Thank you for reading! I will be updating Tues-Thurs-Sunday for this fic! (It's all written out.)
Killua wrapped his arms around Alluka as they crammed into the backseat. Kalluto swung himself into the passenger seat, lip poking out as if he'd eaten an entire lemon.
"Killua, you should sit up front," Illumi said, folding his hands as he climbed into the driver's seat. "Since you're the oldest."
"No," said Killua, arms still around Alluka. "I don't want to."
Illumi sighed. So Killua was still trying to be difficult. Teenage angst. How immature and unoriginal. Alluka leaned forward, head slumping as if he had decided to just fall asleep right then and there. Illumi bit the inside of his cheeks and exhaled. "Killua, you will have the room across from mine. Kalluto and Alluka will share the—"
"No," said Killua. "Alluka can have that room. It's smaller but she is a girl and she needs her privacy and Kalluto and I don't!"
"Speak for yourself," groused Kalluto, pressing his forehead against the window.
"Buckle your seatbelt," Illumi ordered, watching as Killua buckled a sleepy Alluka in. Alluka was almost thirteen; why couldn't the kid do things for himself?
"No," said Kalluto.
Illumi reached across him and yanked the buckle for him. "Don't attempt to backtalk me, Kalluto. I assure you rules are still rules. Killua—"
"Call Alluka a girl and by the correct pronouns or I swear to God I'm going back in there and telling them locking her up was all your idea," Killua drawled. Alluka's head rested on his shoulder.
It wasn't. Not entirely. Illumi gripped the steering wheel. The locked room was Dad's idea. He was just trying to protect the family. They all were. But Killua had a taste of power then and was using it. Good. Though he needed to learn how to not leverage it against family. That was the first rule.
Illumi drove in silence. The sound of the three of them and Alluka breathing set Illumi's heart beating fast. He had all his siblings under his roof. Killua. This was like a gift from heaven. He pulled up at his house and smiled. Everything would work out. Within a week, Killua would—
"Hey! Illumi! Look out!" shouted Killua.
Illumi slammed on the brakes. The tires squealed. Killua threw his arm in front of Alluka to keep her from falling forward. Alluka cried out. Kalluto yelped. "Idiot!"
"This is why I told you to wear your seatbelt," Illumi replied. He squinted. A dark figure stood in front of the driveway. Illumi gaped at the figure, who raised his hand.
Milluki.
Move! Illumi flapped his hand. His brother could really be such a—
Milluki stepped to the side. Illumi pulled into the driveway. He slammed the car door. "Milluki, you—"
"Hi," said Milluki, lifting a large black duffel bag. Wires protruded from the zipper. "Mom and Dad said you weren't coming back and they needed some time by themselves."
Illumi's brow furrowed. "They—"
"You have a basement couch," Miluki reminded him, pushing past. "I helped you set it up."
Milluki actually simply dragged the boxes into the basement and then sat down moaning about how he must have thrown his back out. Illumi inhaled. The pine-scented air, cold, cut at his windpipe. Milluki was family. Illumi gestured for him to follow.
"If you try anything," Killua warned Milluki, Alluka clinging to him. "I swear I will punch your pig face again."
"Illumi, he's threatening me."
Illumi dug for his keys. "Milluki, you punched your fair share of—"
"But—"
"Stop," Illumi told Milluki. Why couldn't he see that Killua didn't need that kind of whining right now? Milluki should put the family first, too. Illumi twisted the keys, unlocking the door.
"This place is unbearably plain," complained Kalluto when lllumi switched on the lights. The walls were largely bare, a pale beige. The black leather sofa sat in the center of the living room, with a TV Illumi had never turned on but that he was sure Milluki would use at least fourteen hours a day.
Killua lifted Alluka up and carried her up the stairs. He gave Illumi a scowl when Illumi tried to follow.
That's not a way to treat your loved one, Killua. It's rude. Illumi sighed. He had never been so difficult as a child. Illumi ducked into his own room. He sent his parents a text message. The police told him he was not to allow either his mother or his father to have any contact whatsoever with Alluka, Killua, or Kalluto. Surely within days his siblings would be missing their mother. Illumi sat on the edge of his bed, neatly made because he slept on the couch more often than he slept in his bed.
