A/N: Hello dear readers, I pray that everyone is still safe while in quarantine. There has been a lot of mixed opinions on just how long this problem is going to last, so in the meantime, we're stuck coping - albeit difficulty - with how things are eventually going to turn out. With that in mind, I hope all of you are well.
Initially, I had planned to release this on the first as I finished the rough draft back at the end of last month, but due to a few hitch ups on my beta's end, the chapter is getting released three days late. At least, it happened on May 4th. So, May 4th be with you!
As for me, it's still touch-and-go on my end. Work hasn't been as rough lately. Same with everything in general, but I am managing. It allowed me to actually write and now end up struggling like I did last time. Hopefully, this will continue as time progresses while the world deals with this insane pandemic.
Oh and, let's not forget to give SweetsDreamer a huge thank you, that, despite what is going on, for her dedication to beta RoF's chapters. ❤️❤️❤️
Summary: After arriving in Idryia with barely any information on their next target with the Scarlet Eyes, Chrollo and Kurapika catch a lucky break. Now, it's time for them to make their move.
The low drone of chatter filled Chrollo's ears almost immediately when he stepped out into the moderately busy street. A steady throng of people moved past him, like a grand moving sea, yet there weren't nearly as many pedestrians even though it was the height of the day.
It was mildly warm, and like Balor to the north, there was a slight coolness in the air.
Chrollo gave a brief look of contemplation towards those moving around him before deciding to push onward himself. He clutched the paper bag that contained his only reason for even going out into public and began heading back towards the hotel he and Kurapika were staying at.
He could smell the aroma of their lunch wafting from inside.
Making his way there, fortunately, took very little time - considering that he was still unfamiliar with the area - as Chrollo kept his stride even and consistent.
There were a few times where he was tempted to investigate the local antique shops he passed by, but knowing his tendencies, Chrollo would have been inclined to 'procure' a few things for himself.
Besides, Kurapika was waiting for him. The younger man was already grouchy from hunger, and he didn't want to keep his lover waiting for too long.
He could only imagine how the blond would react if he returned with stolen goods.
Once Chrollo got close enough to the street the hotel was located on, he slowed down to keep himself from appearing too hurried. While he hadn't sensed anyone nearby who may be questionable or dangerous, it didn't rule out the possibility of unwanted people finding them. Even if there were Nen users around, any of them could have been skilled enough to stay concealed by applying In.
Staying alert and vigilant was crucial. Neither he nor Kurapika could afford to let their guard down.
Nevertheless, it didn't stop him from exploring what parts of Idryia that he could. Not only did he need to know what restaurants were in the area, but he was also trying to find what information he could on their current target, including their exact whereabouts. Shalnark had taken the time to dig up whatever he could on the person, but so far, they only had a name.
Baxel Hill.
Apparently, the man lived alone somewhere in town. He had a wife and daughter, but the woman left with the kid before he got incarcerated. Chrollo tried to map out Baxel's personality from what he already knew, though it wasn't enough to get a general idea.
Pertaining all went well, Shalnark would obtain data on the man that he could use. For now, it was a waiting game.
Chrollo finally came upon the street that he needed to head down and made the last stretch between him and the hotel.
Luckily enough, the food he brought was still relatively warm. Which he was grateful for. Returning with cold meals in hand would be a sure-fire way to get Kurapika ruffled.
He didn't waste another minute getting back to their room.
When he entered, Chrollo noticed his lover sitting on the small couch beneath one of the windows. The afternoon light played across the Kurta's features, making him look like an ethereal being.
Kurapika raised his eyes to meet Chrollo's when he heard the door click shut. "Took you long enough." He mused and closed the cover of the tome that he had been reading. Kurapika then set it aside. "I was beginning to think you got lost or stopped to participate in more, 'illicit' activities." He chortled.
How astute his lover was. Since he had taken longer than expected, Chrollo couldn't say he was entirely surprised by Kurapika's accusation. Although stealing a few things had crossed his mind, the fact it never happened made him virtually blameless.
Convincing Kurapika of that, however? It would take a bit more work.
"While I would have enjoyed snatching a few things of value along the way, I didn't want to let the food get cold. Returning here was a priority." Without waiting for Kurapika's reply, he set the bag down and continued speaking. "I knew you wouldn't have been thrilled if I was gone for too long, anyway."
He reached inside and pulled out two styrofoam containers. One had a small wine marinated steak and was covered in mushrooms and onions. The other had sauteed fish with shrimp and a side of vegetables.
Chrollo then reached for the plastic utensils and set one on top of the container with the fish before handing it to Kurapika.
Which he took without question, but he also eyed his lover in the process before setting the container down. Kurapika immediately inspected the food, realizing it was still relatively warm, so the story Chrollo gave him was legitimate.
Naturally, Kurapika didn't put it past the Ryodan leader to give in to his selfish desires at times and find something worth stealing. Despite that aspect, however, Chrollo was still honest with his word.
That aspect proved to him more and more of his lover's unwavering sincerity.
"You're right; I wouldn't have," Kurapika finally said, and he looked up from the meal in front of him. "Even more so if you had actually decided to steal something."
Carefully, Kurapika removed the protective wrapping from around the utensils and began sectioning off part of the fish. There was a pleasant aroma coming from within the container, which made Kurapika even more eager to taste the food. Just looking at it reminded him of how much his stomach was protesting.
The entire time Chrollo watched him. Whatever interest the older man had in doing so, Kurapika wasn't sure, though it seemed his lover was attempting to get a read on him. At times he was skeptical of Chrollo's behavior, yet he had no disbelief when it came to the man's integrity.
Theif or no, and regardless that he murdered people, Chrollo still had honesty.
"Perhaps it's good I decided not to act on that impulse, then."
His immediate comment invoked a grunt from Kurapika as the younger man stopped eating to give him a sideways look. The response caused a faint smirk to appear on his face but he said nothing. Instead, Chrollo allowed his Kurta lover to interpret the comment in whatever mannerism and proceeded to delve into his own meal.
There would be other times to find something worth stealing.
For now, they had bigger fish to fry.
It seemed that Kurapika had no desire to continue their debate, and instead of responding, the blond shook his head before going back to eating his food. Focusing on getting proper nourishment was more important at the moment.
Chrollo was about to do the same when he felt vibrations coming from his coat pocket. He slipped his free hand down into it and retrieved his phone. The screen was already lit up.
He cast a quick glance in Kurapika's direction - who was now staring at him curiously - before noticing there was a message from Shalnark and decided to read it. Afterward, Chrollo couldn't help the spark of satisfaction that followed.
Received from Shalnark at 12:43 pm: Danchou. I managed to track down all the necessary information on the person you and Kurapika have been tracking. This includes his history, where he's been, and his exact location. From what I was able to find, the man apparently owns three pairs of Scarlet Eyes.
So, they had managed to come across viable information on their new target. Wonderful. It was relatively one of the only times where he wasn't able to acquire such details beforehand. Considering he and Kurapika were already in Idryia, the sooner they learned who their target was, the better.
Having basic knowledge was enough to get by, yet to know what they were up against would increase their chances of a successful mission. Like in the past, there is no real room for error.
The encounter with Debron Cloch proved that much.
He typed up a quick response.
Sent at 12:47 pm: I'm pleased to hear that. Thank you, Shal. Please send me all the necessary information and any other vital details that I may need to know about.
Received from Shalnark at 12:49 pm: Will do Danchou.
After that, Chrollo slipped the phone back into his pocket. Now, all he had to do was wait for the report to come through. Which, knowing Shalnark, wouldn't take long. The tech geek had a tendency to work fast when it came to dredging up anything online.
"Mind telling me what is going on?" Chrollo turned from looking at his empty hand to face Kurapika, who had his arms crossed. The blond definitely was inquisitive.
