tears swelling up at the thought of it.
"No, shush, don't cry." Amane let out a soft sob, and Chrollo quickly dried his hands and wiped her tears. "Remember what they made your grandmother go through. No person should have to beg for the life of their grandchild. The Zoldycks need to pay. Help me with this, and I'll bring them all down."
"B-But if I get caught-"
"Do you think I wouldn't protect you? Do you think I'd sell you out the same way Illumi's new wife did?"
"N-no..."
"Then what are you afraid of?"
"Alluka... If her power gets out, a lot of people will die."
"Of course, that's why I'm trying to save her. I'll take her away from all this so she can be somewhere where she'll be happy and she won't hurt anyone. I'll take her away and I'll get you and your grandma out and together we'll expose everyone in this castle for who they really are." Chrollo held Amane's tiny face in his hands. "We'll show everyone that they're monsters. Monsters who kept their own child in a cage for most of her life and almost killed a little girl for speaking about it."
Amane nodded and Chrollo hugged her. She wrapped her small arms around him and took a comforting deep breath. Once she was calm, he released the embrace.
"No more tears. There are only good things to come from here on out."
...
...
Hisoka had Illumi bent over the counter which led to his tub. It had been a whole week since they'd actually gotten the chance to fuck, and Prytania still wasn't back yet. It didn't take them long to start groping each other behind the locked door of Illumi's bedroom, as if they'd never touched each other before. They were in the tub, and the steamy hot water made Illumi's skin blush a soft pink all over. Hisoka savored every inch of Illumi's skin.
Illumi knew how to arch his back so perfectly for Hisoka to see his pretty ass. Hisoka gripped his lover's butt, he missed it so much he almost didn't believe it was real. His other hand was two fingers deep into Illumi, stretching him and preparing him with a slick lubricant. He wanted to be inside Illumi already, but he couldn't resist savoring each moment.
He pulled his fingers out slowly and Illumi moaned. Illumi gasped as he felt Hisoka's warm, moist tongue against him. His finger clenching into fists, he wished he had something to cling onto. Hisoka's tongue swirled, and Illumi's mind floated somewhere else, a higher tier of existence. He felt Hisoka move away, and Illumi remembered how to breathe.
"Fuck-" Hisoka groaned out, his dick was hard and dripping against Illumi's hole, ready to enter. Illumi whimpered and pushed back against Hisoka, hoping somehow, he could will himself onto Hisoka. Illumi's own erection was untouched thus far, and he found himself gently thrusting into the water, unconsciously searching for some kind of friction. Hisoka noticed and grinned. He smacked Illumi's ass.
"After only one week of no dick and you're already like this? What a slut." Hisoka teased Illumi by rubbing his tip on him, making him shiver.
"Shut up! Just fuck me already." Illumi spoke in between harsh breaths, and his desperation stroked Hisoka's ego in all the right ways. Hisoka grabbed a fist full of Illumi's long, thick hair and pulled his head back just enough so Hisoka could come in close and whisper into his ear.
"Let me hear you beg for it."
Illumi scratched his nails along the marble, frustrated beyond logic and looking for anything to grab onto. "Fuck me."
"What's the magic word?"
Illumi inhaled and closed his eyes. "…. Please." Illumi mumbled out.
"What's that?"
"Fuck me, please!" Illumi spoke louder this time. Hisoka grinned and pushed his tip into Illumi. He groaned and bit his lip watching his dick stretch him open. Illumi's mouth hung open and he moaned out loud.
"M-more …" Illumi gasped out his words, trying to remember to breathe.
"Not yet." Hisoka stroked his lover's back, soothing him. When Illumi's breaths were calmer, Hisoka pushed further in.
"God-fucking-dammit fuck me please!" Illumi whined. Hisoka couldn't help but notice the way Illumi cursed was now more similar to how Prytania cursed. Every word had echoed against the bathroom walls, and in his gut he hated her all the more.
Without warning, Hisoka pushed himself into Illumi. He gasped.
"Breathe." Hisoka moaned, and Illumi looked back at him with half-lidded eyes. Hisoka met Illumi's stare, still in awe at the things this man could do to him. Illumi swiveled his hips and moaned, leaving Hisoka in a daze. Hisoka finally got a grip and began to pull out of Illumi and thrust back in, Illumi meeting every thrust with a moan. Hisoka grabbed onto Illumi's hips, steadying them as he picked up the pace.
It felt so good. Too good. Hisoka's mind already felt fuzzy, He fucked Illumi thoroughly and hard, biting his lip and digging his fingernails into Illumi's sides. He liked the pretty red marks he left on Illumi's skin. He loved the way Illumi's back looked under him. He petted his lover's lovely skin with a slow stroke of his fingertips, and Illumi arched into the touch like a cat. Hisoka leaned forward and reached around at Illumi's dick, lightly stroking it. Illumi shuddered, it was all so much.
