Gon and Daniel argue café, both bringing up points neither can argue against.

The café was quiet at this time, which was great for both of them. They have tucked themselves away in a corner, away from those who were having a much milder conversation, when compared to one they were about to have.

Whether it be a bit of work drama…

Unrequited friendships…

It didn't matter because he was mentally preparing himself for what the man could feel coming, Gon prodding for every finer detail… pushing him to reveal his internal strife. He was prepared… though not as prepared as his friend was, it would seem.

Gon slurped a bit on his cold vanilla milkshake, it felt refreshing on his tongue "You were right… this place is nice."

"The deserts are great too…" The man offered a genuine smile, one that was bound to be wiped off his face in a few moments.

"I might get some for my lovers later, but for now, about Killua…"

"Right… you came on everyone's behalf to probe me for details about something that doesn't exist."

"Well, as much as they are a dreamboat… they are very real." Gon offered a sly smirk in response, earning a frown due to his compliment.

"Ha, ha…" The man laughed in a dry and sarcastic tone, not amused at the compliment in the slightest, "Very funny…"

Gon's expression grew concerned for the matter. It's not from Daniel's sarcastic response… but his lack of denial of the topic. He managed to get a bite so soon was a bit worrying to him, given that Daniel hesitated a lot when it came to his relationships… especially when it came to Yannick. He heard about the breakup through Iason.

Reaching out to Daniel had become impossible… and now Killua comes out of nowhere, filling the massive void that opened after the breakup. If it was platonic, he wouldn't have minded. But from the things Iason has passed off to him, it was like his friend was rubber banding from a relationship, without even being in a new relationship.

It's mainly the way he acts towards Killua which has become concerning…

Killua apparently, feels like they're being led on, while Daniel keeps holding out bait, he doesn't even realise he's doing. So, he now needs to bring it up for both of their sakes because it's something he's come to learn from not only his current relationship, but past ones as well "Iason brought up something very interesting to me."

Daniel holds out a finger, silencing his friend, even though he had already stopped talking at that point. This is just in case his friend decided to go into a tirade about what kinds of things he heard "Let me stop you right there. I have an idea of what you're going to talk about. But my answer is no, I'm not dating Killua."

"So, there's a chance…"

"No, there's no chance… not after everything I've been through." The man paused, sighing hesitantly at the situation. He can see things that he would like in a relationship, via Killua's mannerisms, acts and questions… but that's all he wants to see them as. He doesn't want to see his budding feelings… he wants them to dissipate "While, yes… I can see some quirks in Killua…"

When Gon's smirk grows, Daniel's tone shifts to an aggressive one, "Wipe that smug smile off your face. They're quirks, not attractive aspects about them. I just can't… can't go through with another relationship."

Gon repeats his earlier sentiment, "So, there is a chance…"

"Gon just quit it… I don't want to talk about this."

Gon pouted. It's the way his friend was pushing away the topic so readily which was worrying… because his eyes were betraying his internal feelings on the matter. His eyes were giving away… that there was more to this conversation; he just needed to keep pushing until there was a crack where his feelings flood forth like a tidal wave of emotions.

It wasn't good to be doing this with a friend that's still brokenhearted, but Killua has feelings too… and they don't deserve to be led on "You easily like Killua, you're in love with him I bet."

The man's eyes twitched. Why was Gon making a mistake now, he hadn't misgendered Killua once, until then "Them, and you should know that because you met them. And no! I'm not in love with them."

"So…" Gon shrugged at the situation, "Do you love them or not? Because There's a difference between denial and what you're saying."

"What part of no didn't you hear the N or the O."

"Look…" Gon Tapped the table impatiently, "The Daniel I know would've denied his feelings, first, before correcting the fact I misgendered Killua. But you were so focused on making sure I knew Killua as who they are, before denying your feelings for them…" Gon opted to smile at the situation, "In fact, it seems like your feelings were an afterthought."

"I'm a psychologist that deals with parents often misgendering their kids, a lot of the time… usually on purpose. Of course, I was going to deal with the misgendering first." The man found himself frowning trying to gauge how Gon got to that conclusion in the first place "Just what kind of ass backwards thinking was that?"

Gon found himself smiling widely. Daniel fell into his trap. He never planned on misgendering Killua, he said 'he' on purpose, to see which part the man would focus on first. Would he respond to the part about his feelings, or go straight to defending Killua…?

Daniel defended Killua, before arguing against his feelings…

Also, Daniel should know by now if he said he was by accident, he would've immediately corrected himself. Gon would've felt bad for misgendering Killua, having already known that Killua identifies as they "You also knew, I wouldn't intentionally misgender someone I knew… yet you were so focused on Killua. I can tell you care about them."

"Of course, I do… I care about them. As any friend would."

"No… I'm saying you care about Killua more than you're letting on. Otherwise… you wouldn't have stopped me from trying to ask them out earlier. Do you care if I asked them out on a dinner date?"