Since they had newer material to work from, Chrollo figured it was best to give his lover the update. Otherwise, Kurapika might decide to dropkick him. "I received word from Shalnark that he has managed to acquire further information on our target. He will be sending me all the necessary details."
Hearing that sparked enthusiasm in Kurapika. He had begun to worry if their operation would have gotten bottlenecked.
"That is actually great news." He commented and paused briefly from eating. "At least we will have something more to go on aside from just a name and that he lives here somewhere in Idryia."
When they left Balor, all they had was a name and what city to go to. Going on so little information was rather unusual, and could have left them in a difficult situation.
At least Chrollo's tech-savvy comrade was able to locate the necessary material that was crucial for them to move forward.
"Don't forget, they're your comrades, also."
The fleeting voice Kurapika heard was a constant reminder of the reality he was in. While he hadn't forgotten the choices he made, it was still hard getting accustomed to being a part of the one group he used to hate. Letting go was only one step towards healing and moving on with his life.
The same life he chose with Chrollo.
Kurapika resumed his meal, glad that neither of them would be stuck waiting for too long, and focused on what to do next. If all went well, they could enact right away.
To a point, Kurapika amazed himself with how urgent he was. Not that he wanted to be hasty or foolhardy, but collecting the remainder of the eyes was extremely important.
Anything could happen, as he had seen before, so time was precious. He and Chrollo didn't have a lot of time to waste.
Surely his lover felt the same.
"Oh, I would have made sure to find out one way or the other," Chrollo stated and reached for his mug. Even in the afternoon, he enjoyed coffee. "Gathering information is rather easy. The amount of time it takes, however, depends on several factors." Usually, he was quick on the uptake when it came to collecting intel. Only this time, sources were limited. Primarily before leaving Balor. There was also a delay on Shalnark's end. "Needless to say, we won't be hindered now that we will have the pieces needed to formulate a plan. Instances like this shouldn't happen often."
Discrepancies like that were few and far between, leaving Chrollo confident that future instances would barely occur, if at all.
The fact that Kurapika wanted to reclaim the last of the eyes and quickly was an aspect Chrollo kept at the forefront of his mind. It was another factor that he and the blond had in common.
Not only would completing Kurapika's goal give him closure, but it would also bring him peace. Chrollo was just as eager to move on as his lover was.
"Indeed." Kurapika mirrored the older man and took hold of his own mug. While Chrollo was enjoying a cup of hot java, he had settled on tea. After drinking two full mugs of coffee earlier that morning, Kurapika decided on a change of pace and had tea instead. "Waiting for an extensive amount of time is something I'd rather not do."
Suppressing the need to just react had become increasingly painstaking, especially at times like this. The constant drive he felt was beyond measure, though it would explain why there had been several hitches in their past missions.
He sighed. Kurapika recalled the moments where his temerity had nearly cost them everything, even the success of their goal. Staying focused while retaining a level-head had proven to be a challenge, specifically with keeping everything in perspective. His younger self wouldn't have made such brash moves as he tended to be more rational then.
Reminding himself to take it slow and approach all situations logically was vital.
Such was no different now.
"I won't disagree with you, though we cannot jump the gun, either. The moment I receive what is needed from Shalnark, we can then work on how to proceed." Chrollo continued with his meal, the flavor of the steak captivating him. Each bite was pure ecstasy. Yet, that feeling didn't compare to what that ecstasy felt like with Kurapika.
Chrollo disregarded the idea before it could overtake him, and immediately he noticed the tension in the room. Sensing that was no better than imagining sex with Kurapika. Only one was pleasant while the other was not.
Again, he pushed the thought aside as it wasn't the time to think about intimacy and let his hand come to rest on the younger man's arm. It seemed that no matter how much he attempted to keep his lover calm, the stress always came back.
Hopefully, he would be able to help Kurapika keep it together as they continued chasing after the Scarlet Eyes.
It was imperative.
The moment Chrollo's fingers contacted Kurapika's arm, the young blond looked up. He couldn't keep the gentle smile from crossing his features. "Yes, I know. I understand what you're saying and plan to follow your direction." Kurapika could tell without any doubt that his lover was expressing concern for him. Because he had been brash in the past, it was not only a bone of contention for Chrollo but also a subject of worry.
Funny how the roles were now reversed as early on in their junket, it was Chrollo who had the propensity to run off and do things half-cocked. Now it was he who had become irrational while his lover had the level approach. Kurapika couldn't get over the irony.
More than likely, Chrollo had already reached the same conclusion.
"Good to know." He heard the other man say, and Kurapika looked right into his lover's eyes. Those greys were as striking and gorgeous as ever. "Neither one of us can afford to be reckless. Each situation requires careful planning and a solid approach. Otherwise, we run the risk of encountering failure."
After setting his mug down, Chrollo gave the younger man's arm a few more gentle squeezes before patting the area consolingly. Ensuring that Kurapika realized the vitality of their missions was important, especially when it comes down to making sure each one is complete.
Reclaiming the rest of the eyes would take time, but in retrospect, the sooner they found them all, the better it would be for Kurapika. His lover needed closure, and he was more than ready for them to move on with life together.
Even the aspect of them starting a potential family together down the line sat in the back of Chrollo's mind.
He couldn't envision a future otherwise. There was no world without Kurapika in it.
The sensation of Chrollo's fingers over his bare arm was soothing as his lover's touch made him feel pacified. "You have nothing to fear, I won't do anything outlandish," Kurapika purred, his voice soft as he enjoyed the minimal contact. "Collecting the eyes of my kin is extremely important to me. Seeing them properly laid to rest is vital. I know they have sanctioned our relationship and urged me to just move on without fulfilling my self-appointed duties, but I cannot rest until I know they have received a proper burial. It's the least I can do for them."
Kurapika sighed, and his free hand found Chrollo's. From the simple contact alone, he could sense the older man's regret. Forgiving was hard, even as he struggled to completely let go. Despite all that, Kurapika was still sure about his decisions. From choosing to be with Chrollo both romantically and spiritually, to joining the Genei Ryodan.
Burying the eyes of his clan would be the last page in the chapter of his past that he would be able to finally close.
Chrollo smiled, though it was hard to keep it from turning into a grin. "Hearing that pleases me since I won't have to worry about you getting into any form of trouble, babe, though I understand your disposition. From the moment we began our journey together, I have committed to seeing this through." He stopped a moment and let his other hand trail down to Kurapika's, his fingers feather-light as he let them slip around his lover's delicate ones. "While I support your endeavor, just don't do anything reckless. Serving your clan, even if it's to see them buried properly, won't do them or yourself any good if you're not alive to do so." Even after the words left his mouth, Chrollo found it hard to think of such a thing. The thought of losing Kurapika still haunted him. It was an idea he just could not conceive.
Yet, those particular words died in the back of his throat. Chrollo knew Kurapika's family and clan were of great importance to him, but so was Kurapika to him. Keeping the younger man safe was paramount, and not only for both their sakes, but for the deceased Kurtas as well. Kurapika needed to see his duty completed as he had an obligation to uphold, and whether or not he appointed himself to do it, staying alive was essential. That extended even after it was all said and done.
From what Chrollo knew, his lover had mentioned that at one point, his family had come to him in a vision and countless times since to beseech him into continuing to live. That alone should be enough motivation to keep from faltering by the wayside. Though Chrollo hoped that his clan was only one of the reasons Kurapika continued to draw breath.
He wanted to be the other.
Didn't Kurapika admit that at one time? A voice whispered in the back of his mind, and Chrollo had to go back in time to remember. While it was difficult to recall the exact point where it occurred, he was relatively sure it happened. Kurapika had admitted quite fervently on multiple occasions that he loved him. And not only that but the blond had also confessed to wanting a life together. In the present and in the future. It should be enough.