"Father, look!" Illumi shouted, age fourteen. "Look at what Killua did!" He spun the math sheet around. He had spent the afternoon explaining algebra to Killua, and Killua understood it all.
Killua giggled, and Illumi beamed down at him.
He could help Kil study again. Illumi pressed his fingertips together. There was no one he loved more in the world than Killua. His father told him he was supposed to look after him the day Killua was born. He would protect Killua at all costs, train him, ensure he grow up to maximize all of his potential.
"This is all your fault!" erupted a voice.
Illumi jolted to his feet.
Alluka shrieked.
Kalluto stood on the staircase, pointing an angry finger at Killua. Alluka huddled in her doorway. "Mother and Father—just because you didn't want to come home—so now none of us can?"
"That wasn't part of the plan," Killua retorted, crossing his arms. "You think it was just fine for Alluka to be locked up like—"
Alluka clamped her hands over her ears.
"So you only think about Alluka?" yelled Kalluto. "What about us, Killua? What about me, what I want and—"
"Stop yelling," said Illumi. "It's unseemly for brothers to—"
"It's unseemly for family to lock their sister away!" shot back Killua. He grabbed Alluka. "Don't worry, Illumi's just being a bitch again." The door slammed in Illumi's face.
"Killua!" Illumi stood knocking outside Alluka's door. He jiggled the handle. Locked.
"He took the extra key inside with him," Kalluto offered. Alluka's sobs filled the house. And more tears. Illumi turned.
Kalluto sat on the top step, tears running down his face. Illumi turned to him and held out his hand. Kalluto took it, still sniffling.
"You should get ready for bed," Illumi said. Kalluto scowled but scuttled into the bathroom, obeying. Illumi didn't hear a peep from Milluki and decided that was probably a good thing.
He lay on his bed, on top of the covers, mind churning and churning. He had to arrange for food somehow. He didn't much like cooking, and Killua should only have the best. Illumi pulled out his phone and texted Hisoka.
Where do I get breakfast food?
Did you finally bring a special someone back with you? responded Hisoka. Tell me you actually texting about groceries during sex. That would be very you.
My brother's staying over with me.
Sure he is, responded Hisoka. Also google exists.
I was hoping you would have suggestions, Illumi typed.
I didn't know food turned you on. Is mystery person that unenjoyable?
Illumi's face burned.
Here are some restaurants. Now focus.
Illumi did not bother to thank him. He selected one and forwarded the details to Canary, ordering it to be delivered at seven sharp. He lay awake, squeezing his eyes shut, opening them to count the dots swirling in front of his eyes over the darkened ceiling. The clock ticked and tocked. With each tick a new thought tapped into Illumi's mind and with each tock another pushed it away. He really could use this time to stoke Killua's love for him, his desire to take over the family business. Illumi wasn't suited for it. Killua's temperament, his innate talents, had settled that question from birth.
His eyes started to close at last. His breaths echoed deep.
A scream erupted. Illumi jumped to his feet, sleep vanishing. He thrust the door open and found Killua barging up the stairs. "Alluka!"
"What is—"
"She's having a nightmare!" Killua pushed open the door. He grabbed Alluka, thrashing in her bed. "Shh, Alluka. Calm down. It was just a dream."
Illumi stood in the doorway, arms crossed. He remembered his mother fretting over Alluka's nightmares. One time she sleepwalked and almost stabbed their mother. "Maybe I should lock the door."
"No," snapped Killua.
"This place is weird," sobbed Alluka. "I don't know—I woke up and I didn't know—I miss my dolls."
"It's okay," Killua kept saying again and again.
When Killua had a bad dream or two as a child, Illumi did exactly what his parents wanted him to. He let him cry it out. It taught resiliency. "Kil—"
"Would you just go away already?" Killua snapped. "You're not helping, Illumi. She's afraid of you."
Illumi pressed his lips together. Killua patted Alluka on the head, whispering a story to her. It had a disappointing lack of death and blood. In fact, it ended with them happy ever after and Alluka fast asleep.
Killua extracted himself from Alluka and pulled the covers over her. He curled up on the floor. "Kalluto will kill me if I wake him up again."
"I'll get you a blanket," said Illumi.
"Don't bother. It's warm."
"I'm trying to help you, Kil—"
"No," said Killua. "You're not."
