Chapter LX
Trouble always has a way of finding you.
Valtiel shivers beneath her coat as she follows behind the two men. They are rounding towards the front of the building, where a number of police cars have already arrived at the scene. Some of the guests are huddled beneath blankets, one by one giving their statements of the tragedy that occurred. She glances at the assassin, who simply walks away as if he was not the cause of such chaos merely half an hour ago.
She slows down and looks up at the gray skies, shivering from the cold winds. Illumi and Hisoka sense her being idle and pause as well.
She frowns, remembering her current predicament. Danchou would not appreciate her getting separated from Niles first, and then in the company of a Zoldyck second. Even if Hisoka is here with her—she's not sure if the Danchou would be relieved.
Illumi's face remains an impassive mask. If she once thought Chrollo's demeanor is hard to dissect, then Illumi is a hundredfold more difficult. Nothing ever fazes him. Nothing that she says or does could spark any interest in his face or in his tone. She approaches him and squints up at his face even more closely.
She's positive that he is a robot. Perhaps ninety percent positive.
"Are you done trying to analyze me?"
"No," she says with a little pout. Her tone is enough for him to earn her a blink. A robot that blinks.
"Let's go. It's starting to get colder." Off he goes again, his hair billowing outwards in a fan of shiny dark tresses. She is almost envious of how he could look so pretty and intimidating at the same time.
"Where are we going?" She catches up to them, hands in her pockets. She walks backwards, peering at Illumi's emotionless face. "Are you going to kill me somewhere else?"
"Now, why would I do that?" He glances at Hisoka. "I could have effortlessly killed you during the auction if I wanted, or in the back room, or the alleyway."
"He won't do anything," Hisoka promises her.
"It would be easy in the daylight." She shrugs. "Though I really wouldn't recommend it."
"Killing in broad daylight?" Illumi wonders.
She smiles up at him, laughing softly. "No, Illumi-san, killing me." She turns around and keeps in pace with him, crossing the street and passing by a long line of merchants. "Blood would be hard to wash from the sidewalk. Besides, wouldn't it be a problem if someone sees your face?"
He shakes his head. "Not necessarily. Zoldyck assassins are trained to be quick and stealthy. No one will know what hit them until afterwards." He pauses. "As you may have witnessed."
Nodding at the memory, she keeps following. Up ahead, she notices a skyscraper with windows shining against the wintry sunlight. Illumi enters through the front and a pair of black-clad men bow to him. As Valtiel and Hisoka pass, they also bow to them, murmuring their polite greetings.
She cranes her neck to admire the modern architecture of the place. Everything is made from glass and steel, polished to perfect shineness, refracting the wintry light in waves of silver halos. Everyone in the building is in their darks and greys, even Illumi and Hisoka, that it makes her stand out in her cheerful yellow coat and white gloves.
"Are you cold, Val?" Hisoka asks, smiling down. "Where are you babysitters, by the way?"
"I came alone," she chirps. "Can you believe that?"
"Oh? Truly?" He gasps dramatically. "How so?"
"I'm just running a brief errand. One of the others will regroup with me soon."
"We'll have to treat your wrist first, before you go home." Hisoka clicks his tongue. "The Spiders won't appreciate their favorite girl getting wounded on her first trip alone."
"Please," she scoffs. "I've had worse."
Hisoka walks away and drags her along with him. "Let's go to the restaurant. It's warmer there." He gives a dramatic pause, purring. "Come along now, dear Illumi."
There is silence from behind them. Hisoka and Valtiel whirl around, waiting for the assassin.
"I'd decline the offer," Illumi starts, "but I do need a good coffee for this weather."
Hisoka chuckles, the sound rumbling from his chest. "Let's all be friends, alright?"
"Actually—" She removes his arm from her shoulders. "There's someplace I need to be," she tells the now pouting magician. "I am supposed to meet up with a friend."
"That can wait," Hisoka says, demanding attention as always. "I'm your friend, too, and dare I say, a very beloved friend," he trails off with a suggestive wink. "Let's have lunch together and I can take you to meet this friend, assuming you're not meeting a secret lover behind Danchou's back, although that is not my business—"
"Okay, okay!" She throws her hands up, exasperated and defeated. She glares at him, pointing an index finger in his grinning face. "Lunch, then you'll let me go. Deal?"