Faith. Although it was an aspect that Chrollo rarely held in high regard, holding onto it now was something he couldn't deny, or didn't want to deny. Believing in Kurapika and that neither of them would ever part was another aspect he could not lose sight of. Doing otherwise would only invite negative feedback. Chrollo knew it was another aspect that he had to stray away from.
The squeeze he gave Kurapika's hand was to affirm what he said. Though, it didn't surprise him when his lover returned the gesture.
"Chrollo," Kurapika spoke just barely above a whisper, "you should know by now that isn't what I want. Before accepting you, death was something I welcomed as an outcome for me once I finished my duties, but now -" Abruptly, his voice froze, and Kurapika became at a loss for words. There was concern in the older man's eyes along with a vein of unease, but the latter wasn't as prominent despite the effect it had on him. Kurapika then mustered the will to regain his speech. "I promise to ensure that my safety takes precedence. I won't do anything to compromise it. Don't worry."
Kurapika tightened his hand slightly against his lover's, and while silent, the assurance he gave Chrollo seemed to be adequate in quelling his troubled state. So much about Chrollo had changed during their time together, which shocked and amazed him as Kurapika hadn't expected it to happen to the degree it did, but he was glad nonetheless.
Every day he saw Chrollo more as human and less as the monster that he portrayed himself as. It solidified the confidence he had in his lover.
Feeling the added pressure against his hand had drawn Chrollo from the partial trance he had fallen into, and hummed as a result. Like himself, there were instances where Kurapika had vowed to stray from doing anything that caused potential adverse consequences, then failed to do so. Knowing that made him skeptical, but retaining trust in Kurapika was just as crucial as Kurapika maintaining the same in him. Chrollo merely nodded.
"I hold confidence that you won't. Losing you is something that I won't let happen. Regardless of the decisions that you make, keeping you alive is a purpose of mine."
Without speaking further, Chrollo inclined forward to place a quick, but gentle kiss to Kurapika's lips, the flesh soft against his while the sensation flooded his mind. Almost instantly, he felt the younger man return the gesture, yet, their contact lasted only moments before they separated. Their eyes locked again.
Before Kurapika could say anything further, the sound of buzzing ceased his words, and he watched as Chrollo retrieved his phone once more. There was silence before he looked back up. "Shalnark sent all the information that was needed on our next target. We can begin planning what to do from here."
Fantastic! They could finally get their objective underway without wasting any more time. Kurapika forgot about what he was going to tell Chrollo and cleared his throat before carefully pulling his hand away. "That's great news. I am definitely ready to proceed forward. And the sooner, the better." He commented and reached for his mug. Kurapika then leaned back in his chair.
"Yes," Chrollo responded as he began scanning through the documents that were sent to his phone. Though, one particular detail caught his attention. Aside from the fact the man was an ex-con, the reason he was incarcerated was due to getting convicted for seven counts of larceny, two counts of armed robbery, and attempted carjacking. So, they were dealing with somebody like him. How interesting. "And it seems this person is no stranger to criminal activity, either."
Chrollo's statement didn't entirely surprise Kurapika as he had been aware the man had some sort of criminal history, though what kind he did not know. Figures that a pair of the Scarlet Eyes would fall into the hands of a delinquent.
Wasn't Chrollo the original perpetrator of the eyes? Isn't he a delinquent as well? A voice quietly reminded him, and Kurapika snorted. To say it wasn't so would be a lie, but it was beside the point. The fact that a pair had come into the hands of another criminal only baffled Kurapika. Still, it wasn't something he had dismissed entirely as probable.
Either way, they had to retrieve the remaining Scarlet Eyes no matter the circumstance. "Honestly, that is an aspect we've known about since learning of the man's existence. The only thing that hasn't been divulged aside from his home address is information on exactly what this man is like. I'd rather have some idea of what we are up against." Kurapika didn't want to be as unprepared or caught off-guard like he was with the crazed scientist. Hell, it was almost the same with those insane cultists, even that maniacal guard after they infiltrated a prominent mafia family.
There were too many times where situations went south from lack of foresight.
"Well," Chrollo began, his expression serious, "I also have the information on what our target was convicted for. I believe that just may give us some insight as to what kind of person he is."
How convenient. Kurapika truthfully wasn't expecting that. "Do I dare ask how Shalnark even managed to get his hands on that kind of knowledge?" He wondered if he should have bothered inquiring. Knowing the tech geek, he hacked a few government computers to acquire the information.
The question made Chrollo smirk. "You should already know the answer to that." He took another draw from his mug. "But yes, I think it's vital to us getting a picture of this person. Anything is useful at this point."
He couldn't deny that. Kurapika was grateful for whatever they could get their hands on. The method used for garnering what they needed to succeed in their mission was utterly moot. Kurapika finished off his coffee before setting the porcelain cup aside to work on the remainder of his lunch. "Agreed. If we can veer from any bumps in the road, then great, I'd like to avoid any conflict, if possible. Yet, I am aware that it may not always be a viable option."
Kurapika understood that every encounter he and Chrollo had wouldn't always be a peaceful one as they continued on with their mission for the eyes. It was a fact he knew from the get-go. Any chance to avoid it, however, was something he wasn't going to pass up.
Maintaining damage control was crucial and could not be neglected.
"Unfortunately, that's not always the case," Chrollo added solemnly, his grin completely fading. The raven-head resumed finishing his meal as well. "There are too many factors, known and unknown, for that to be a reliable solution. Doing our best to minimize or limit that is more feasible. If there is a time it can be prevented, then we will respond accordingly."
Although Chrollo knew his response might have sounded harsh, they had to keep the situation in perspective and stay in touch with reality. Losing sight of that would only prove to have dire consequences. Neither of them could afford to let things fall apart.
Careful planning while being calculating was vital to completing each mission. There was no other way of handling it.
In the end, he was sure Kurapika realized that much.
The rest of the morning was spent working on the details for retrieving the Scarlet Eyes and learning about the man holding them. While Kurapika wasn't thrilled to find out the exact reasons that had landed Baxel in jail, he stressed the value of them exercising extreme caution, all considering. Since Chrollo was no stranger to crime as well, it was a point he could not refute. They had to play it smart.
Chrollo had also suggested they stake out the man's home, and try to learn his patterns so it would be easier to break in and steal the eyes while he wasn't there. It would be the safest method to use while limiting contact and potential conflict.
While it was one of his least favorite approaches as he was used to orchestrating chaos during any kind of heist, this was Kurapika he was thinking about, so he was well aware of his lover's stance regarding violence. Although he was attentive to the fact that Kurapika had joined his Spiders knowing full well what it entailed, sooner or later, he would have to adapt to the harsh reality of the life they led.
Until then, abstaining from that particular course of action - unless absolutely necessary - was the only other option.
Since Kurapika had expressed that he was eager to get the mission underway, Chrollo had figured it was a good idea to begin scouting Baxel's place that night. After finalizing preparations, and having their evening meal, they headed toward the address Shalnark provided them using the car - that was stolen nonetheless - to reach the place and safely sit outside while observing the man's movements.
Spying on someone to a fault, still made Kurapika uneasy, but it was no different than the people he tailed while employed in Nostrade's service. He leaned back against the passenger's seat and sighed.
It was going to be a long night, indeed.
They had spent the next several days watching Baxel's home. All the time spent confined inside the car made Kurapika wonder if his ass was going to become molded to the seat. So far, most of Baxel's activity had been rather mundane, from him going outside every morning to check his mailbox, to sitting at his table every day at nearly the exact same time to have his daily meals. The only time it seemed the man left his home was to either run an errand or to take an evening stroll.