Hisoka placed his palms on either side of Illumi and leaned forward. "You feel so good," he whispered. Illumi whimpered, it was the only response he was capable of at this point. It warmed him to know that he brought Hisoka pleasure.
Illumi knew when Hisoka was close. His rapid pace losing control of any kind of pattern, and hit grunts gave it away. Hisoka pulled out, stroking himself so that he came on top of Illumi. Illumi felt the warm liquid on his back and in his hair. He felt Hisoka's hands scooping him up as he guided him to sit up. The cold touch of the marble against his back made Illumi shiver. Hisoka kissed him long and just right. Not too hard, not too soft. Illumi watched the golden eyes looking up at him as Hisoka got down on his knees to suck him off. Illumi exhaled slowly, letting his head lazily rock back as he felt Hisoka's warm mouth around him.
"Fuck..." Illumi moaned out. Hisoka moaned, and the throaty vibrations felt wild to Illumi. He'd been missing this, Hisoka's tongue dancing across Illumi's tip and the skill at which he bobbed his head. Illumi found both his hands fisted up in Hisoka's dyed hair.
"Hiso- Hisoka!" Illumi gasped out. Hisoka moved quicker, and the sounds of his obscene work drove Illumi closer to the edge.
"Ahh... Ah!" Illumi came, blushing red at the sounds he just made. Hisoka's brows furrowed, taking Illumi's load as much as he could and drinking it in, but he loved Illumi's expression. Illumi's mouth gaped open, staring at the cum dripping at Hisoka's lips, everything he couldn't swallow overflowing into the water.
"Fuck you're beautiful." Illumi whispered.
"What?"
"I said fuck you."
"You want to go again?"
"...Give me a few minutes."
…...
Illumi and Hisoka had cleaned themselves up, and Illumi began to get redressed. Hisoka was taking a shower in his bathroom.
There was a knock on the door, followed by a little voice. "Illumi? It's me, Prytania."
Illumi slipped on his robe. He was already wearing pants, but he hated to be any kind of naked around Prytania for fear that she'd pounce. He walked over to the door and opened it, letting Prytania in.
"Is Hisoka here?"
"He's in the shower."
"Oh. Okay."
Prytania and Illumi stood in silence for a few agonizing seconds.
"Hey, Prytania, I'm sorry about all this. I know you hate it. I hate it, too."
"Y-yeah. And I'm sorry for being too much."
Illumi nodded. Hisoka stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Oh, it's our very own Pretty Princess Prytania!" Hisoka smiled his fox-faced smile.
Illumi frowned, and Prytania looked away from Hisoka. "Sorry I didn't know I was interrupting anything."
Hisoka chuckled. "I don't think Illumi would have let you in if we were in the middle of-"
Illumi cleared his throat. Hisoka nodded. "….an activity."
Illumi's eyes seemed to nearly fall out his skull from rolling them so hard. Hisoka scoffed "It's not like she doesn't know what we do."
Prytania coughed. "I'm just gonna... Use the restroom." Prytania walked into the restroom and shut the door behind her.
"Is fucking all they ever do?" She mumbled to herself. She looked into the mirror. Her father would call her every so often, asking if she'd had success completing her task. Every time she told him no, he'd yell at her saying other girls could seal the deal after the first night. She had avoided the entire topic of Chrollo to her father and her episode of being poisoned on her wedding night, which would have been a pretty solid reason for not doing it then, but she kept that detail to herself. He told her to call him once she was pregnant or had found some useful information for him. She sighed.
She could see in the mirror that the tub filled with water behind her. She peared over it curiously. By the looks of things, her contract husband and his gay serial killer butler lover clown had done it in the tub and forgot to drain it.
"Gross it probably has-" Prytania stopped herself mid-thought. What if Illumi came in the tub? Prytania was suddenly faced with a question of her own sanity.
"Am I insane? Am I really about to harvest this man's baby gravy from a bathtub? Would it even work? How would I even..." Prytania's mind raced.
Illumi knocked on the bathroom door. "Prytania? Did you fall in?"
After a moment of silence, Prytania opened the door. "Sorry. I just drained your bath. It was still full." Illumi peeked behind Prytania and could hear the sound of the tub draining.
Illumi coughed. "Oh, uh- did you put your hand in the tub?"
Prytania cleared her throat. "Yes. How else am I supposed to drain it?"
Illumi looked at Prytania in disbelief. "Nothing. Nothing's wrong with- with putting your hand... In the bathwater." Illumi's expression confirmed to Prytania what exactly was in the bathwater.
Illumi stepped away from the door to let Prytania back into the main part of Illumi's bedroom.
"So, what are you two doing today?"
Illumi answered, "We were just about to go to the family's information room. I wanted to check on current jobs."
"Jobs?" Prytania asked.