"Deal, sweet Val." He takes her hand and kisses her knuckles.
The magician leads the way, enthusiastic enough to represent the three of them. Valtiel understands why she is humoring the magician, but Illumi? This robotic young man who gives her the eternal creeps? Since when did these two become friends?
Hisoka picks a spot by the glass wall, giving them a good vantage view of the surrounding city. Valtiel sits beside him, more comfortable with him than the assassin. Illumi sits across from them, never blinking, not a hair out of place. A waiter comes along to take their orders, and then steps back again.
She looks back and forth between them. "So, what did I miss? How are you two friends now?"
"Ah, correction," Illumi says. "Like I said, we're acquaintances."
"What he said," Hisoka agrees with a lazy smile. "You see, dear Val, Illumi here is a usual visitor in Heavens Arena. Missions and all that, you know?"
"Some of my clients are desperate contenders," Illumi explains to ease her confusion. "They would rather pay a large sum of money for the assassination of a floor rival they would like to dispose of. You've battled in the Arena, so you're familiar with default wins."
"Oh," she murmurs, scrunching her nose. "How vile."
"Whenever Illumi comes around, he visits me," Hisoka beams.
"I don't. He pesters me all the time."
"I need friends," Hisoka whines, "because one of them has refused to see me, but I am not about to name names." He keeps humming a cheerful, innocent tune.
"You're the one who is not attending missions," she fires back. "You missed all of them in the past two years. Sometimes the others don't even bother asking about you at all."
"Well, you're good enough to take my spot during the missions," he purrs again.
The waiter returns with their lunch. The exclusive winter meal consists of a creamy prawn soup, salmon cakes, mushroom lasagna, and a local coconut fish curry. Illumi is picking at his modest plate, while Hisoka is dropping the mushroom into Valtiel's plate and she is stealing some of the salmon cakes from his side of the table.
She munches on the cakes and says through a mouthful, "What are you two idiots doing here in Zaban anyway?"
Illumi barely looks up from his plate. "I can cut your tongue out for lacking manners," he says, nibbling on the prawn. "But I'll answer your question—you remember my brother Killua?"
The cute silver-haired boy with bright azure eyes. "Of course," she answers.
"Killua ran away from home recently," he says without much care in his tone. His brother is gone and he sounds as if the local meal is more disappointing. "According to the information gathered, he has grown tired of his life and now seeks excitement elsewhere."
"I see." She could not blame the young boy. She only met Killua once, but already there were the makings of a very talented fighter in him. But even a fighter would want something else. "So, your younger brother ran away from home. What does that have to do with anything?"
"There's a tracker embedded in him," Illumi reports in the same bland tone. "He is somewhere here in Zaban City. If he is looking for excitement, then he is here for one thing only."
"There's a carnival nearby?" Valtiel suggests sarcastically.
Hisoka covers his mouth as he gurgles a barely suppressed laugh.
Illumi just blinks. "The Hunter Exam," he says. "It will take place tomorrow."
She gasps and turns to the magician. "Is that why you're here?"
He gives her a suggestive sidelong glance. "Oh, you read me so easily, Val," he hums. He leans back against the seat and runs a clawed hand through his red hair. "The Hunter Exam is considered the most dangerous exam of all. You can expect a number of strong fighters and strange individuals participating."
"I thought you tried it last year." Her eyebrows furrow. "What happened?"
"I failed." He giggles. "I almost killed one of the examiners and got disqualified."
"Sounds like something you'd do."
"Ah! I know!" He snaps his fingers, beaming at her. "You should take the exam with us!"
"Wait—" She whirls to the quiet assassin. "You're taking it, too?"
"Why not?" Illumi just shrugs. "If Killua will be there, I might as well try it myself. I heard the Hunters License grants several access to the more remote and strict countries. It's about time I acquired one for myself. Easier for my jobs, as you may understand."
Hisoka keeps beaming at her. "Yes, so you should take it with us, Val!"
She shakes her head and shuts down his excitement with a hand. "I don't have time to take the Hunter Exam. Besides, I have no use for the license. Shal-san already has one. If I need it, I can always ask him."
He deflates like a puppy. "Aw, you're no fun."
She laughs and flicks him on the chin. He comes away with a quiet chuckle. "Oh, come now, Hisoka-san. You're being unreasonable. I really do not have time for the exam."