It started to look as if they wouldn't catch a break, when on the third day, Baxel left at an unexpected time.
Instead of his usual daily routine, the man stepped outside and got in his car. Right before he climbed into the dark blue vehicle, Chrollo noticed Baxel was carrying a few packages. It was hard to get a clear view from their current position, though he was able to make out colorful wrapping around them.
He surmised the packages were more than likely presents. Chrollo remembered reading in the documents he received that Baxel had a wife and daughter he still visited regularly, although he was separated from them.
Perhaps it was the kid's birthday and would explain the packages the man took with him.
After Baxel drove off and disappeared around the corner at the end of the street, Chrollo nudged Kurapika, who had oddly enough, fallen asleep in the seat next to him.
"Babe, wake up."
Kurapika grumbled as he began to stir, the fog of sleep still gripping his mind, and he lifted his head off the window where it had come to rest. He then blinked several times. "What?" It took him a moment to focus, but once he did, his eyes landed on Chrollo. "This had better be important." He complained and sat up straight in the seat.
"Oh, believe me, it is," Chrollo replied, and he glanced towards the end of the street again to see if by some happenstance that Baxel had returned. Nothing, fortunately. "It seems that our target has left, and if I am correct about this, he went to a birthday party. The man was carrying presents when he got into his car."
The news instantly made Kurapika perk, as it had been almost three days since they started sitting outside the man's godforsaken place, and hearing that grabbed his attention.
If he had stayed there too much longer, Kurapika was positive he would have gone stir crazy.
"Are you sure?" He questioned, somewhat skeptical. "It didn't seem that he did much else aside from sitting at home when he wasn't out walking or jogging," Kurapika added as he stifled a yawn.
Which practically was true, all considering the man's recent behavior. Then again, three days of observation wasn't quite enough to get a full scope on the man's routine. However, time wasn't something they had a high abundance of.
The feeling Chrollo had in his gut told him they should act. "Pretty sure." He commented, his hands fiddling with the keys that hung from the ignition. "There was mention in the information provided by Shal that Baxel has a wife and daughter who he sees often. If what I saw was indeed gifts, he just might be going to visit his daughter for her birthday. Now is probably the best time for us to make our move."
Parsing the information took a few seconds, but once he did, Kurapika exhaled. The likelihood of Chrollo being correct was relatively high, as generally, his lover wasn't wrong when it came to his intuition, but he was still cautious. Should the man return before they found the eyes and exited the premises, the entire operation could fall apart.
Not to mention, Chrollo had stated that Baxel owned three pairs of Scarlet Eyes, which meant finding all of them before leaving. And that was pertaining they weren't in the same location within the home.
So many factors to consider, yet opportunity was calling. Who knew if there would be another chance if they didn't act now. "Guess I was asleep when that happened," Kurapika stated and cursed himself for passing out when he did. "Still, if you feel this is our best chance, then I agree that we should go."
He felt an underlying thread of reluctance, although he agreed to Chrollo's suggestion, yet, there was no time like the present. Kurapika expected to encounter risks despite the approach, so he couldn't quite argue the decision. When it came down to it, the end result was the same. They had to retrieve the Scarlet Eyes.
With any luck, they would be able to enter the home, recover all three pairs, and get back out before Baxel could return home.
Kurapika sighed heavily.
The sensation of weight on his bicep drew his attention back towards Chrollo, and Kurapika looked up to see a confident smile on those tan lips. Something about it helped ease the tension in his chest.
"Don't fret, love. It should all work out," Chrollo reassured, his fingers gently stroking over the bare skin just beneath Kurapika's shirt before pulling his hand away. If they lingered for much longer, they could possibly miss their chance. "We should probably get going."
Again, Kurapika had to quell the brief rush of unease he felt down in the pit of his stomach before managing to compose himself, and nodded towards Chrollo. If they were going to do this, now was the time.
"Alright." He confirmed, then reached for his cloak that was on the back seat. Like in the past, it had come in handy when it came down to staying concealed, so he decided to use it again. He fastened the article around his shoulders, making sure it was secure. "I'm ready," Kurapika said with determination in his voice.
Chrollo gave his lover one last pat on the shoulder before they both reached for the handles on each door, and exited the car.
The inside of Baxel's home was mostly bland except for a few porcelain statues that sat on shelves throughout the place, or the paintings on the walls that weren't of family photos. All the furniture to the appliances and decorations spoke of a man used to living on his own.
Nothing seemed too out of the ordinary, which made it difficult to imagine someone like Baxel Hill having once been an actual criminal or ever showing interest in collecting anything flesh related.
Everything within the home was tailored to suit someone who lived the bachelor lifestyle. This included the setup, which clearly depicted a man who lived there. Although clean and maintained, the majority of what was in the home was useful to someone single. There wasn't much that indicated a woman had ever been a resident within the home, much less any kids.
This time, Chrollo had urged - and quite intensely - that both of them should remain together. Splitting up would have been ideal, but after the incident with Debron, the Ryodan leader wasn't exactly partial to the notion of them separating so they could search faster.
Unlike the mansion where the lunatic scientist had resided, Baxel's home was only half the size. Locating the eyes shouldn't take extremely long.
Kurapika ran his covered fingertips over the immaculate shelving unit that sat in the living room. The wood must have been made from thick oak judging from how ornate it was, down to even the intricate carve work that lined its surface. Several different statues sat amid the layers from nicely decorated vases, to a few in the likeness of animals, even just odd shapes.
None of it screamed fancy and looked to be typical house decorations.
They carefully and attentively canvassed the area, checking each nook and cranny with intense scrutiny. Chrollo had even probed the inside of drawers and cabinets of every table, stand, and the shelving system itself. It was a search that turned up nothing.
"We should check the other areas of the home," Chrollo called out to Kurapika after standing up from a crouching position. "The eyes have to be in another room."
With a silent nod, Kurapika closed the door of the wine cabinet he had been rummaging through and went over to his lover's position. "I agree. If Baxel actually has the Scarlet Eyes, they have to be somewhere inside this house." He paused after noticing two exits that branched off the living room. "Which way from here?" Kurapika questioned.
Since they didn't have a layout of the place, the direction they went in next would be purely random. The only other concern there was aside from completing their objective before Baxel returned was ensuring no signs of their presence remained. Chrollo made a double sweep past each area he searched to eliminate any traces of being there, then had Kurapika do the same.
It was another reason he had insisted they wear gloves. Leaving behind any fingerprints could be just as incriminating as signs of forced entry, or ransacking. He was just as careful when picking the lock on the front door. So far, all was left intact and as they had found it.
Once Chrollo was satisfied that everything was left as it was upon their entry, he started heading towards the furthest exit that led into a partially long hallway. The other entryway he figured branched off into the kitchen. Chances of finding the eyes in there were slim to none. Searching the other rooms that led off the hallway made the most sense.
Without hesitation, Kurapika followed him. Thankfully enough, there was still a fair amount of daylight left, so at least their vision wasn't impeded in any way. The only real negative against them was time. Neither of them had any idea of when the man would return, and without knowing exactly where the eyes were currently located, it made their investigation take longer. Hopefully, they will find them and soon.
Chrollo stopped at the first room he came to and reached for the knob. He paused only momentarily as if he was listening for something, then opened the door. On the other side was a small bedroom that looked like it was set up for guests. Chrollo stepped slowly inside with Kurapika at his heels, both staying cautious although they knew Baxel wasn't home. If by some chance that someone else was there, Chrollo didn't want to be caught off guard.