"I would…"

"Because…"

"They are my friend… and you, want to have sex with them because they make your eyes pop out of their socket, your jaw hit the floor and your heart go Doki-Doki. Your reaction to seeing them for the first time, I bet you… was the arooga horn. All you see… is that they are pretty, beautiful and sexy."

The man had set himself up, fallen into a trap of his own, design "Are you talking about me or…" Gon grinned widely, now leaning forward towards his friend "Yourself?"

The man shook his head the response, "No. You have been the one who's been telling me what you think, I think. Telling me my jaw hit the floor and all that. Yeah, I can agree they're beautiful…" When Daniel started to smile, mainly because he was guessing things correctly, those feeling were shut down once his friend continued "But isn't your job to help people discover things, not to tell them what they think."

"I… I guess you're right."

"See… Although totally, I would agree with you. If I had a chance with Killua, I would smash with them any chance I got."

"Gon…" The man whined, "Can you like not…"

The man gave a nod in response, "But that's not my complete point. Sure, you've been saying what I thought… but it's you that has been saying them, not me. You're the one making these arguments, not me."

"I guess… I have…" Daniel's expression fell. He was the one bringing up everything, not Gon. He has told on himself so much; he's now wondering how much of it he believes applies to himself.

"Why can't you admit you at least have a crush on them."

"No…" The man frowned, "I don't like them… not in that way."

Gon didn't like this one bit. The man was starting to get agitated, which means it won't be long before he starts being yelled at "Why can't you just admit-"

"I'm not going through this again!" Daniel finally snapped from the situation, his friend's mouth closing "I'm sick and tired of playing this game. Either you leave me the fuck alone…

"Or… what?"

"I'll unfriend you."

"You could never unfriend me… I'm too loveable." When his friend frowned in response, he played his trump card… his boyfriend's notes he had taken not just because of his conversation with Killua, but what he also noted in their mannerisms and language directed about Daniel, "Iason brought up some interesting things. For one, Killua speaks highly about you… but they're also very confused about how you treat them. One minute they think you're going to open up to them… the very next second, you're shoving them away. You even… kissed Killua on the forehead. The Daniel I know wouldn't do that… he's a prude."

"I'm not a prude…"

"So, you won't deny the kiss…?"

Daniel fell silent, pausing from the point.

"They clearly, feel like there's more that could happen between you, but you keep shutting them out. You're leaving poor Killua feeling blue-balled, unwanted at times… at least give them a way out, a way to relieve that tension building up within them."

"Gon, this situation is more perplexing than just involving feelings."

"Killua isn't Yannick. They're not trying to get in your pants… okay, maybe a little. You need to have a proper discussion. Set boundaries… have some fun or I'm gonna steal Killua and help them satisfy some of their urges."

"Gon, I said stop…"

"Killua is an adult, let them do what they want, or else you'll be the Yannick in their eyes."

"Take… that back." The man was growing more frustrated with one of his best friends once more.

"Daniel, you're blind! Killua… is interested in YOU. They want to do MORE with you. I might be able to scratch that itch with them…" Gon reached out, touching his friend's hand, "but they want to experiment with you." He hit the nail on the head, seeing his stunned friend unable to react. That means Daniel has either seen it for himself… or he was hesitant to approach the situation which may result in heartbreak to him.

"How do you expect me to respond…" The man's hand trembled under Gon's. He not only had a chance… given that Killua may like him back, but the hesitance he felt, was all on him… nothing on Killua's end.

"Be… honest… that's all Killua is asking for."

"What do you want me to say? What do you expect me to say…" Daniel out of frustration finally snapped back, his voice just low enough for Gon to hear "That I want to go down on Killua, to suck them clean… to lick every inch. That I want… to fuck them… Is that what you want to hear? You want to hear that I'm completely lacking in my sex life, to the point, they make me horny…"

Daniel bursts into laughter, the absurdity of the situation finally breaking him. Tears fell freely. He didn't reach out to commit to anyone, even if in his mind he knows what he desperately desired was what Killua was comfortable to give "I'm not ready to commit to anybody…"

"Then perhaps a fling to get through those mental, thoughts…" Gon suggested. There was no disgust, meaning Daniel had humoured the idea at one point. But the glare he received moments later, showed there was something else holding the man back.

Daniel glared at Gon, "As a mental health practitioner… that's the worst suggestion. Are you suggesting I use Killua as a bounce-back pity fuck. No way…"

"How about me?"

"Gon, you're attractive and all… but I'm not about to have a fling with my best friend."

"It's a suggestion because it sounds to me like you're pent up with not only emotions but physical needs. Try satisfying your needs more often, it might stop your mind from focusing on your attraction to Killua. If the feelings stop, it means you're in a rut…"

"Gon, if I jerk off any more… T.M.I, by the way… if I say so myself. It's gonna fall off…"

"Then you need to have a serious discussion with Killua… Might I suggest you have an… open relationship. I can see you hesitant about something with Killua… but experiment a little."

"But-"

"I know Yannick screwed you up mentally, but Killua isn't Yannick… they're not pretending to be someone they're not. Killua isn't trying to force themselves into your life as if you need them. They're charming" At least that's how it sounds like with what Iason has pointed out to me… "Killua's unbelievably hot… attractive… kind… and most importantly, they're not only concerned about you… they're struggling to understand why one second, you're comfortable around them and the next you're pushing them away."

