Leorio finally finds the time to pull Vastorie aside, what he doesn't expect… is for Kurapika to be listening, but side with the man.

"I have several bones to pick with you!" Leorio let out a loud, annoying huff.

This was one time that Vastorie wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between being excited and angry, if it weren't for the incessant arguments he was forced into on a daily by the younger, older looking man.

Leorio should be looking after his health and figure; rather than dealing with outside, unmoving forces. He was dealing with a situation he shouldn't be forcing himself into, to change an outcome that would only shatter the relationship between his brother and himself.

Vastorie has seen families break up for less. "You'd have to get in line, honestly… I'm a vulture's worst nightmare, picked dry." He opened his hands if delivering a powerful, mind blowing speech, in a dry sarcastic tone.

Kurapika had already overheard the argument start from a mile away, but it was only Leorio's side ever. He was surprised that no neighbours complained, or nearby glass shattered whenever Leorio's booming voice echoed along the walls.

What he wanted to find out, is what exactly did Vastorie say to Leorio's brother. He quietly dissolved into the surroundings, leaning against the wall where Vastorie and Leorio stood, arguing over something that happened days ago. The issue should've been solved the right after Leorio's call. But instead, here he was, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, within earshot of their conversation.

"You casually told my brother how to bottom with my best friend…"

"Or how… Your best friend could bottom for your brother. Let's not assume here."

"You don't know Gon!"

"Son of Ging Freecss, wears green like a fashion statement. Considered a loveable, bubbly personality by all; friends with you, Kurapika, Killua and my son, including many others, which would only dry out my throat. Am I missing anything…?"

"Yeah! He's his own person…"

Vastorie quirked an eyebrow, "As is everyone else. Something you seemed to be ignoring the whole time. Or is your skull so thick, you momentarily forgot that you own brother is also his own person. Let him be banged or bang whoever he likes, as long as it's consensual."

"That's beside the POINT."

"I see it as the main point, within this context." Vastorie gestured with his hands, slipping a finger between a circle he made between two fingertips, "if you catch my drift."

"You're disgusting."

"Among many things…"

"You refuse to apologise for the whole scenario, including, putting me into a position where I am forced to explain the key parts you totally ignored."

"I hit all the key points, in a rather blunt manner. What else would you like me to explain? How to give good head…?"

"Take this seriously!"

Vastorie sighed, "I can't when everyone on this continent now knows what your brother is doing behind closed doors."

Kurapika stepped in, "He's right."

"Not you too!"

"However, Leorio is just as right in this situation."

"HA!"

"But…" Vastorie crossed his arms, waiting for Kurapika to shut them both down.

Kurapika rubbed his temples, Vastorie's ability to predict a conversation is unnerving at times. How he was able to do it, would've come from years of experience, being constantly forced into situations of various degrees. "You're both yelling over each other, telling yourselves how you think the right situation should run, without listening to each other's side."

"Oh, I'm listening…" Vastorie deadpanned, "It's all I can really do at this point."

"Sarcasm will only get you so far," Kurapika without anger, a finger being directed towards Leorio, "AND YOU, some of us have other work to do! The night offers us the best time for ourselves, including the solace of not being interrupted every two seconds for an update, to a threat outweighing… coitus…"

"So…" the young blond teen looked between both participants, "let's be civilised and get to the bottom of this mess." He crossed his arms, impatiently tapping his food against the marble floor.

The two explained their side as Kurapika listened. He honestly didn't think he'll be choosing sides, but here he was, about to pick the worst offender's side over his friends, "I'm sorry, but Vastorie was right; wrong on the delivery but right in the situation."

"You too… DAMN I-"

Kurapika held out his hand to silence his friend, "You should've spoken to your brother in a civilised tone. Treat him like how you'd want to be treated in this situation. Sure, knowing Gon and Sakura's sexual adventure wasn't on my to-do list, but you're the one working towards his medical degree."

"Fine…" Leorio huffed in annoyance, "But, sex-Ed was not the original goal for why I wanted to complete my medical degree." Leorio wary of the situation, hoping that Kurapika wouldn't say 'I know'. He didn't want Vastorie to find out the reason as to why, considering his tract record right now was dismal, "Besides, a few years wouldn't kill anybody…"

"Forced abstinent does…" Kurapika spoke softly, unable to believe he was about to launch into this conversation, "if not physically, at least mentally. Don't question where I learned about that… it's not a topic I'd want to be propelled into. As for your comment about dying, think about the possible mistakes. Unwanted pregnancy, STDs, just to name a few…"

"Gon and Sakura, from my understanding, is male."