Everything in the room appeared ordinary; even the furniture and wall hangings were simplistic. The bed was plain - it was queen-sized and adorned with basic dark blue sheets and comforter. Nothing about the frame indicated it was expensive, and made from unvarnished wood. Both the nightstand and dresser were the same. At the far end was a single sitting chair, but the design wasn't anything fancy.
The chance of the eyes turning up there was practically nil. Kurapika turned towards the window that was beside the bed only to catch a glimpse of Chrollo inspecting through what looked like jewelry boxes on the dresser.
"I don't think you will find anything in there." He commented, hands on his hips while staring at the older man. After Chrollo's spiel about leaving no evidence behind, he was doing a pretty poor job of it. "We aren't here for anything else aside from the eyes," Kurapika added with a stern emphasis in his voice.
Abruptly, Chrollo ceased his activities and turned to face his wily, spunky Kurta lover. The first thing he noticed was the disapproving expression on Kurapika's face, and he couldn't help the smirk that crossed his lips as a result. "You caught me, angel. I was looking for the biggest diamond I could find to gift you with. Or maybe I was seeking clues to where the eyes are."
Following his speech, Chrollo's smirk expanded, and all Kurapika could do was roll his eyes in exasperation. His lover's sarcasm never ceased to amaze him. "Anyway, I don't think the eyes are in here. That said, we should probably move on."
After that, Kurapika - while shaking his head - slipped past Chrollo, and back into the hallway. He didn't check to see if the older man had exited behind him, but he was confident his lover had done so anyway. There was still a sensation of urgency coursing through him as if his instincts were in overdrive, and Kurapika found it hard to ignore the itch that something was going to go awry.
It was bad enough they were invading someone's home, and he didn't want to add any other potential issues to that list. So far, he and Chrollo had created a considerable uproar in their wake, one that invoked possible consequences. The last thing either of them needed was more people after them.
That aspect is something you won't be able to avoid. Not so long as you're with Chrollo, or among his spiders. A voice - one that was different than those he had grown used to - called out, and Kurapika was nearly startled by it.
Each word reminded him of the decision he made, and the transition that he would eventually need to make. Growing cold to the world and those in it scared him, especially the idea of exhibiting no emotion to the people he encountered. Being unable to feel, much less show compassion, bothered Kurapika.
He was fully aware that stealing would be a common aspect in life as he stayed by Chrollo's side, or remained a part of the Genei Ryodan, so he already knew what to expect. Accepting it? That was the clencher. While he was still getting accustomed to the notion, it was hard disregarding the reality which he faced. Kurapika always hoped to alter the outcome, and would only consent to use extremes if no other option was available.
However, to a fault, it seemed more and more as if that might not be totally feasible either. And yet, Kurapika was perfectly content to keep the decision he made.
For him, Chrollo was his life. There was no changing just how much he loved the man.
Pushing the thought aside, Kurapika cast a faint smile when he noticed his lover come up swiftly beside him. At the very least, Chrollo didn't have any intention of lingering for longer than necessary.
Searching the other areas - including the remaining bedrooms - took ample time, which Kurapika wasn't happy about as the risk of getting caught grew even higher. Yet, none of the places they inspected contained the eyes. It was frustrating, which made Kurapika start to wonder if Baxel even had the Scarlet Eyes, but it also made him question the reliability of Shalnark's information. While the tech geek's sources had proven useful and accurate in the past, considering their current plight, Kurapika wasn't so sure. If the ex-con indeed had any of the eyes, where were they?
He exchanged glances with Chrollo after they exited the master bedroom, which they assumed was the one Baxel used, and Kurapika fitfully rubbed his temples. "It's beginning to look more and more as if the eyes aren't even here. I could be wrong, but I really hope this doesn't turn out to be a wild goose chase." He murmured, arms crossed over his chest. It was rather difficult for him not to be vexed.
Risks aside, wasting time was another aspect that irritated him. If the Scarlet Eyes didn't turn up, they had inadvertently placed themselves into potential danger for nothing. He didn't quite care for those odds.
Though, from what Kurapika could tell, his lover felt the same way. Chrollo's posture alone gave him that indication. Maybe it wasn't necessarily the risks involved that would have angered the older man, but the fact they would be walking away empty-handed that would. He didn't entirely blame Chrollo, but getting placed in harm's way without even a viable reason pissed him off.
When it came down to it, Kurapika hoped that he was wrong, and the outcome would turn out differently. There was one room left for them to check, so it all came down to what resided on the other side of the door.
"I have to say the feeling is mutual," Chrollo responded, his eyes locked on Kurapika. "However, we shouldn't make a final decision until we inspect the last area of the house. Without knowing, we could pass up finding the eyes if they really are there." He couldn't blame the younger man. If the roles were reversed, Chrollo was sure he would have reacted the same way.
Still, they needed to be smart about it to avoid making any decisions that either of them would later regret.
Thankfully, it seemed that Kurapika got the point. The blond gestured with his hand towards the door beside him. "Alright. If the eyes are here, then we should find them in that room." He commented and swept up behind Chrollo as the older man pushed the door open.
They both stepped inside what appeared to be a large study. Bookshelves lined one wall full with many volumes while several small tables sat opposite, a variety of statues on their surfaces. In the center sat a wooden desk with a leather chair behind it. From the setup, there didn't seem to be any sign of the Scarlet Eyes, when something tugged at Kurapika's attention.
Off in the far corner of the room adjacent to one of the bookshelves was another smaller, thinner shelf that housed what he immediately recognized were containers. Inside of them were scarlet hued eyes floating amid a viscous liquid. Three sets of them.
"Chrollo," Kurapika whispered, and he pointed in the direction of the shelves where the eyes were, tension distinct in his movements. "They're here." He added, a slight tremble to his voice.
Sensing his lover's upheaval, Chrollo gently rubbed the younger man's back, his motions slow, reassuring. He understood how hard it was on Kurapika. Offering him comfort would hopefully make it easier. "It's alright. I'll retrieve them."
Reluctantly, he pulled away from Kurapika and summoned Skill Hunter. Chrollo flipped through its pages until he came to the one that housed Fun Fun cloth, and made it appear. One by one, he carefully, but diligently removed the canisters from the shelves they were on, and proceeded to stow them inside it with the other pairs that he and Kurapika had already acquired.
After the last canister was safely within, Chrollo called it back to his book.
"Who the hell are you?" A voice suddenly rang out, and Chrollo looked up just after he closed Skill Hunter, causing it to vanish from sight. Kurapika jerked reflexively to the side, causing his cloak to flutter around him.
Surprise laced the blond's features. He didn't expect anyone to creep up behind them. What he wanted to say died in his throat as caution sparked his awareness. What he dreaded would happen, had actually happened. Before he could say anything, his eyes landed on a tall, muscular man who appeared only slightly older than Chrollo with dark, cropped hair and brown eyes.
The first thing Kurapika noticed was the oddly shaped scar that lined the man's left jaw along with the array of tattoos crawling up his arms. He was noticeably built as if the man spent years of training or working out. Even his posture made him appear intimidating, the expression on his face practically incriminating.
Kurapika drew in a sharp breath while retaining his composure. Panicking now would only make their situation far worse. He tried to answer the man's question but was interrupted beforehand.
"You're Baxel Hill, I presume?" Chrollo inquired, his tone aloof. The raven-head took a few steps closer and came astride Kurapika, his posture indicating that he was defensive. Chrollo wasn't about to let anything happen to his lover.
One thing he noticed, though, was how easily the man got close to the room they were in without even alerting them. Either he was an average person who was abnormally silent or a Nen user who was adeptly skilled with using In. Finding out which option was half the battle.
The burly man raised an eyebrow, but his stature never changed. "Yes, I am Baxel Hill. Now tell me who you both are, and why the fuck you're in my study, let alone my damn home."