"You're a heartbreaker," Hisoka sighs.
"So I've been told, yes."
Her phone rings. Expecting it to be the Danchou, she pulls it from her pocket and widens her eyes at the number on the screen. She shoots up from their seat and walks away to answer the call. Behind her, the two young men exchange glances.
On the other line, a familiar rough voice greets her. "Good afternoon, Miss Eleison."
She forces a sweet tone. "Ah, Mr. Mott, how are you?"
"Good, good, thank you for asking. Say, how was the auction today?"
"It went a bit awry." There's no point in lying. He probably knows already. "There was a bit of commotion, but all is well and we managed to get our intended item."
"Is that so?" His tone drops. She could almost see him frowning. "Well, I'm glad you have your book, but Mr. Niles, I'm afraid to tell you, has misbehaved while you're out having afternoon lunch with your friends."
"What's going on?" She walks to the glass window, searching for any suspicious individuals. Here on the second floor of the building, she could see no spies. "What have you done?"
"Me? Oh, it's not me, Miss Eleison." Mott sounds as if he is blowing smoke. "If you'd like to know more, meet us in the Rose and Crown Club, third floor. I'll keep the front door open."
The line goes dead.
Hisoka beams from the table. "Did someone die?"
She caresses her aching temple. How did she come from being babysat by the Spiders to be the one doing the babysitting now? She should have dragged Machi along for an extra hand. Then, she remembers that there is a Spider in her presence—one that she could give orders now. Him, and then some.
Illumi could not be bothered by anything, sipping his coffee.
"My companion got in trouble with the Mafia. Will you come with me, Hisoka-san?"
"Would you hold my hand the entire time?"
"I can hold it on our way there," she negotiates. Anything to appease his craving for her attention and make him stop demanding the most infernal demands. "Otherwise, I'm going alone."
"No, wait, I'll go." He stands up, still grinning. "Can we take Illumi with us?"
"If he wants to go—"
"I don't," the assassin specifies.
"You heard him."
"Ah, you're no fun, too." Hisoka pouts as he offers his hand to her. His eyes glitter when she actually takes it and tucks her free hand in the crook of his elbow. "Anyhoo! Val and I have a date to attend to. Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow in the exam, Illumi."
The assassin just nods. "Perhaps."
Back in the streets, Hisoka is humming a tune. He studies Valtiel from his peripheral vision. Physically, she has not changed much—still the same youthful pretty face, despite the years. Whenever she flicks her golden eyes at him, pretending to be annoyed, it never fails to stir amusement in himself. But in other aspects? He licks his lips.
Her Nen is even more polished now. She is almost ready for the taking. He could fight her and she might last twenty seconds as an appetizer for his main course, Chrollo.
Valtiel leads the way around the small city. It has been a while, but she remembers the way to the Rose and Crown Club. She hears her own heartbeat pounding in her head. The more she thinks about Niles's most recent mischief, the more she feels nervous. Not for herself—Mott knows better than to harm Elder Ryence's granddaughter and the school's own director.
But Alec Niles has been a castaway, with no family to mourn his death. Another expendable life in the infamous Meteor City. Don Viper will not worry if Alec finally meets his end there.
They arrive at their destination. She strides into the quiet club, heels clacking to announce her arrival. Some of Mott's men are already placed by the doors and staircase, nodding and making way for her as she passes. Hisoka lazily ambles behind.
On the third floor, a pair of grunts opens the door for her. She blinks and keeps her face neutral at the sight before her.
"Good afternoon, Miss Eleison. You're just in time for the main event."
"What is the meaning of this?" she hisses, feeling Hisoka's presence by her shoulder.
"I told you. Mr. Niles misbehaved."
Maffeo Mott is a tall man, yet awkward with his too-long and skinny arms and legs. He has a mop of dirty blond hair and the blandest pair of blue eyes. His splotchy skin is dappled by numerous tattoos, now disfigured from all the wrinkles and scars. He takes a drag of his cigarette and smiles at her, showing rotting, yellowing teeth.
And to his right—Alec Niles is strapped to his chair, bound by the neck, hands, and ankles. His mouth is open and bleeding profusely to his dark shirt. He is conscious, and he shoots Valtiel the most desperate, pleading gaze.
