Killua sat straight up in his bed, his eyes narrowed in distaste. The alarm on his phone was echoing piercingly through his bedroom, and the half opened curtains spilled early morning light across his sheets. He wasn't upset because he was waking up at 8 in the morning, no, he'd committed to doing that every single day this winter break so he could make money.

He was upset because of the dream that was hovering on the edges of his mind.

"What the fuck," he muttered to himself.

Killua couldn't remember exactly what that dream had been about, but he could remember that Gon had been involved. Why would Gon be in my dream? That's freaking weird. Besides, I never remember my dreams, and whenever I do the only people involved are Alluka, Ikalgo, and occasionally Illumi. Since when has Gon joined my dream cast?

The silver haired boy rolled his eyes. It was best to dismiss the thought entirely.

He reached over to turn off his alarm, and hauled himself out of bed to get ready for work.

…

"What's Alluka's boyfriend like?!"

Killua sighed dramatically, and leaned his head against the frigid glass of the drive through window. Luckily for him, he was on drive duty with Ikalgo all day long! They were double-shift buddies!

"Is that tea I smell? I think I smell tea!" said Meleoron as he sprinted from the office in the back to join Ikalgo and Killua in the drive. The lunch rush had just fizzled out, and all the strict managers (Kurapika and Zepile) had left a few minutes ago. Meleoron was closing tonight, and that meant Killua could slack off all he wanted! Yay!

The lanky man planted himself beside Ikalgo in front of the cash register, and the two of them faced Killua with mirrored expressions of glee and anticipation. Meleoron had a pale, freckled face with huge glasses and an unruly mass of green-dyed hair. He always wore a gray sweatshirt over his Beanz polo, and he never took it off no matter how much Kurapika complained.

Chrollo scurried over from the front counter to join the congregation in the drive through.

"So, his name is Zushi," Killua declared.

The other three males gasped in unison.

"He's a sophomore at Yorknew University just like me and Ikalgo, and he's in pre-vet. He's not a frat boy like fucking Hanzo was, and he's not a skank-ass-bitch like Retz."

"What's he like?" Ikalgo demanded.

"Did you kill him yet?!" Chrollo gasped.

"He's acceptable," Killua drawled. "Alluka won't let me murder him though."

"Oh my gosh!" Meleoron exclaimed. "This is unheard of! Are you really letting your sister date someone?!"

"Unfortunately I am," Killua complained. "I would have beat him up, but Alluka went out of her way to keep me from doing so. I guess he's alright. He's just bland enough not to piss me off, and his face kind of looks like a teddy bear so I guess he's got that going for him. Alluka likes cutesie guys."

"He looks like a teddy bear?" Chrollo asked, sounding skeptical.

"Alluka took a shit ton of pictures, here I'll find her post and show you," Killua offered.

"Yay!" Meleoron cheered as the three of them crowded around Killua to watch him open Instagram.

"Didn't Zushi bring his roommate or something?" Ikalgo asked.

"Yeah," Killua sighed, "But he wasn't anything special– WHAT THE FUCK–"

When Killua scrolled far enough to find Alluka's post, he was horrified to find that the first image was a highly edited picture of him and Gon! What?! When had Alluka taken that?! Killua brought the phone closer to his face, because he was NOT seeing what he thought he was seeing!

"Woah, who's that?!" Ikalgo asked.

Killua growled as he read Alluka's seemingly innocent caption. What the hell! Why had she taken a picture like that?! Him and Gon were leaning against the gate surrounding the Christmas tree in Central Park, and Alluka had taken a picture of them mid-conversation. It looked like they were a fucking couple! What the hell?!

Grumpily scrolling through the rest of Alluka's pictures, he found that the majority of them were taken of him and Gon, with the occasional appearance of Zushi and Alluka.

Killua scrolled back to the first picture, which was by far the most incriminating. Gon was leaned a little towards Killua as he laughed, and Killua was staring up at him with a genuine smile on his face. The silver haired boy glared at this slanderous display, why the fuck hadn't Alluka asked before taking a picture like that?!

"Woah, who got you smilein' like that, Killua?" Chrollo laughed, leaning over the younger male's shoulder to zoom in on Gon's face.

Killua shrugged him off, "No one, it's just Zushi's stupid roomate."

"That looks romantic, why didn't you tell us you were talking to someone?" Meleoron teased.

"It's not romantic!" Killua snapped. "That picture is taken way out of context!" He fumed as he read the various comments talking about how "cute" him and Gon were together, what the fuck.