Each syllable, down to the man's tone, spoke of utter infuriation. It was widely evident that he was in no mood for bullshit.
The area grew still as the tension rose in the air. Kurapika had become nervous while he hastily searched for a solution. Chrollo, on the other hand, appeared contemplative. Although the chances of their unwilling host waiting for them to formulate an acceptable explanation were slim to none, something had to be done regardless.
Fighting him was the last thing Kurapika wanted as they did not need to invoke another bout of commotion, but it would just be another person to add to the growing list of those whom they had earned the ire of. There had to be some non-combative way of getting out of their current situation. Hopefully, Chrollo wasn't planning on doing anything impetuous.
"You see, that is a rather interesting story," Chrollo began, and almost instantly, Kurapika had the suspicion that he wasn't going to be exactly thrilled with the answer his lover was about to give. "I actually received information that someone in the area owned a few artifacts that are extremely rare and hard to come by. So, my associate and I decided to investigate, and here we are."
A mocking, almost pretentious grin worked its way over Chrollo's features, and Kurapika nearly found his jaw contacting the floor. He didn't expect his lover to be so straightforward. Even down to the point of blatantly telling Baxel exactly why they were in the man's home. It took Kurapika everything not to facepalm right then and there. After countless times Chrollo had chided him for acting rashly, and now this?
Perhaps they were doomed from the start. Or, in the sense that it wouldn't have mattered what answer Chrollo gave the man.
Either way, Kurapika could only see this farce ending badly.
Baxel's expression grew dark as if the man were a rolling thunderhead, and it virtually confirmed that he did have little to no patience left. "You mean that you've come to steal them." The man corrected, his tone laced with almost pure venom. His gaze flicked from the two other men before him, to the empty shelf behind them. It was all he needed to confirm the intruders' true intentions. "I honestly never imagined that anyone would ever decide to invade my home to steal the Scarlet Eyes I own, but it seems that notion was entirely unfounded. Now, the real question is, what to do with you lot?"
The air seemed to thicken as if it were practically dense; even the sensation of malice became quite apparent. Instantly, Kurapika was able to pick up traces of Baxel's aura, though it was different than before. Where it was calm and collected, it was now angry and turbulent. Before Chrollo's response, he didn't sense anything out of the ordinary about the man, but now Kurapika could tell he wasn't a typical civilian. The only logical answer was that Baxel was a Nen user.
What kind of odds was it for them to cross someone - an ex-con of all people - living a mundane life that could wield Nen? Of course, individuals who could manipulate their aura, or even access it was uncommon to rare, so the majority of people don't even know it exists. For those who can, they were generally nomadic or preferred to stay on the move, so finding a person that veered from the norm was a little surprising.
And yet, it didn't change the fact that Baxel was still a potential Nen user who was miffed to find intruders inside his home. With each passing second, the aggression surrounding them became even more intense, enough so that it caused a thread of apprehension within Kurapika. The young blond Kurta steeled himself for what was to come. Anything less, and it could spell disaster.
He cast a fleeting glance towards Chrollo, but his partner didn't seem all that phased. The man's repose was unbelievable, considering the circumstances. "That would be a more accurate representation," Chrollo vocalized calmly, "as the Scarlet Eyes are the only reason we came here. Nevertheless, we will be taking our leave, and you won't have to worry about us any longer."
This time, Chrollo's grey eyes locked with Baxel's brown ones as he could tell from the man's posture alone that he had no intention of letting them leave. It was something that Chrollo had realized from the moment Baxel appeared in the doorway. Even intimidation didn't seem to work, so either Baxel willingly relented, or he and Kurapika were ultimately going to have to fight their way out.
Neither option sounded promising, but that was only because Kurapika liked a more diplomatic approach. Given his druthers, he would just kill Baxel right then and there. But it wasn't the way Kurapika wanted to handle matters, so Chrollo refrained.
Perhaps knocking the man out cold would suffice.
Baxel looked even more disgusted by his response. He felt Kurapika shift beside him. Chrollo knew it wasn't going exactly as his lover had hoped, but getting out of the house intact was their next priority.
"Have to say I can't let you do that," Baxel responded, and suddenly, the air around him surged. There was no doubt about it. He could use Nen. "It's bad enough you two broke into my house and violated my privacy by searching it, but don't think that I am going to just step aside and let you walk out of here with those eyes. Otherwise, there is going to be a real problem."
He then moved slightly forward, arms crossed, and posture erect as to emphasize his statement. Chrollo wasn't entirely surprised by the man's response, but regrettably, it complicated matters for him and Kurapika.
It was another reason that he didn't want to hold back for his lover's sake. Baxel was leaving them with no other choice. "I had a feeling that was going to be your answer," Chrollo drawled slowly, his gaze firm with Baxel's, "so now we are left at an impasse. Regardless of your declaration, my partner and I will be leaving here, and with the eyes." His expression hardened as if to show that he had no intention of being swayed.
Almost immediately, the tension in the room grew even more prominent, so much that Chrollo visibly noticed it. Even Kurapika stiffened beside him, and it was easy to see that his lover was quite perturbed. He was sure the younger man didn't like how quickly the situation escalated, but when it came down to it, there really was no other alternative. The other man definitely had no intention of talking or accepting a diplomatic approach.
So, Chrollo felt it was the only way.
It was a split-second decision. One that seemed to be the most logical recourse to counteract Baxel's threat. Ordinarily, he didn't prefer using more pacified methods of handling impediments; it wasn't how he and his spiders dealt with those who tried to hinder or obstruct them, but he had made Kurapika a promise.
However, if Baxel became a threat, then all bets were off.
That assessment started to look more evident as the rise in pressure from the man's aura intensified and became more imposing. Chrollo could sense aggression within it.
"Is that so?" Baxel stated darkly. His energy squalled, causing the air to thicken. "Such a shame. I was initially thinking of letting you go without incident if you had decided to surrender the Scarlet Eyes, but that doesn't seem to be the case."
Suddenly, an intense wind picked up around the room. Where stillness once was, a fierce tempest replaced it. Chrollo watched the man across from them with unfazed scrutiny; his attention fixed on the display before him while Kurapika stared utterly perplexed. It was only after the young Kurta had finally managed to recollect himself did he realize the magnitude of what actually transpired. His expression turned exasperated before bleeding slowly into vexation.
Without thinking, Kurapika's chains appeared on his right hand automatically, the tinkling sound they produced was almost unheard amid the droning noise. "This is exactly what I wanted to avoid." He commented, frustration clear in his voice. Engaging in a fight, especially inside a closed space, worried him. Damn Chrollo for instigating such a response. "Now, it looks like we'll have to force our way out." Kurapika narrowed his eyes as the wind blustering around them whipped his cloak around and partially obscured his vision.
Which he found strange overall. As it raged, nothing appeared to move on the desk or the shelves along the walls. Even the windows to the study were closed, so it didn't originate from there. The only logical source had to be Nen, and whatever the ability, it's composition was obvious. Baxel was a Transmuter.
Great. It was all they needed. Despite that he and Chrollo had the advantage as Specialists, the sheer fact they were now dealing with another Nen user only hindered them further. It was bad enough they had created enough of a stir just by stealing the Scarlet Eyes, but causing a ruckus in the process only increased their problems. Who knew what kind of outcome would be had from this encounter alone. Kurapika hissed through his teeth. It seemed like that no matter how hard he tried to keep damage to a minimum, it always seemed to backfire. The only way to reduce any negative results now would be to end the fight as quickly as possible.
Kurapika's attention turned briefly towards Chrollo as he could see his lover from the edges of his vision, and noticed the older man had retrieved his Benz Knife. It was an effective weapon as Chrollo knew how to wield it and quite aptly, so hopefully, between that, and his chains, they would be able to disable Baxel without much issue. Though, judging from his observation, the other man was able to manipulate his aura by turning into a semblance of wind.