He's just learning how to do things on his own, Illumi told himself. Resiliency. Instead of relying on others. He turned and walked into his room, grabbing a blanket and an extra pillow. He placed them on the floor next to Killua, who was pretending to be asleep. His breathing was too quick for someone who was asleep. You have to be better at faking these things, Kil.
Illumi closed the door behind him. Killua would be grateful and take the blanket then, he was sure. He retreated to his room and listened. Not a sound from Kalluto or even from Milluki. Illumi waited, wondering if Alluka would scream herself awake again. She did not.
His alarm went off early in the morning, when Illumi was only just dozing. He scrambled up, noting the sunshine bleeding onto the wooden floors. The doorbell rang and he hauled himself down the stairs. He flung open the door, expecting to see a delivery boy or maybe Canary herself.
Instead, Hisoka stood there, a grin on his face. "Morning."
"What are you doing here?" asked Illumi.
Hisoka ran his free hand over his red hair, gelled within an inch of its life. His other arm held a brown bag that smelled like pancakes. "I interrupted the delivery girl and got these for you. I want to meet your lover and see what kind of person is actually your type."
Illumi sniffed. "I don't have a type."
Hisoka smirked and pushed his way inside. Illumi huffed but shut the door.
"Illumi?" asked a sleepy voice. Illumi turned. Kalluto stood in his doorway, in pajamas and with his hair mussed, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. "What's going on?"
"Get up," Illumi told him. "Breakfast is here."
"Killua left."
"No, he went to sleep in Alluka's room."
Kalluto's lips turned down. Hisoka's eyebrows shot up. His lips trembled as if he was barely repressing a laugh.
"I'll go wake him up," Kalluto stated. He dragged his hand through his bobbed hair, smoothing it. He stalked up the steps, each step clomping louder and louder.
Hisoka sat down on a stool across the island. His shoulders shook as if he could barely contain himself.
"Stop," ordered Illumi, unpacking. He measured coffee and dumped it into the coffee maker, the one he rarely used because he preferred to pick it up at work. "My parents lost custody. Temporarily. So they're all staying with me."
"I never really pictured you as the Mr. Mom type," Hisoka mused, rubbing his chin. "How disappointing."
"That is not what this is," Illumi replied. "This is my chance to have Killua back under my control again, hone his business instincts and devotion to our family." He pressed the button. The coffee machine gurgled and whirred.
"Is it pancakes? Please tell me it's pancakes and that you didn't make them because I'm not sure you're above putting a needle in it to test our alertness to our surroundings," complained Milluki, stumbling into the kitchen.
Hisoka pursed his lips, eyebrows raised high.
"The hell are you?" asked Milluki.
"Pardon my brother; he lives under a rock," said Illumi. "Milluki, Hisoka is—"
Killua staggered down the stairs, hair mussed and pulling Alluka by her hand. Alluka let out a gasp, hiding behind Killua. She peered out at Hisoka, who frowned at her. Alluka clamped her hands over her eyes and peeked through her fingers. "The clown's still there, Killua."
"He's real," Killua assured her.
Hisoka's frown deepened.
"Oh." Alluka hopped in place. Milluki grabbed a box and started piling pancakes onto a plate, disappearing down the stairs. Killua stood and handed a plate to Alluka, to Kalluto.
Alluka plopped down on the floor, nightgown billowing around her. Her hair stuck out in tangles.
"Alluka, eat at the table," said Illumi.
Alluka shook her head, pulling a pancake apart with her fingers. "I don't know how."
Killua glowered at Illumi, sliding off his chair and sitting on the floor across from Alluka. Kalluto's face dissolved into a scowl. He clutched his fork hard enough to leave a mark on his palm.
Illumi poured himself a cup of coffee. Black, and strong. He passed Hisoka one. Hisoka mumbled something that sounded a lot like Mr. Mom. Illumi contemplated spilling the boiling brew onto Hisoka's fingers. It'd be more trouble than it'd be worth. Besides, Hisoka was here because he wanted something, Illumi was under no illusions about that. But what was the question.
"Why do you wear makeup?" Alluka asked Hisoka.
"Alluka, don't ask him questions—" Killua started.
"But I want to, Onii-chan," Alluka protested. She seemed so much younger than thirteen.
"I have many questions myself," muttered Hisoka. Illumi gulped the coffee. It burned his throat, singing his belly. He didn't care.