"Oh my god, I think I know that guy!" Ikalgo gasped.

"Who?!" Meleoron and Chrollo demanded in unison.

"His name is Gon! He lived a floor above me in my old dorm! Killua, I didn't know you guys were–"

"We're not anything!" Killua interrupted. "Gon is Zushi's roommate, and we were forced to interact because of Alluka and Zushi! We're not friends, and we're definitely not dating!"

Ikalgo wiggled his way under Killua's arm to swipe through the pictures to find one that had Zushi in it rather than Gon and Killua laughing together like the model pictures they sold in picture frames at Target.

"Aw, they're so cute together!" he whined, landing on a picture of Alluka and Zushi sitting in one of the carriages. "They look so happy! Couldn't be me," he pouted.

Killua snorted. "Don't worry, I'd marry you in a heartbeat."

Ikalgo smirked and messed up Killua's hair. "Can't do that, buddy, you're already married to Gon–"

"-Shut the fuck up!"

…

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"

Alluka did nothing but laugh on the other end of the phone.

"Alluka! Why did you post this?!" Killua screamed. He had his phone balanced between his shoulder and his ear as he did his dishes. He'd decided on a whim to make pasta tonight (he'd been too broke to buy real spaghetti sauce so he'd just made spaghetti noodles and covered them in olive oil and pepper). Unfortunately, actually going through the trouble of making his own food also made dishes.

So now Killua was stuck doing the dishes… as well as the other dishes that had been piling up for the past couple weeks. He was really busy, okay?! And also just a tiny bit lazy…

"I don't know why you're so upset, brother!" Alluka giggled.

"Why are you laughing then?! Because you sense my misfortune?!"

"It's just a picture of you and Gon!"

"One picture?! There are like seven!"

Alluka wheezed, "But what's wrong with them, big brother? They're just pictures!"

"Just pictures?!" Killua talked animatedly with the sponge, flinging suds all over his kitchen counter. "Are you blind?! It looks like Gon and I are together!"

"Noooo–"

"-Yes it does! Have you read the comments?! I know you did this on purpose!"

Alluka snickered mischievously, confirming Killua's suspicions.

"I hate you."

"You know you love me~"

"I'm never speaking to you again!" Killua yelled, taking his phone away from his ear and preparing to end the call.

"Wait!" Alluka shrieked. Killua reluctantly pressed the phone back against his ear. "It's just a picture of you and Gon talking together. Sure, you two look just a little gay in it, but why should it matter?"

Killua opened his mouth, and then closed it again.

"You and Gon aren't dating, right? So the picture doesn't mean anything," Alluka continued. "Since that's the case, then why are you so freaked out about the picture?"

Killua frowned, unsure how to respond to that.

…

Why do I care about the picture Alluka posted? Well… obviously, it's because Gon and I look like a couple! But… like Alluka said, we aren't a couple, and one picture taken out of context isn't going to change that. So… why am I freaking out?

Killua grumbled to himself, and rolled over in his bed. All his lights were switched off, and he was laid on his side with all six of his blankets drawn up over his head. Killua loved throw blankets, he was addicted to them. He was also always freezing fucking cold, so naturally his bed was constantly collecting more and more layers.

He was laying on his side and scrolling through his phone until he fell asleep. Killua scrolled absentmindedly through Instagram. He'd been laying here for an hour and a half now, and he should probably go to sleep considering it was nearing one in the morning and he had to be awake for work again at eight.

Killua sighed, and reloaded his feed as he mentally prepared to go to sleep. When the page refreshed, he was brought back to the top, and face to face with Alluka's post about the night before.

The silver haired boy sat and gazed at the screen for a few moments. He took in the picture of him and Gon, both of them looking so happy and lost in each other's eyes. They looked like they were suspended in a sea of glowing golden orbs, and Killua's hair reflected the buttery light of the Christmas tree.

Killua found his eyes drawn to Gon in particular, with his warm skin and fire colored eyes. Even through a screen, his smile was just as bright as it was in person.

I remember what we were talking about when this picture was taken. Gon was telling me a story about him and Zushi flooding their bathroom… It was so funny, and he was so carefree about it. When he talks, I can't help but listen with all of my being. Why is that? Why does he have that effect on me?

Killua scrolled through the pictures of him and Gon, watching as their conversation progressed through little snippets of time.

Gon's eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles… it's as if his face isn't strong enough to hold all that raw joy.