Kurapika crossed his arms, "from what I've heard Sakura is Trans-male…"

"Intersex, actually…" Leorio rebuffed, cheeks puffed out proudly for knowing something Kurapika and Vastorie didn't know, "However, I didn't ask for the deets, it's too private for me to ask and know. But I spoke about it from a medical side, as if Sakura could get pregnant. So, yeah…"

Vastorie shifted slightly, "Let's go back to something Kurapika said earlier: Forced abstinence. Picking the two most affected people in this situation, Killua and myself-"

"I really don't want to hear about your sex life or Killua's for that matter." Leorio argued with a glare, "One friend is enough."

"My sex-escapades weren't really on discussion here. We were stunted as kids, and perceive the world from a different angle. Kurapika would see the world from my view as well."

"Unfortunately, yes…"

"Death is a bookmark in our lives." Vastorie twirled a finger out towards Leorio, "where as you see it as an avoidable crisis; at least, from a medical view. What I'm trying to argue…" He shifted his posture once more, leaning onto one foot, "is we didn't have the freedom to explore ourselves, what we want to do with our lives… at least, not until we were introduced to the right person. You think it's possible to understand love, when we were taught love comes at a price; that being the price of other's lives. No, it's not feasible…"

The man let out an annoyed huff, crossing his arms as he spoke softly "Killua would've learned it from Daniel and Gon. I, on the other hand, learned about it…" reminiscing on his past, he unconsciously allowed a sincere smile to escape "when Nathaniel stepped into my life."

It showed a side of the man neither of them were expecting to see, one that made it start to question why he was hiding behind this wall of emotions, blocking them off whenever they brought his family into the conversation.

He was being genuine about how much Nathaniel meant to him, at least, from their view.

As quickly as the man smiled, his expression furrowed. It was as if that 'smile' never happened, "Which Daniel would've learned from Nathaniel, not me. I couldn't honestly explain love… Without saying someone needs to die for it, considering the current circumstances. With my son, he'd probably say something cliché: Warm fuzzy feelings… or something to that degree. Nathaniel is a sap when it comes to these kinds of things."

Kurapika chimed in, "Gon would probably explain it as unyielding affection. He is that kind of person… to be super giddy, bubbly. He made all of us happy when we travelled together. So, I can see him devoting all his time to making someone personally happy."

"Multiple actually…" Leorio sighed when he was met with a raised eyebrow from Kurapika, "Gon is Polyamorous and Pansexual."

"Oh, I had a feeling. Last time I heard he was with Sakura. You mentioning your brother only cleared up the facts. So, is…?"

"Iason…"

"Is Iason happy?"

"Clearly," Leorio sighed, "he never spoke about these kinds of things. He's always been guarded with these kinds of topics, unless it comes to factual arguments. Then, he's open. I observed it for years. Never said anything just in case… Then Gon pops into his life, and now his innocence was taken by this man."

"Whoa…" Vastorie held up his hands in defence, "context needed. I've slept with no kids in my entire life span. Not even when I was a kid… Youngest I've been with was twentyish. I think it was twenty-three."

Kurapika uncrossed his arms, "Not in the mood to have that explained. Let's get off that rocky ground. Did you clear everything up?" Kurapika asked as he turned to Leorio.

"Sure, but I still need to speak to Iason about my feelings on the matter in a more civilised manner." The young man crossed his arms, "thanks to Vastorie's interjection."

The man scoffed a playful manner, making him seem childish in the situation. But then Leorio asked a question neither Kurapika nor Vastorie were expected, "What was with that smile earlier?"

Vastorie shot that man an intense glare, his aura flaring to life; he was openly daring the man to ask the same question, "I'm sorry… what?"

"You're willing to bust into my family matters, but as soon as one of us EVEN whispers a breath, you become defensive. I know jack shit about you, while you and Kurapika are buddy-buddies behind closed doors."

Kurapika frowned. He wasn't buddy-buddy with Vastorie; he only knows what he was able to learn about through his contacts. But that is what the man has done over the course of his life. His current personality, doesn't match the achievements he has pulled off…

However, there was something he knows, that Leorio wouldn't believe "Swordcross Institution…"

Leorio lifted an eyebrow, not knowing why Kurapika brought it up. Vastorie bit his lip at the name. Kurapika continued, "He is the biggest funder, and the reason why it went from one barely surviving building, to a massive Institution that looks after its kids."