Something like that could be tricky to contend with.
"We need to be careful," Chrollo stated over the loud, blustering sound reverberating through the room. "One wrong move could spell disaster." The currents ferociously whipped his hair and clothes about indicating how volatile it was, giving Chrollo further reason for caution.
Even visibility was limited, making it hard to see Baxel through the squall before him. If the barrage went on long enough, it could put them at a significant disadvantage. They had to stop the man and fast.
Kurapika grunted when a strand of wind was abruptly flung in his direction, causing him to jerk to the side. "You don't have to tell me twice." He called back over the noise and ducked instantly when another thread came flying at him. It cut through the desk beside him like butter. "At this rate, the bastard will destroy this place along with us in it!" Kurapika then shot quickly to the left before jerking his hand forward to release his Dowsing chain. It surged into the squall in an attempt to contact Baxel on the other side. Almost immediately, it was deflected.
"I won't allow that to happen," Chrollo responded, and took Kurapika's lead. He darted towards Baxel, his focus primarily on the whipping tendrils before him as he tried to calculate their moves.
Yet, before he could even get close, several tendrils materialized to block his advancement. Chrollo instinctively moved to the side as one came lashing towards him, though his back nearly contacted one of the shelves from getting too close. He reoriented himself before rounding on the man while coming at his blind spot, but before Chrollo was able to land a blow, another tendril shot forward, cutting him off and forcing him back.
Again, Chrollo attempted to rebound on Baxel by using a set of aerial maneuvers but was intercepted once more by wind threads from above.
It seemed that using brute force wasn't effective as Baxel's aura repelled them at every chance given. Off to the side, he was able to see that Kurapika didn't appear to be having any more luck since the younger man's chains were getting deflected just as easily as his blade did. Chrollo contemplated releasing his Indoor Fish since the conditions needed to set them loose were prime, but with how turbulent the air was, the likelihood of them getting caught up in the squall was high.
The disruption made Chrollo back up as the intensity of the wind grew, which caused the situation to become increasingly chaotic.
"You're both just wasting your time! Give up now, and surrender before it's too late!" Baxel hollered through the noise, the man's voice almost patronizing. Without hesitation, he deflected another one of the blond man's attacks, those silver chains of his moving with near serpent-like precision, each one attacking almost relentlessly than the last.
It was amazing just how much zeal and vigor the young man had. There was a fire that Baxel could see which burned down in the other man's soul. Such was admirable. Even the dark-haired man proved to be exceptionally skilled, both of them filled with spirit and determination.
However, such fortitude would go to waste. Neither of the two men seemed willing to relent and decided to keep their fracas going all for a few pairs of eyes from a long-dead people. That aspect was something Baxel found strange. Why were they going through such great lengths to obtain them? It just didn't add up.
The comment made Kurapika huff indignantly. While he didn't have any motivation to rob the steely-eyed man of his life, in no way was he about to surrender to him either. One way or the other, they were going to leave the place intact.
"That isn't going to happen!" Kurapika shouted back, but this time, his Steal chain was poised to attack before it snapped forward while snaking towards Baxel viperishly. It wove around the currents with relative ease before aiming to strike at the side of the man's neck. All other frontal assaults had failed, so potentially robbing the man of his Hatsu was Kurapika's next objective. No matter what, he and Chrollo needed to end the fight quickly.
His chain swiftly threaded around the incoming barrages as several wind tendrils tried to knock it back, each one was more brutal than the last, but he managed to avoid them all. When the tip got close enough to connect, it was deflected at the last possible second. Kurapika recalled the chain with an irritated grunt while a snide grin made its way across Baxel's face.
"Your wild attacks aren't going to work on me, boy!" He called back tauntingly, the depth of his aura only gradually increasing the longer their confrontation went on. Since most of the onslaught was directed towards the front, all he had to do was increase the output to that particular area. Luckily for him, both his opponents hadn't realized the set back to his skill. So long as neither of them figured it out, the fight would end soon. "Both of you are just wasting effort." He added, but instead of remaining planted in the door as he had been, Baxel took a few steps inward.
The advancement caused Kurapika to back up, and at the same time, he noticed Chrollo was attempting to use the diversion to drive forward another attack. He then dropped into a defensive stance before fluidly switching to offensive, his chains once again whipping around him as he decided to keep Baxel's attention on him while Chrollo came around the man's flank.
If his focus was divided, it might be enough to throw him off-kilter for one of them to land a solid blow. Whatever Baxel's Nen skill was, it gave them both a difficult time bringing him down.
Ignoring his taunt, Kurapika moved slightly backward before lunging ahead, his Steal chain once again aiming to impact Baxel, but this time, directly on his chest. As Kurapika expected, the man quickly parried his attack. Then, at the exact same moment, Chrollo skirted around Baxel's right side, Benz knife ready to bite flesh when at the last possible second, the tip ricocheted and caused him to draw away.
Shock briefly crossed over Kurapika's features the moment it happened. He was confident that Baxel's defense had been momentarily disrupted by their coordinated attack, but somehow, the man was able to stave them off at every possible turn. Even Chrollo looked contemplative, uncertain on how each of their volleys was so easily deflected.
Regardless that Baxel was capable of using Nen or that he was a Transmuter, every skill, even Hatsu itself had a drawback or flaw. Somewhere, he had a weakness. They just had to figure out what it was and use it to their advantage.
Time seemed to drag on, the tide of the battle unchanged as every attack made was solely tit for tat. No matter how many blows they attempted to land, Baxel nullified every one.
At several points, they tried to inundate the man by cornering him, but even that strategy had ultimately failed. It began to appear as if the match would end either in a draw or with them losing when something caught Chrollo's attention the second he had gotten flung back by a rather nasty rebound from one of Baxel's wind tendrils.
He had moved away, book in hand, and readied to summon Indoor Fish when he abruptly stopped. Chrollo noticed a peculiar change in Baxel's defense that he hadn't caught before. As Kurapika continued to fight with the man, he saw the wisping barrier on his left side wasn't as intense or prominent as it was to the front of him. Then, it nearly dropped away completely when the younger man went in for an attack, leaving Baxel's side practically exposed.
The notion hit Chrollo in its entirety.
Where it gave the impression that Baxel lacked any weakness, signs to the contrary eventually became entirely clear. His skill was limited to only one area. Baxel rose his walls of wind right before a blow was able to connect, meaning he couldn't fend off more than one attack at a time. If they were able to charge the man in complete unison-.
"Kurapika!" Chrollo called to the blond Kurta from over the din. Another tendril came whipping at him, and he nimbly moved out of the way. "Use your chains to attack him! They're the only things capable of even getting close. Seek to restrain him if you can!" The instant Kurapika broke attention from their opponent to face him, Chrollo gave his lover an insightful nod.
It took Kurapika several seconds to parse what Chrollo meant, but when he noticed a small curvature form on those lips, it indicated the older man was up to something. At the current rate he and Chrollo were going, they almost needed a miracle to escape their current predicament. With any luck, his lover had figured out Baxel's weakness.
The sound of wood splintering close by snapped Kurapika's attention back to the man before him. "You really think you can stop me, boy?" Baxel snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. Again, he drew in closer, shortening the gap between him and the young, blond man. "All your attacks are just as useless as your partner's. There isn't anything you can do. Just give it up already." Without hesitation, he flung his left hand forward, and another wind tendril larger than most was shot in Kurapika's direction.
"We shall see about that!" He retorted, then brought his Dowsing chain up just as the onslaught reached him. The two connected with such ferocity that it nearly rocked the room. Kurapika ground his teeth as he fought the tendril off.