Killua looked at Gon's smile, and then at his lips. The memory of those lips against his drifted unbeckoned across his mind, and Killua felt a little tingle of fluff in the center of his chest.

What?! Oh, no no no! No! Fuck no! We're not going there!

With that, Killua turned off his phone and slung it onto his bedside table like it was infected with the plague. He slammed himself onto his side, tossed the covers over his head, and squeezed his eyes shut tight.

Stop thinking about Gon! You met him literally one time, and you'll likely never see him again! He's just some random friend of your sister's boyfriend, so stop it! We are NOT feeling any feelings about that guy!

…

Thinking back on it, Killua probably should have banned all thoughts about Gon as well.

A week passed, and as predicted, Killua didn't catch either hide or hair of Gon. It was as if he'd been a figment of Killua's imagination. The party had never happened, and neither had the kiss or anything involving Gon after that. This was perfect! Now Killua could completely wipe all of that embarrassment from his mind!

Well, it should have been perfect.

Because unfortunately for Killua, Gon was constantly on his thoughts. It seemed that every other second Killua's mind would drift to something about Gon. Be it his contagious smile or the ever unwelcomed memory of his kiss.

Even Alluka had stopped bugging Killua about Gon! So why was Killua still hung up over him?! Why?!

At work he'd fantasize about Gon showing up again. He'd daydream about running into Gon whenever he drove past Yorknew University. He'd re-run the party in his mind, and think up a million alternate scenarios in which he'd get out of the kiss or meet Gon earlier that night. Whenever he'd call Alluka and she'd chatter on about Zushi, he'd wait in anticipation for any mention of Gon, mention that never came.

What was wrong with him?! Why did Killua's entire brain consist exclusively of Gon?!

Sure, his life was pretty dull and nothing interesting ever happened to him, but was his life really so sad that the introduction of a single new person would set him off like this?! It was, apparently.

Killua didn't know how to feel about that. Scratch that, he felt annoyed.

But luckily, there was one thing that annoyed him more than whatever the fuck his life had become! And that thing was Christmas! That's right! Killua's hatred was always there to distract him from his problems!

Currently, Killua's task was to buy Alluka a Christmas present.

Killua loved buying Alluka presents, don't get him wrong! But something about spending his first paycheck on Christmas shit really ticked him off. Even if that Christmas shit was for his beloved sister.

He was currently traversing one of the various shops in Times Square of Yorknew City. All of them were wildly overpriced, but then again, so was just about everything around here. Besides, Alluka deserved only the best.

Killua had already been through five different stores today, and had yet to find the perfect gift for Alluka (that was also in his price range). At the moment he was exploring the seemingly endless racks of a high-end clothing store. They also sold jewelry, shoes, purses, and other girly shit, but Killua had yet to leave the clothing department.

He was on a hunt for the perfect cashmere sweater for his sister. He'd stolen her old one, so it was about time he repaid her. Also, if he could find her a nice necklace then that wouldn't hurt.

The downside to Christmas shopping for Alluka was the whole Christmas part. The entire store had been decorated with frilly red and green crap, and if Killua had to walk past one more tacky statue of Santa Clause then he'd gouge his eyes out with a nearby hanger.

Half the clothes were Christmas themed in some way or form, making it near impossible to find Alluka a sweater that could be worn outside this wretched month. So inconvenient! Christmas was so fucking stupid, has Killua mentioned that he hates it?

And he hasn't even gotten started on the god-awful music. There was no escape! They were even playing Christmas songs throughout the streets! Every single radio station was Christmas this, Christmas that, and cheerful songs echoed throughout the store and rattled the cage door of Killua's sanity.

If Mariah Carey's anthem of hell gets stuck in my head then I'm literally going to kill myself.

Killua grumpily flicked through the hangers. Every sweater was either not cashmere, too ugly, or the wrong size. Alluka's present had to be perfect. Killua would not settle! Not when his sister's happiness was on the line!

The silver haired boy's fingers brushed across a soft feeling fabric, and he pushed apart the hangers to inspect his possible find. Hm…

Killua took the sweater off the rack, and held it up for inspection.

It was cashmere, check.

It wasn't red or green, check.

There was no glitter, check.

So far so good.

Killua brushed his fingers along the sleeves, smelled the fabric, and checked for any loose threads or damage. It seemed that this was the one. It was even pink! Alluka's favorite color! This was perfect! He peeked at the price tag, and a part of him died.

Dammit.