"I said I will handle everything," Valtiel glowers at the Mafia lieutenant. "Whatever mischief he did, I should have been informed first and sent for."
"I understand your sentimentalities, Miss Eleison," Mott answers, opening his arms in a submissive gesture, as if that would calm her. "You have always looked out for your people. That I admire from you. But out of the school premises and away from Meteor City, your people become my people. And this fool—" He shakes the ashes of his cigarette onto Niles's hair—"this fool made the mistake of stepping out of his boundaries."
Then his bland blue eyes slide towards Hisoka. He juts his chin. "A friend, Miss Eleison?"
She doesn't rise to the distraction. "What did Niles do that warrants this?"
Mott chuckles and discards his cigarette to the side. He grabs the young man by the chin and forces his mouth wider, tilting his head upwards so that the room's light makes the blood shine. "Niles lied to both of us, and liars deserve to get their tongues cut off."
She stiffens, temper rising steadily, but Mott interrupts her anger.
"I almost did that, but then I remembered—he's a teacher. He needs his tongue to teach his classes." He presses his fingers deeper into Niles's cheeks, earning a soft whimper. "So I got some of his teeth out instead."
This bastard. Valtiel sets her shoulders and exhales the rising impatience out of her system. "Then release him," she says calmly. "He lied and was punished for it. I'll handle the rest."
"Won't you even ask what he lied about?" Mott wonders.
Very well. "What did he lie about?"
"Mr. Niles told me in his email that he intends to bid for the item," Mott starts, taking his cigarette again and blowing a thick smoke in Valtiel's direction. She stands her ground as the smoke clouds her face. "As you told me, it's done. Mission accomplished. Done and over with. But Niles failed to mention that he wanted something else from the library's collection."
Her hard gaze falls on the whimpering teacher. This is the Mafia they are dealing with, not some common petty criminals. Maffeo Mott answers directly to Don Viper, whose one order could decimate the entire school altogether and more. She needs to tread this thin line very carefully, or it would cost her.
She tilts her head to Mott. "What else did he want from the collection?"
Mott pauses to think, glancing at the moldy ceiling. "Something about an author's diaries," he mumbles. "A fine addition to the school, though I'd like to think Mr. Niles wants that to impress you, Miss Eleison." He shakes his head. "Despite you being married and all, too."
Hisoka's malicious aura wafts towards her. She senses him being curious. Everyone in Meteor City is quite convinced that she and Chrollo are married—the smart and beautiful Eleison couple—but they are far too busy to dispute the rumors. And Hisoka is not aware of the inside joke.
She just nods, unsure where this is going. "So he lied and was punished for it. Can he go?"
"Oh, but we're not done yet." Mott grins. "There's more."
"Alright." This is getting tedious. Even Hisoka is getting impatient beside her. She keeps her position, letting this man take all the attention and time he demands from her.
"Mr. Niles went back after you left the library," Mott continues, watching in pleasure as he catches the young woman's quick accusatory glance at the teacher. "He took advantage of the commotion, slipped in, and stole the author's diaries. For you, Miss Eleison, all for you."
"He's a fool to do such a thing," she breathes, now truly afraid for Niles's life. Her heart rate increases when Mott gestures to one of his men and they produce a long cleaver. "Mr. Mott, there's no need for such lengths," she hears herself say in a desperate undertone. "Please."
"Do you know what is the punishment for stealing in these parts, Miss Eleison?"
"He committed great offense," she admits, "but from this mistake, he can learn. That's the purpose of the school, is it not? To teach the difference between right and wrong. I promise to personally oversee Mr. Niles's lessons and punishment."
"No offense, Miss Eleison," Mott says quietly. "You're too gentle a soul for that."
Hisoka snorts, trying not to laugh. You should see her with the Troupe.
Valtiel could really smack the magician in the face. "Punishments don't necessarily have to be violent." She gestures to the teacher's already bleeding mouth. "Once is enough."
Mott hums. "Once is enough, yes, to teach him a lesson. Twice is to make sure he doesn't do it again." He raises the cleaver and looks down on Niles. "Are you right-handed or left-handed?"
"Phleash—" Alec Niles mumbles, blood bubbling in his mouth. He chokes from the combination of saliva and blood, and tears start streaming from his eyes. He keeps mumbling incoherent words, but to everyone in the room, he is pleading for mercy.