After a few painful seconds, the offending invader was flung back, and Kurapika had to catch his breath from the physical strain it caused him. Yet, almost instantly, he prepared to launch another assault.
"Still got a bit of vigor in you, I see," Baxel complimented, but Kurapika merely frowned in response. Seeing the reaction made him smile instead. He found it immensely remarkable but also fascinating that someone like the blond man he faced had so much ferocity and determination. It was as if he was ready to place his life on the line for a few pairs of dead eyeballs. It was unbelievable. "Though, how long do you plan to keep this up?"
Baxel wasn't entirely surprised when the young man decided to charge forward, nor was he caught off guard by the attack that followed. What he hadn't anticipated was the swift uppercut that suddenly connected to his jaw. The force of it sent him staggering backward as he clutched the side of his face.
However, before he could recuperate, Baxel was only able to catch a quick image of the dark-haired man slugging him with a fist to the gut, followed by an elbow to the back of his head as his breath was knocked from his lungs which made his vision swim. Every muscle in his body screamed when he tried to move, and his gut twisted in protest. It seemed he was too focused on his opponent with the blue eyes that he forgot about the tall man with the raven-colored hair.
They figured out the flaw to his ability, after all.
He knew that Wind Charger could only attack or defend from one area at a time. Although he tried to conceal that fact, the dark-haired man had managed to figure it out. Baxel looked up after vomiting just in time to see the very same man standing over him, a triumphant smile over those lips before everything went completely black.
Chrollo stood up while rubbing his now partially bruised knuckles. There was no expression of pity on his features, only admiration for how well Baxel fought. He turned to face Kurapika, who had come up from behind after finally recovering from his recent altercation. His lover's eyes shifted between him to Baxel, who laid in a heap on the floor. "Is he?" Kurapika questioned.
"Dead? No. He's just been knocked out. It should be some time before he wakes up," Chrollo responded and reserved another glance towards Baxel. "Honestly, I was beginning to think we would never have gained the opening we needed to stop him. It's a good thing that happened before he was able to completely destroy the place." He breathed out and let his hand fall to his side. The pain was slightly aggravating, but it would eventually heal. In the end, they had what they came for.
A frown had made its way over Kurapika's lips. Of course, he was somewhat discontent with how savagely Baxel was put down, almost as if Chrollo's actual intent was to kill the man, but he wasn't dead, and if the battle had continued for much longer, both of them might have ended up buried underneath a pile of stone and mortar. Kurapika glanced around at the wreckage within the room and grunted. They were alive, at least.
His attention landed on Chrollo once again. "Good to hear," Kurapika commented as he finally made his chains dematerialize. More often than not, he let them remain visible, but for now, it was best he kept them hidden. He and Chrollo were done with their mission and needed to get moving before anyone managed to find them. "That said, we should probably get the hell out of here before someone shows up. Who knows what kind of commotion the fight may have provoked."
Unfortunately, them causing any sort of disturbance was the last thing Kurapika wanted, but the least they could do was leave before anything else had the chance to happen. He was also exhausted and wanted to get back to the hotel as is. The headache he acquired in the process didn't help either.
It appeared that regardless of circumstance, avoiding outcomes such as this wasn't entirely plausible. Kurapika expelled a sigh. He shouldn't expect less. Going after the Scarlet Eyes was a dangerous ambition. There was no other way of putting it.
Surely Chrollo had felt the same way.
The older man wasted no time answering him. "I won't argue with you there," Chrollo added. He and Kurapika had already lingered for long enough as is. They had the eyes in their possession, so there was no further point in around. "With that in mind, it's probably best we exit through the back before heading to the car. Luckily, it's getting dark, so that will aid in making it easier for us." Chrollo slid over to the closest window near their position, and peeked out, though from what he could see, no one appeared to be in the streets. Still, there was no way of knowing who could have been watching from inside the surrounding homes or otherwise. He felt it was best they left in the manner he had suggested.
Kurapika watched him, but when Chrollo returned, he simply nodded to his lover. "Alright. Let's get the hell out of here, then." He urged. After everything they had been through recently, Kurapika felt as though he could sleep for a week.
Smiling, Chrollo gave the younger man a reassuring pat on the shoulder before gesturing for him to follow. He was just as ready to get back to the hotel. The battle had worn him down, and he needed a hot shower. Both of them needed a good meal as well. "This way," Chrollo stated and cast one last look at the unconscious man, then strode out of the ruined room with Kurapika in tow. It didn't take too long for them to exit the house and make it back to the street unseen as twilight had since descended. Once they were back in the car, both of them had fallen silent.
The trip back was the same; neither of them spoke and lost to their own thoughts. For Kurapika, the quiet gave him time to reflect on everything that happened so far.
Darkness had finally engulfed the room. Kurapika laid in the bed pressed against Chrollo's side while listening to his lover snore. After they made it back to their hotel room, showered, ate dinner, and climbed into the bed, he found it difficult to sleep. Whatever the reason was, Kurapika couldn't rest. It wasn't that he was uncomfortable. On the contrary, between the soft sheets and his lover's warm body, Kurapika was quite content, yet, he couldn't manage to fall asleep.
Even listening to Chrollo breathe, or the man's rhythmic heartbeat didn't help any. No matter what he did, it seemed that his mind spun around the events that happened earlier that day.
As their missions grew increasingly difficult, so did the weight each one had on his mentality. Whatever the reason, Kurapika could only struggle with the outcomes. Contending with them, on the other hand, was something he strived to learn, although he was confident that it wouldn't have been possible if Chrollo wasn't there to support him.
Just like his encounter with Debron, Corthoes, and so many others, each one left him mentally scarred. While it couldn't compare to what happened with his clan, it still didn't help his delicate outlook. Staying in perspective, and remaining positive was no less hard, though it was Chrollo who kept him from ultimately breaking.
If it wasn't for the man who was now holding him tight in those strong, protective arms, Kurapika wasn't sure where he would've ended up. More often than not, he was grateful for Chrollo being the one to keep giving him reasons to survive despite the odds, even if the man was the one responsible for initially putting him in that position.
Not once has his lover ceased trying to rectify what he did. It only made Kurapika love him that much more.
Perhaps if he focused on how much Chrollo wanted him to press on, and that he meant everything to the man, it would make things easier. Truthfully, he knew that Chrollo only wanted the best for him.
Kurapika sighed quietly, and he gently but carefully shifted just enough so that his head came to rest on Chrollo's shoulder. He then buried his nose against the skin of his lover's neck.
The movement had caused Chrollo to groan and shift slightly in his sleep, but he then immediately settled before snoring again. Kurapika breathed in the man's scent before letting his eyes close.
Maybe if he forgot about all else, he would finally be able to sleep. God knows, his mind needed a break.
Chrollo's arm tightened reflexively around his waist, and Kurapika let it comfort him as he was slowly pulled into the world of dreams.
After thoughts: I hope everyone enjoyed how this turned out. Honestly, I was quite happy with it, although it came out a bit longer than I intended. Even the fight scene between our boys and Baxel was pretty fun to write as conflict leaves so many possibilities for endings. While people may think I dislike putting them through hell, to the contrary, I enjoy using it as a method for not only driving Chrollo and Kurapika closer together but as a tool for changing how Kurapika will react once he fully integrates into the Spiders. There is so much to come over the next twenty-plus chapters.
However, I want to mention again, with the growing uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, and with how crazy life is in general, please bear with me if chapter releases are slower than usual. With luck, I will manage to get them out every two-to-three weeks, but it isn't a guarantee. If all goes well, they will come out as usual. Though I have no plans on letting this fic remain incomplete, so there is that! :
Thank you to everyone as usual for your continued support! Even the smallest bit helps. :3