Killua pouted, and gnawed on his lower lip. It's super expensive! But it's literally perfect… is it worth the extra money if I sacrifice my food money? I can just skip breakfast for the next week… It's either that or cancel the Greed Island subscription.

Yeah right, Greed Island stays.

So long, breakfast. You shall be greatly missed.

Killua and his stomach sighed in defeat, and he headed in the direction of the jewelry department. He could probably still afford a necklace for Alluka. Probably.

When he turned to journey to the other side of the store, however, Killua just about had a stroke. Again.

Take a wild guess at who the fuck was here.

Just guess.

Killua's breath left him in a choking sputter, and he hit the ground like he was dodging a bullet.

"Shit," Killua whispered to himself, clutching Alluka's sweater against his chest and hiding behind the rack.

On the aisle behind him, was none other than Gon. He'd been sifting through the racks, a messenger bag slung across his chest. His headphones were in, luckily, and he'd been smiling this sweet little smile to himself.

The second Killua had seen him, his brain had gone haywire! This was the guy he'd had stuck in his head for the past week! Why is my heart beating so fast?!

Killua swallowed hard, and slowly pushed himself to his feet. He peered over the rack to check if the coast was clear. Gon was still facing the aisle he was in, but he was too absorbed in his music and whatever he was looking for to notice Killua's presence.

Perfect! I run far, far away and refuse to unpack the reason why my stomach is filled with fucking butterflies!

With faith in his plan to escape, Killua silently raised himself to his full height and speed-walked to the end of his aisle. Homosexual Gods, I beseech you. Give me your speed-walking strength.

Unfortunately for Killua, the Homosexual Gods had other plans in mind.

"Killua? Is that you?"

The silver haired boy froze in his tracks. Shit.

He took a deep breath to calm his racing heart, and slowly turned to face Gon. The other boy was still standing in his aisle, but was gazing over at Killua with one earbud held in his fingers.

"Oh, hey Gon," Killua said nonchalantly. As if he hadn't been trying to book it out of there not two seconds ago.

Gon's face broke out in a blinding grin, "It is you!"

Killua's heart did a little tingly thing in his chest. Stop that! he ordered.

Gon scurried around to join Killua in his aisle. He looked so cuddly, like a lost puppy that had just found his master.

"I haven't seen you in a hot second!" Gon chirped. "It's crazy we keep running into each other like this! What are you shopping for?"

"Alluka," Killua answered shortly, holding up the sweater he'd found.

"Oh my gosh! Me too!" Gon gasped.

Killua quirked a brow, "Really?"

"Yeah!" Gon cheered. "I've been working on Christmas shopping this week, and I wanted to get a gift for Alluka because she was so nice to me when we met! I was having trouble finding something for her, but this is perfect! Now you're here and you can help me!"

"What, you just expect me to help you?"

Gon giggled, "Well, yeah. You are her brother, after all. Besides, you'd help a buddy out, right?"

"Fat chance, I've got my own shopping to worry about." Buddies? Is that what we are? I didn't realize we were friends…

Hold on, why do I care?! It's just stupid Gon!

So what if he thinks we're friends or not?! He's just some random, dumb-ass, friend-of-a-friend!

"Come on, Killua, please?" Gon whined. He clasped his hands out in front of him, and gave Killua the puppy-face. "Will you please help me? Alluka's present has to be perfect, but I don't know what to get her!"

Killua was immune to begging. He was! He swore he was….

However, the only thing Killua could think with those amber eyes glittering at him like that was…

He's cute.

"Fine," Killua snapped, turning on his heel and stalking off in the other direction. What?! What was I thinking just now?! What was that for?!

"Really?" Gon gasped.

"No, I was lying," Killua drawled. Gon is NOT cute!

"Yay! Killua's the best!" Gon cheered, skipping up to the shorter male's side and bumping their shoulders together.

What am I doing–

What am I doing–

WHAT AM I DOING?!

Why am I helping him?! Why?! I have no reason to! He can suffer in the depths of hell for all I care! He doesn't know what to get for Alluka? Good! If he get's her a sucky present then she won't like him as much! And then she won't like Zushi as much! And then they'll break up and no one will ever have her but me!

Killua knew that Alluka would never hate Gon for getting her a sucky present. He was just being dramatic. She'd think it was cute, if anything. Perhaps it ran in the family…

"What does Alluka like?" Gon asked as he disconnected his headphones and slipped them into his pocket.

"Pink, glitter, and the blood of her enemies," Killua responded without hesitation.