His phone rang. His parents. Illumi gestured that he was taking the call. Hisoka's jaw dropped as Alluka came closer. "Why is your hair standing up straight? It looks funny."
"You're stupid," said Kalluto.
"Apologize!" Killua ordered.
Hisoka drummed his fingers on the counter as he watched Illumi's siblings prepare to tear each other apart.
"Hello, Mother," Illumi said, ducking out of the kitchen and into the living room. He sat on the couch, leaning forward. "I was hoping you would call. I won't be into work today, but I'll work from home—the officer told me it was best—"
"Oh thank God, Illumi!" cried Mother's voice. "You—you saved us—I was so worried they would—ruin everything—" Her voice dissolved into sobs, hiccups bursting through.
"What happened, Mother?" Illumi asked. He pressed the back of his hand against his mouth. "I—"
"Illumi." His father's voice took over, strong as ever. Illumi relaxed, shoulders stiffening like always. It felt familiar. "Good job taking them in."
"I can't believe Killua would—" Mother started. "I know it's good that he's so cold as to do this—it bodes well for him taking over the family business—but I miss—"
"I'll fix it, Mother," Illumi assured her. "Do not worry. Killua's under my roof now."
"With that thing." Vitriol saturated her voice, braiding through her tone. Alluka giggled in the kitchen.
"I'll make sure word doesn't get out," Illumi said. "You have my word."
"I know." She sniffled. "You've always been reliable."
"You'll help train him," Father told Illumi, hand squeezing a ten-year-old Illumi's shoulder as Illumi held his baby brother. "Like I've trained you."
Illumi squinted at his brother's face, his big eyes, his head full of white tufts of hair. "He looks like you, Father." He managed a smile. Killua squirmed in his arms.
"Hmph." Father nodded. Killua whimpered. "If he cries, don't indulge him."
"I won't," Illumi insisted. With Milluki, Mother used to be able to indulge him, giving him what he wanted whenever he wanted, so long as he sat for basic lessons. Illumi got nothing he wanted, but everything he needed. He was already three grades ahead in school. He'd make sure Killua was the same, and that he knew that obeying was making Illumi happy.
The baby reached up, tugging Illumi's long hair and stuffing it into his mouth. Illumi smiled.
"Cut your hair," Father added. "You don't take care of it well enough to have it long yet."
Illumi's wrists tingled and he wasn't certain why. "It's my duty." His hair, long again now, sat heavy on the back of his neck.
Laughter exploded from the kitchen.
"What's that?" asked his mother.
"Probably—"
"It doesn't matter," said his father. "Illumi, send us a report at the end of each day. I'll send you my new email address. They can't trace it. Reply and then delete."
"I will." Illumi hung up, meandering back into the kitchen. Hisoka reached behind Alluka's ears, pulling out a coin. Alluka put her hands on her hips as if trying to figure out how he did that.
"He kept it in his sleeves," said Illumi.
"He doesn't believe in magic. How tragic," Hisoka retorted.
Alluka tilted her head to the side, studying him. Illumi did not like it. Alluka was still something not to be trusted.
"Alluka," said Killua. "We have to get ready, Alluka."
"For what?" Illumi demanded, grabbing his coffee mug. Hisoka tossed the coin up in the air. It flickered in the light.
"I'm taking Alluka to meet my friends," said Killua.
Illumi blinked. He set the mug down. It sloshed onto his fingers. "Killua. You don't have friends."
Hisoka snickered.
Killua's eyes bulged out. "I do too!"
"No," said Illumi, approaching and reaching for his brother. "You don't. The only ones you have are us. The Zoldycks. Your family."
Hisoka inched towards the door, mug still in hand. Illumi gestured for him to put it down. Killua's jaw worked as he stared at Illumi, swallowing hard. Alluka clamped her mouth down on her fist.
"You don't have friends," Illumi repeated. "That's just a delusion you tell yourself. You're not like other kids. You're special. You're better. You don't need them dragging you down. We're here to help lift you up." He reached out, cupping Killua's face.
Killua's fist shot out, clocking Illumi in the jaw. Illumi snorted. That was a good punch. Killua hopefully wouldn't have to resort to physical violence to run the business, but—
"He does too have friends!" yelled a voice from the doorway.
"Oops," said Hisoka. "Guess I left it open."