"Assassinations. We get incoming files and decide which ones to take." Illumi answered with a calm expression.
"Oh. You haven't taken any since I arrived so I assumed you wouldn't at all."
"Well it's the one thing I can do to get off this mountain. But I have to take Hisoka with me as Hiro and then he reports back to my mother."
"She thinks Hiro is her spy for you?"
"That's why I'm allowed so close." Hisoka smiled. Illumi almost laughed at the irony.
"Well, alright. I'll be here then."
Illumi nodded. He had finished getting dressed into a frilly purple long sleeve and dark green pants. Hisoka was wearing his butler's uniform as usual. She was glad that at least one of them didn't look ridiculous, although not by choice.
The pair left the room. As soon as enough time had passed that she knew they'd have cleared the corridor that led to Illumi's room, Prytania crept out and headed for the infirmary.
…...
Hisoka and Illumi walked down the halls of the mansion in upmost discretion. Illumi would always walk ahead of Hisoka, and Hisoka, posing as Hiro, would walk behind him at a respectful distance. It was the case most of the time that while they were outside Illumi's room, they behaved as only Butler and Master. Nothing more, nothing less.
Hiro wasn't allowed into the family's information room, where Illumi chose several jobs to keep him occupied for at least a week. He was hesitant about taking a longer assignment, due to his concern regarding Chrollo's activity. As soon as he had his files he and Hisoka went back to his room.
"Prytania's not here." Hisoka commented.
"She's probably on a walk somewhere." Illumi packed a small suitcase for himself. "You should head back to your room and grab the things you need. We'll leave tonight."
"Tonight?"
"No offense to Prytania, but I don't want to spend another night in bed with her."
"That's fair, but why the sudden trip? With Chrollo here and all-"
"Chrollo is exactly why I want to get us out of here. At least for a week."
"Why?"
"I can't have you killing Prytania or one of the butlers."
"I wouldn't-"
"You would. So, we're going away, and you're going to help me kill some people."
"Some?"
"A lot of people."
"...Are they strong?"
"Mostly sleazy politicians and mob bosses."
Hisoka pouted. Illumi shut his suitcase. "There will be strong people too."
"Oh?"
"One of the mob bosses is heavily guarded at all times. He's surrounded by twelve guards at all times, and they're all Nen users."
"You could take care of them yourself if you wanted to, right?"
"This job actually requires two people. If his guards are under attack then the target will have time to escape. I can't let that happen or we won't be getting paid."
"Can I kill them?"
"Of course. Can't have any witnesses."
Hisoka's mouth curled into a sickly grin. Illumi shooed him away to his dorm so he could go pack.
It was still early, Chrollo hadn't come back yet. Hisoka gathered his set of clothes he had brought with him when he applied to work here, a second uniform, his toiletries, undergarments, and his spare deck of cards. Before stepping out the door, he took a look at himself in the mirror. His black hair really made him look like something else. He didn't look at all like himself. The butler's uniform didn't help. He glanced over at the suitcase, and then to Chrollo's bed. He was going to need to talk to Gotoh.
.…...
The mountain air was cold, even if it was still the summer. Hisoka wondered how cold this place got during the winter, since it was a mountain and all.
Illumi met him at the beginning of the path that led down the mountain.
"I spoke with Gotoh about Chrollo."
"What did you say?"
"I told him to keep a close watch on him."
"That goes without saying."
"Still doesn't hurt to say."
Illumi shrugged. They made their way down the mountain, passing Canary on the way. She bowed respectfully as they passed and paid her no mind.
Leaving the mountain behind and stepping out of the gate felt more freeing than Hisoka believed it could be. The air felt different in his lungs. There was no one to report to, no one to look out for. He breathed in the light air and sighed.
"Is this how it feels every time you leave the mountain?"
"Every single time."
"Why do you ever bother going back?"
Illumi walked forward, not answering Hisoka's question. "We have work to do."
...
Chapter 18, Fin.
Author's Note:
I haven't been dead, I've just been reworking this chapter for way too long lol.
Let me know what you think!
I appreciate you all reading! I know that it's been a while.
EDIT: I changed a few minor things because I suck and forgot to edit hence the update.
****Bonus for your troubles:
Hisoka and Illumi approached Illumi's car. They walked in silence towards it, still not far enough away from the mountain to be completely comfortable. Illumi opened the trunk with his car remote and held his suitcase out for Hisoka to take.
"I'm not your butler out here, you know."
"Just take it to the trunk."
Hisoka reached his hand out to take the bag, but as soon as Illumi let go of the weight, Hisoka realized he vastly underestimated the heaviness of it. He nearly dropped it, but was able to readjust to the weight difference.
"Sheesh, Illumi what the hell did you pack?"
"Just the essentials."
"Such as?"
"You'll find out."
Bonus, Fin~