"I guess I could get her a knife then?" Gon laughed.

Killua snorted. "If you got Alluka a knife then she'd take over the world within a matter of hours. I'd advise against it."

"What are you getting her, then?" Gon asked. He followed Killua along through the store, like a dog tagging along at his heels. His eyes hadn't left Killua's face since he'd called out to him. Whenever Killua glanced in Gon's direction, he'd find those iridescent amber orbs twinkling over at him.

For some reason he was having trouble holding Gon's gaze.

Killua spoke to Gon with his eyes facing forward, "This sweater." Killua held up his find. "It's pink, cashmere, and expensive as all hell. Everything Alluka loves and more."

"Should I get her a sweater too?"

"No! We're not getting her the same present twice!" Killua scolded. The two of them arrived in the jewelry section, and Killua browsed the shelves. Though he was mostly looking at price tags rather than actually jewelry. "I'm finding her a necklace to go with the sweater. She loves shiny things. She's like a seagull. Get her something sparkly, you can never go wrong with glitter."

"Okay!" Gon chirped.

The two of them explored the jewelry section. Killua did his best to focus on finding Alluka something pretty that he wouldn't have to pay an arm and a leg for, but knowing that Gon was right there was doing things to his ability to focus.

His eyes kept flicking over to the other boy. Gon was just as tall as he remembered, and his hair just as wild. He was constantly smiling, it was as if his resting face was a pleasant grin. His eyes possessed this permanent glow to them, and whenever Killua snuck glances in his direction Gon's warmth would spread to his chest and bloom beneath his breastbone.

"How have you been lately?" Gon asked casually, spinning a rotating shelf decked out with earrings and bracelets.

"I'm alive," Killua answered nonchalantly.

Gon snorted. "I'd certainly hope so. How's work going for you?"

"Terrible," Killua complained. "It's work. But money."

"As always," Gon giggled.

His laugh is so light and airy, like the delicate twinkle of windchimes on a warm summer day.

"What about you?" Killua found himself asking. What had Gon been doing all this time? All this time when he hadn't shown up at Beanz or magically appeared on Killua's doorstep? What did he do all day when he wasn't getting drunk and stealing people's breath with his intoxicating kiss?

Intoxicating?! What the fuck. If anything was intoxicated it was him! I seem to be forgetting that he was totally drunk when he kissed me. It didn't mean anything, and I don't need it to have meant anything.

There's no reason to dwell over something that no one but me remembers…

"Hm… well, Zushi and I have continued settling into our apartment! It's pretty busy trying to get all our loose ends tied up. Zushi's always busy working, so it's up to me to make sure everything's set!"

"Do you have a job?"

"Sort of."

"Sort of?"

"It's more of a passtime, if anything!" Gon chuckled.

He doesn't sound like he wants to talk about it.

Killua ran his fingers along delicate silver chains and weighted sparkling pendants in his hands. Why… why do I feel this curiosity over Gon? Why do I want to get to know him better? It's like there's a magnet in my chest, and it's drawing me closer and closer to Gon. I want to… I want to be friends with Gon.

That must be what this is.

"Do you think Alluka would like these?" Gon asked, waking up beside Killua to show him a pair of earrings. They were sparkling teardrops of shimmering plastic diamonds. They were so realistic, and whenever the light hit them they sent little rainbows dancing along anything they could reach.

"Yeah, she'd love them," Killua nodded. He held his own choice in his hands, a fine silver chain. Alluka didn't have many chain necklaces, this would be a perfect addition to her collection of sparkly things. It was also within Killua's set budget, unlike the sweater.

"You're getting her two things," Gon mused. "Should I do the same?"

"You don't have to," Killua said, looking at the earrings in Gon's hands instead of up to his eyes. "You haven't known her too long, and the earrings are already a great present."

"Hm, you're probably right!" Gon mused. "I don't want to overstep or anything." A crooked smile cracked across his features, and Killua couldn't help but flick his eyes up to meet that alluring gaze. "Should I get you a present? Or are you against Christmas gifts on top of everything else?"

Killua rolled his eyes, but couldn't contain the little smile that drew at the edges of his mouth. "Don't get ahead of yourself. Free shit is free shit. Just know that shopping for me is a hell of a lot harder than shopping for Alluka, and I'm also not nearly as nice as she is when people get me stupid crap. I wouldn't want you biting off more than you could chew~"

"Is that a challenge?" Gon teased, skipping along after Killua as they headed for the registers.