"You're shitting me…"

Vastorie crossed his arms. He didn't like his life being put out in the open, especially to one who would rather put his friendship, ahead of his brother's own wellbeing. Then again, Kurapika could be saying this to put him in a positive light, not that he saw himself as needing it.

He didn't need Kurapika's, let alone Leorio's approval for his actions.

"No…" the youngest male tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, "I'm not. He has done many great achievements. He just doesn't air them out… keeping them hidden from everyone's eyes like he's trying to hide a part of himself."

Crossing his arms, the black haired man ran his fingers through his hair, a smirk showing from Kurapika's attempt to make him seem more human than what he's pretending to be… a monster masquerading as a human, "Good luck proving that. You may have observed that… but I bet you haven't found anything about me, when I was younger than 16."

"No…"

"Good luck…" He sauntered out of the room, lips turning into a smile once none of them could see his expression. He was grateful for Kurapika, but he wasn't about to endanger Daniel's friends. He built this image of himself to be a monster, so that none could know how he truly feels.

Grateful…

The threat was still out there, a living, breathing killing machine. Daniel was in a place where he could be safe for the time being, until he finds a way to lure his father out of prying eyes.

Just drop him off to the middle of the ocean, with a good pair of cement shoes and a little bit of inscription. He'll sink like the titanic. Then again, it's not like his "father's" ego wouldn't already do that for him.

"Maybe a volcano…" Vastorie hummed as he thought over the previous case. The young man, who turned out to have survived all those years ago, was being looked after by the very man who had stolen his childhood away from him. What kind of game has Victor being playing for all these years…?

And just as importantly, who else has he sunk his claws into. He'll have to dig through and try to find as many links as possible. He'll draw out everyone who has sided with his father.

"~"

Crossing his arms along his chest, Kurapika watched the man leave. The man was a really bad actor. It's something the younger man doesn't understand… why is the man hiding all his achievements?

Vastorie was skilled at what he does, constantly helping the lives of those who don't affect him personally. YET, he continues to pretend that his some kind of monster that his father personally trained him to be "You should go easy on that man…"

"Huh…? Why? He's just some cocky bastard whose really good at playing his cards right. He'll give Hisoka a run for his money!"

"He's playing pretend, I know that much. I know enough about his secrets, to tell you he's better than what he portrays himself as. This… monster he's pretending to be, it's nothing but a ruse to get us to back off. He's acting like he doesn't care about any of us…"

"What makes you say that?"

"The orphanage… Hinrick… Xavier's school of the gifted… those are all places, people he has forced himself into, to better the lives of hundreds and thousands. Did you know that the kids who didn't survive Hinrick's abuse, each child's name was listed in a memorial, the ones who have survived, all have different names and lives, and are impossible to track. I found only one… out of twelve."

"Who? Can we get more information out of them?"

"Yeah, but one, you've already met them. His name is Clarets Sutton."

"The Nen Exorcist?!"

Kurapika offered a nod, lifting two fingers to point out the next piece of information he has gathered, "Two, Clarets Sutton has vanished. The last known existence was in Aswaqiya."

"Close to where the body was recovered…" Leorio pressed a finger to his chin, "You think he's related?"

"Not just involved… I think Clarets is a she, but more importantly, the missing Scarlet Von Delkofer."

"She's the child Cheadle wanted to find. Are you going to tell her?"

He shook his head in response, eyes looking down at the floor. Somehow, he knew the consequences of departing with his information. Vastorie's words still echoed for that last discussion.

All the pet projects I invested in, I still manage to retain a large sum of cash. Hinrick's Estate is easily worth ten times mine. Granted, it could help millions of people… but at what cost?

"At what cost…?"

Leorio raised an eyebrow, "I don't have a clue what you're talking about. And even if I'm not as smart as you… or Vastorie, I'm here to listen, ok?"

"Sure…" Kurapika offered a soft smile in response, "but this has to stay between us. If the International Permit Agency catches wind of this, Vastorie's name will be dragged through the mud. Right now, I know you don't care that much about Vastorie, but Daniel and Killua is also in danger because of Victor… I know that their lives are important to you. And I want to protect them too."

Leorio ran his hand along Kurapika's cheek, tucking a few stands behind the man's ears. He didn't intend to be that intimate, it's just his actions came off that way "Ah… sorry. It was bothering me…" He quickly removed his hand, "Any advice for talking to a brother who's just swapped spit with your best friend."

Kurapika chuckled, "Yeah… don't think about that…" Kurapika broke into laughter, a hand touching the spot Leorio once touched. What was that about…