Adella holds up a finger to an analyst as her phone rings. "One second." Thankfully, their question isn't an immediate concern. She checks the number, one she's become familiar with, and smiles, answering. "Hey!"

"It's September 1st."

She frowns. Was that significant in some way? "Uh, yeah? It is?"

The voice on the other end chuckles, followed by static. Was that it? "Adella!"

She gasps, tears in her eyes. "Gon!"

"Killua is here too!" She hears him ask if he wants to say hi, and the ensuing argument as Killua says no. She chuckles, happy to hear them. She hadn't been in contact since the exam, hadn't seen them since the fight on tv. Gon sounded fine, even if news outlets had claimed he'd lost dramatically and was beyond broken. "He's being shy…"

"I am not!"

"But he says hi!"

She grins. "Well, hello to you too, Killua."

She hears a mumbled hi back, and Gon laughs. "When do we get to see you? It's been so long!"

"It has." She admits. "I get off at five. Meet me for dinner?"

"Okay!" Gon hands the phone to Leorio, who makes sure he gets the address right.

"Will Kurapika be joining us?" She doesn't need to see him to know he's blushing. As she's gotten to know Leorio, occasionally meeting him for meals, she's noticed he gets flustered talking about the other Hunter. "I don't think so. We haven't seen him yet."

"Well," she teases, "that's too bad. When he shows, I'll take the boys so you two can have a date night."

"Adella!"

She laughs. Young love was funny like that. "I'm teasing. I'll see you three later, okay?"

"Okay." She bids her goodbyes, turning back to her analyst. "Sorry, family matter."

They don't ask any questions, merely nodding and directing her attention to the samples they are dealing with. The knowledge that Gon and Killua are waiting for her at the end of the day makes it go by faster, and at five o'clock sharp, she's out the door.

"Adella!" Gon sees her before she even steps inside, up and running to hug her at the door.

"Gon!" She pulls him close, hunching over so he's engulfed.

He laughs, tugging her to the table. He sits her between him and Killua, leaving room for Kurapika should he show. "Hey." Killua doesn't look her in the eyes.

"Hi." She feels awkward. "I'm sorry about the exam."

He shrugs. "Nothing you could do." They fall silent, contemplating. "Gon said you told them where to find me."

"It was the least I could do." And it truly was. "I should have gone."

"You had work."

"It could have waited."

Killua finally looks up at her. "What did he do to you?"

Adella feels her mouth go dry. "He used a needle on me. To keep me safe during the storm." She hesitates. "I had asked him never to do so without permission."

"And he did." Killua nods. "Sounds about right. So why are you still with him?"

She grimaces. Thankfully, Leorio has distracted Gon with the menu, leaving this conversation mostly private. "Love doesn't care about what should be done." She looks at Gon. "You'll learn that soon enough. Even familial love, true familial love, excuses a lot."

The boy shakes his head. "You should have left."

"I almost did." That seems to shock him. "We fought. He threatened to turn me into the perfect Zoldyck wife. So I told him I was done."

"And?" Killua leans close, suddenly invested. "What happened?"

"And," she huffs. "And for once, your brother was human. He's working on it, apologizing."

Killua scoffs. "Illumi doesn't apologize. What he says goes."

Adella hums. "Which is why he hasn't touched me since? Which is why he's never home? Why he's giving me space?"

Killua glares at the menu, annoyed. "What have you done to him?"

"Beg pardon?"

The Zoldyck huffs. "That's not… Illumi doesn't do that. The being understanding thing. Why is he doing it for you?"

She smiles bitterly. "Like I said, love doesn't care what reason says. He's fighting a lot of Zoldyck conditioning for me. I have to meet him halfway."

Killua grumbles. "I guess if the idiot is gonna love anyone, it's nice that it's you." It's the end of the conversation; Killua grabs the menu to hide in it. Still, Adella smiles, happy that just maybe she's getting somewhere with her potential little brother.

"So what are we getting!" Gon asks, finally turning to them. "I'm starved!"