"Right hand?" Mott growls at him. "Or left hand?"
Valtiel takes a step forward. Mott's guards snap to attention and point their assault rifles at her. Hisoka answers the blatant threat, stepping forward and pushing Valtiel behind him. He unleashes his bloodthirst in the small room, rattling it from its foundations and flickering the fluorescent light above them.
Mott coughs and puts a hand up. "I see why he's here," he says, eyes locked in Hisoka's strained smile. The guards stand down. "You never run out of guard dogs, do you?"
"They're everywhere. No matter how hard I try to shake them, they always return."
"You know, this got me thinking," Mott drawls. "He won't be able to teach writing if I cut off his hand, right?"
"Indeed," she glowers. "You're very perceptive, Mr. Mott." She couldn't help but add.
"And so, I've decided to change his punishment." The Mafia lieutenant turns his back to them, discarding the cleaver to the table. Then he whirls in a quick blur, now with a switchblade in hand, held high above his head. "I'm going to take his eye instead!"
"No, don't—"
Alec Niles's anguished scream is nothing she has ever heard before. Mott sinks his blade into the young man's left eye socket, a maniacal grin in place as he watches Niles thrash helplessly against his ropes. He twists the blade, the squelch of flesh ringing with a long howl of pain and desperation. Blood pools in his chest and lap, his legs twitching, until Niles finally loses consciousness and stops screeching.
Mott retrieves his blade and wipes the blood off with his shirt. "There, done."
Valtiel's entire body trembles. She could have saved Niles. She saw how the blade went down. Her own mental clock calculated the number of seconds that she could have interrupted and saved him. A mere quarter of a second would have been more than enough. Her ability could have slowed Mott down, or stopped him completely.
And yet, she did not.
Why didn't I? Why did I not stop him?
Because, in the deepest part of her mind, she values the school more. Disobeying Mott equals disobeying Don Viper. She would not risk the Mafia Don's enmity for one reckless teacher.
Her aura is swirling around her, as if it has a mind of its own. Her peaceful time in Meteor City, left alone by the Phantom Troupe, has tamed her aura in the last years.
Now, it awakens with an angry tremor.
Perhaps she should have killed Mott and made it seem like an accident. A small club such as this would have been easy to engulf, one quick reverse without Hisoka and Niles in the way. Danchou would not be pleased, but she could handle Don Viper again, perhaps. It is not too late now—Mott and his men are still here. She could make this happen.
She feels Hisoka's firm hand grip hers. Suddenly, her gaze clears and time starts moving again. Maffeo Mott is ordering his men to remove Niles from the chair and leave him in the room. When the lieutenant approaches her, she flinches from his attention.
"I'll be taking my leave now, Miss Eleison," he says politely. "I do apologize for the mess I made, but these things have to be done. I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation."
"My sincere apologies as well, Mr. Mott," she whispers, playing into his self-important attitude. Her quiet, deferential tone soothes his pride. "I'll see you when I return home."
He smiles and bows to her on his way out. The other guards give her curt nods and shuffle out of the room, leaving them with Niles still bleeding openly on the floor.
Valtiel scrambles to the teacher. Her hands are shaking as she turns him over to his back, grimacing at the fresh spout of blood coming from his mangled eye socket. Niles chokes in his sleep, more blood gushing from his already bleeding mouth.
"We need to stop the bleeding." Hisoka kneels beside her. He notices her overexerting her broken wrist and gently nudges her to the side. "Stay put, Val. You'll hurt herself even more."
"But I can help—" If only I can heal and not keep killing things…
"Don't worry." He forms a fist, and then opens it. A bright pink Bungee Gum forms over his open hand. He guides Niles's head and plasters the Bungee Gum over his eye socket. "This will help contain the bleeding for now, but we'll need a doctor for this."
"Machi-san, but she's seven hours away…"
"If you call her now, she may be able to make it," he advises, observing the unconscious teacher. Hisoka would be more than happy to let him die, but Valtiel doesn't want him to die.
And whatever dear Valtiel wants, she gets.
Nodding, she stands up and works on her phone. Hisoka hums under his breath as he carries the man from the floor and to the room next door. It has a small bed and one bedside table. The teacher is too tall for the bed and Hisoka has to retrieve a chair so that his feet could rest on it. When Valtiel joins him a few minutes later, she looks better somehow.