"It's because I'm afraid…"

"Afraid of what…?" Gon frowns, "They won't like you back, that they think you're disgusting. I know you; you care about people's health… you sit for hours on end listening to people's problems day in and day out. Talk to Killua about your feelings… be honest with them."

Gon pokes Daniel on the chest, "Experiment in the sheets…" The man flashed his friend a smirk "trust me when I say this if I was in Killua's shoes… if I knew you were attracted to me, without a doubt… I'll be all over you."

"Gon, seriously… that's your personality. You're open about sex… too open, I might add."

Gon chuckles, "I'm satisfied with the lovers I have, but you're different. At the start, before Yannick revealed his secrets… you were happy to have someone want and crave you. Killua could be that person. It'll be rocky at the start; you'll have your ups and downs… I'm certain. But, in my honest opinion, I think the two of you could have a great relationship… or plenty of great snogging sessions."

"Gon, seriously…"

"Oh, if you two get married…" The man elbowed his friend "You have to promise to make me your best man."

"Get fucked…" Daniel playfully shoves Gon away, "Iason will be the best man because at least he won't air out my dirty laundry."

"Aww… come on, I promise not to talk about all those times guys hit on you thinking you're a girl, only for the both of you to be disappointed to learn that you're a guy and they're straight."

"Thanks for the reminder…" The man sighed, his head hitting the table with a thud. He can't tell his friend that he fantasised about Killua… beat off to them beating off… nor could he say anything about the fact Killua barely touched him and that he nutted…

None of that would be good to know… he'd get told off or told to use it to his advantage, like say: You made me 'nut', therefore I owe you a 'nut'… or even worse, I listened to you nutting… now you get to see me do the same thing for you.

"Gon… can I ask you something."

"How can I hit on Killua without sounding like a weirdo or a desperate horny man?"

"No…" Sitting up straight, Daniel looked into Gon's eyes, "How can I even have a fling without getting feelings attached?"

"It's… difficult if I'm being honest. Some guys, gurls and non-binary fellas can make you fall hard for them, not just sexually… but emotionally. However, being in a Polycule is difficult. Jealousy is easily found and hard to maintain if it's in high abundance. The trick isn't to pretend it doesn't exist… it's to ask yourself, can I spend time with them, knowing I may ultimately lose them one day if they get tired of me… or my partners."

"If you find that… How can I, whose strictly monogamous and emotionally driven towards a single person… have a fling with someone I may grow emotionally attached to, but they might not do…"

"Daniel, you've done that for most of your life… I know there might have been one point you thought Yannick was the one, but he manipulated you to feel that way. He… I understand he hurt you so bad, that you see finding love is impossible. But Killua…" Gon smiled widely, "I think Killua might just be the person you're looking for… someone who's open to experimenting… to see how things will go."

"Please stop saying 'experimenting'…"

"It's a fact, something you have to realise. Hey, who knows… they might even be the one to make you bottom."

"I'll never bottom…"

"Don't drop it, till you try it…"

"Gon, I don't have any desire…"

"Well, I've bottomed a few times, and I can see the appeal. You just need… the right… partner. That… and a lot of lubrication back there."

"No shit… pun not intended, it's very tight back there…" Daniel gestured to his back, "unused and unexplored." That's a lie… but Gon doesn't need to know that.

Gon chuckled, "I guess… but when are you gonna bring this up with Killua, the whole open, to explore Idea."

"I guess… I need time to think about these things."

"What will you tell them when you get back…"

"Honestly, nothing."

"Come on… you must tell them something."

"What's there to say…"

"How about this I need time to think, so give me some time… does that sound fair to the both of you?"

"I guess…"

"Just promise that you'll be honest with Killua when the time comes…"

"That's the thing…" The man sighed heavily in response to his friend's request. At the end of the day, it was a doable request, the problem isn't so much doing it… it's rebuilding himself into a state where it's possible to achieve "He never abused me… Yannick, you know…" He hesitated because he didn't, actually… want to talk about that man, especially with Gon. It wasn't because he didn't want him to know about it… it hurt to discuss the current topic with anyone, much less hear himself talk about it.

At a time, he loved the man… belittling him did nothing, to ease the pain he suffered from having learned the truth on the matter "He abused my trust, certainly. He was... kind and gentle, and that's my biggest problem. It's so difficult to trust anyone's attention, even if it leads to a… let's say, a pity fuck."

"Oh, maybe it's something you should bring up Killua then, they may under your situation and either not expect too much, or be pushy about things."

"Gon it's not that easy… even bringing it up here, with you is insanely difficult."

"Baby steps…" Gon's expression softened, a hand now reaching out to touch his friends, "I'm not telling you the moment you get back to ravish Killua… I'm asking you to think about your friend and when the time comes… whenever that may be, be open with them. That's all Killua can really, ask for… a bit of trust and a little bit of openness when it comes to your feelings, whenever that may be…"