"Me? Declaring a challenge? Nooo. I would never. I'm just sparing you the emotional damage of all encompassing failure."

"Hey, I'm reviving your Christmas spirit, aren't I?" Gon grinned as the two of them entered the line. "If I can't get you the perfect Christmas present then I'll be failing at my mission!"

"Stoking my materialism?" Killua snickered, subconsciously leaning closer to Gon as he spoke. "Sounds like the shining definition of cHriStMas spiRiT, or whatever the hell it is you're so obsessed over."

"It isn't about materialism, Ki-llu-a," Gon scolded playfully.

Killua's stomach gave a strange little flutter when he heard his name fall from Gon's lips like that. It sounded like a song, so playful and endearing. Why was that? Why did Killua care?

"Oh?" the silver haired boy taunted.

"When someone gives you a present, it isn't about human greed! It's about the sentiment behind the gift! It's about the care and thoughtfulness of someone to someone else! When someone gives you a Christmas present, it means that they care. You'll see, Killua, Christmas is in every store window because buying presents for your loved ones is what it's all about! Just look at yourself, you're here buying a gift for Alluka!"

Killua rolled his eyes and continued the debate as the two of them grabbed their bags and headed for the door. "I always buy gifts for Alluka. Are you saying that my generosity is only valid when it coincides with the birth of some random old dude?"

Gon sighed in exasperation, and fixed Killua with another one of those radiant smiles. It wasn't a wild grin, but rather a soft crescent of white. Gon had so many smiles, yet all of them managed to shine brighter than the sun. "That's not what I meant, Killua."

"Try to gloss over the truth all you want," Killua drawled, jumping at any chance to be difficult. "But you can't hide the truth from me! I see through the frilly decorations and the annoying singing! I will not be misled by such mortal desires!"

"One day, someone is going to give you a Christmas gift, and you'll understand from the bottom of your heart why a Christmas gift is so special!" Gon declared.

"And who is this person?" Killua snorted. "Christ in the flesh?"

"That person will be me!" Gon declared.

"You're Jesus?" Killua gasped sarcastically. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Gon gave him the look. "You are a truly formidable patient. But I'll heal your Christmas spirit yet, Scrooge-McKillua."

"Never call me that again."

Gon giggled, "Message received."

The two of them exited the store, shopping for Alluka officially complete.

"Where are you going after this?" Gon asked as they stepped out into the cold.

"Work," Killua sighed.

"Aw, too bad!" Gon sighed next. "I've gotta go in the other direction."

"Guess I'll see you around?" It seems that running into him is inevitable at this point. Killua gave a peace sign, and turned to make his way over to Beanz.

"Wait!" Gon exclaimed.

"What is it?" Killua asked, turning to face him.

"Before you go, let me get your Snap!"

Killua blinked. "Okay."

He pulled up the QR-code, and Gon scanned Killua's profile into his phone.

The taller male grinned. "Awesome! Now I can bother you about your lack of Christmas cheer whenever I want!"

Killua rolled his eyes, "I can block you, and I will."

Gon giggled, "Alright, no spamming Mariah Carey lyrics I guess!"

"Yeah, you'd better fucking not," Killua threatened.

That musical laughter echoed through the frigid air, framed by puffs of breath. "Don't worry! You can trust me with DM access!" Gon leaned over and punched Killua lightly in the arm, "Thanks. See you around!"

With that, he turned on his heel and made his way down the street in the opposite direction of Beanz. Killua watched him go, once again overcome with this residue of joy and warmth.

Thanks? I wonder what he thanked me for.

Probably my Snap? Weirdo. I give that to, like, everybody. It's nothing special.

Killua shook his head, and continued back to work. His shift was about to start, and he wasn't exactly in the mood for a scolding from Kurapika about timeliness.

…

Later that night, as Killua lay tucked under his blankets in the darkness of his room, his phone buzzed with the friend notification from Gon. His avatar was wearing sunglasses and grinning like an idiot, much like the real thing.

Killua's lips turned up at the corners, and he accepted the request, adding Gon back as he did so. Snapchat congratulated him with confetti and a suggestion to message Gon to say hi, just like always. Snapchat was nothing special. Killua did this with everyone he met. There was nothing different, just another person on the list of people he'd have to go through the trouble of keeping streaks with.

Yeah, it's nothing special.

Nothing… nothing at all.

Nothing. And Killua's heart was getting a kickstart in his chest because… because… whatever.