Her sad eyes rake over her friend. "Machi-san is coming, and she's not very happy."
He chuckles. "I'd love to see a not-very-happy Machi," he singsongs.
It is nearer towards dusk when Machi arrives. Hisoka stands up from the empty club's lobby to greet her, but she shoots him one piercing blue glare before climbing up the stairs. Kortopi ambles behind her, not at all perturbed by the hostility. Instead, he nods to his fellow Spider and they both follow her upstairs.
Machi finds Valtiel seated beside the bed. She lets her eyes roam the place first, discerning any threats or suspicions surrounding Valtiel. To her relief, there is none—except for the poor bandage around her wrist.
She sighs to herself. Even the three years that came in and went have done nothing to her. That endlessly caring nature always puts her in a predicament, one way or another. And it is up to the Phantom Troupe to clean up her messes.
She steps further into the room, knocking on the doorframe. "Val?" she whispers.
Valtiel stands and embraces her. "Thank you for coming, Machi-san."
"How long has the injury been?"
"Seven hours at the very least."
"The wound would have hemorrhaged by now."
"Hisoka-san made sure it didn't," Valtiel answers as Machi takes her previous seat and assesses her unconscious patient. She hovers behind the pink-haired Spider.
Machi nods in understanding. Her sharp blue eyes check everything all at once with practiced knowledge. The blood has been cleaned from the patient's face, neck, and chest. The severed eye socket has been wiped with an antiseptic solution at least. To keep it from hemorrhaging in the last seven hours, they must have been knowledgeable and attentive. The Bungee Gum has been replaced several times, keeping everything intact.
She glances to the door where Kortopi and Hisoka are lingering. The latter offers a soft smile. She could scoff at this. At least he knows his way around wounds.
"Remove your aura," Machi orders Hisoka. "I will need to stitch from inside-out."
"Of course, dear Machi." Hisoka snaps his fingers, and the Bungee Gum dissipates.
Her Nen threads glow an iridescent blue against the room's feeble light. Nerves, blood vessels, muscles. Everything should be well, except for the lack of eye. She glances over to Valtiel, who is now leaning against Hisoka as she sighs in exhaustion.
Machi finishes, running a hand over her work. "This will scar," she tells no one in particular. "It will take weeks, even months, for an ordinary person like him to recover, but he will live." She stands and stops in front of Valtiel. "It seems his death is once again overdue."
"Thank you for your help, Machi-san," Valtiel murmurs. "I am indebted."
"Don't worry about it." She nods to her wrist. "What happened there?"
"A fight broke out during the auction," Valtiel grimaces to herself. "Niles and I were trying to escape. One of the busts fell on my wrist, may or may not broke a bone."
"Let me see." One quick sweep, a press to the swollen flesh, then she nods. "It's almost broken, alright, but it will heal. You'll need a splinter or a cast, and then a sling to keep it immobilized."
"Yes, Machi-san."
"Really, Val." The Spider sighs. "You can never keep out of trouble, can you?"
"Does Danchou know?" The most important question of all.
"No," Kortopi answers from the doorway. "No one knows. All you have to worry about now is recovering."
Once more, Machi sets to work. She retrieves materials for the splinter and sling, and works on Valtiel's arm like a licensed doctor. Kortopi leaves to get some dinner, and comes back with a handful of plastic bags and water.
The three of them sit together as they eat in silence. Hisoka props himself by the windowsill, shuffling his cards and watching Zaban City's twinkling night lights.
Later, Valtiel approaches his cozy little spot, forever cradling her sling. She winces as she eases in front of him, never failing to catch his gleaming amber eyes.
Hisoka smiles lazily. "Not sleepy, Val?"
She shakes her head and admires the lights outside. "No, not really." She lets the silence hang for a moment, before gathering her courage. "Why did you suddenly stop going to missions?"
There is something sad in her tone that makes him pause. It sounds as if she resents him for being absent all these years. As if eleven Phantom Troupe members and one attentive Danchou is not enough for her. As if the school—which he heard so much about—is not enough to keep her occupied. Why worry about one insignificant person?
"Did you never miss us?"
Did he not? Certainly not the Phantom Troupe, no. He could care less about them. He might miss the sight of Chrollo Lucilfer and the feel of his aura, sure. But Valtiel?
He rests his chin on his hand and stares at her. Now, with the moonlight in her face, he sees dark bags under her eyes, notices the hollowness of her cheeks and her chapped lips. She may beam and smile at him all she wants, but nothing betrays the tiredness in her eyes. He feels a strange wave of pity for her.
Hisoka has allowed only a few people into his life—and taken them out of it as long as their purpose is done. Valtiel, perhaps, might be the longest person that has been around, that he is fond of, and is still breathing because of it.
"Everyone asked me about you," she murmurs, pressing a finger to the cold window. Outside, the townspeople are starting to retire for the night. "I told them I haven't heard from you. It went on after a few more missions, until eventually, they stopped asking."
"The Spiders don't care about my well-being," he states, matter-of-fact.
"I do," she sighs. "You text me twice a year. One for my birthday and one for Christmas. Would it have been difficult to send me more messages that you're alive?"
"I'm not killed easily," he says with a grin. "But I appreciate your concern, dearest Val."
She tries moving again to make herself comfortable. Instead, she nudges her elbow against the window's panel. She hisses through clenched teeth.
His eyelashes flutter at her. "I'm sorry about Illumi's actions today," he says, though his tone is not at all apologetic, especially with that shit-eating grin in his lips. "I mentioned once how I am waiting for you to ripen, and it seemed he had taken it upon himself to check."
"It's fine," she grumbles. "I got him back for it anyway."
"And how magnificent you were."
"Are you still going to take the Hunter Exam tomorrow? Will you help him retrieve Killua?"
"To be honest, I didn't think about retaking the Hunter Exam after last year's disappointment," he snickers to himself. "But when Illumi mentioned that he'll take it, I changed my mind. I suppose there are less chances of you taking it now that you're injured?"
"Exactly." She laughs quietly. "Besides, I'm supposed to meet up with Danchou in two days."
"Chrollo will be here?" He perks up, his thirst for the Spider head suddenly overwhelming.
"Yes, the others, too."
At that, the thirst is gone again. He can never have Chrollo alone. There is always a Spider present. If not, Valtiel would be with him, and they would be both gone to the other side of the world. He levels the young woman in front of him, pursing his lips. If he could get Valtiel alone, Chrollo would surely be drawn, and after that…
He snickers again. "Ah, Val, you are wonderful."
She raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
A card flies to her, cracking against the cold window. A King of Spades. "To answer your previous question—of course I missed you. You are my absolute favorite, after all."
The next morning, Valtiel walks down the stairs with him. The sun is barely up. She shivers under her yellow coat and blows white smoke, watching it rise and dissipate.
Hisoka moans and stretches his arms and legs. Today, he is wearing a new tailored outfit: a light blue top and pants with dark purple suit symbols on his chest, pink armbands, and dark purple shoes to match. His red hair is slicked upwards again, and the face paint makes a comeback.
"What do you think?" He poses in front of her, smirking. "Am I handsome enough for you, Val?"
"Oh, hush." She smiles and reaches out to smooth his top down.
"It's a shame you're not coming," he whines, pouting at her. "It would be really fun, especially since Illumi is with us. We could be the Diabolical Duo again! Or trio—the Terrifying Trio!"
"That's awful!"
"I can think of better names!"
"If you say the Hunter Exam is difficult and dangerous, then I might not be able to make it."
"You?" His whiny tone slowly turns amused and sarcastic. "Surely not, Valtiel." He snakes an arm around her waist and pulls her flush against his side. His thumb gently caresses her cheek. "I would so love to keep you around. Just imagine all the people we'd meet and kill."
"Then you can meet and kill them on my stead." She steps backwards and observes his entire form. With another smile, she removes her yellow scarf and wraps it around Hisoka's waist.
"There," she hums, nodding. "So that you may take me with you to the Hunter Exam."
Something flutters in his chest and stomach. It's an uncomfortable yet warm sensation.
Hisoka takes her by the chin and lifts her gaze to him. "You really are the sweetest."
And he leans forward to place a soft kiss in the corner of her mouth.
Author's Notes: Happy New Year, friends! Hope you're having a great time!
Can't believe we already reached the 60-chapter milestone with this one! This marks the new era, starting with the "Terrifying Trio" (really, Hisoka, it's terrible). I'm so excited to write all about these three idiots—especially Val and Illumi. I feel like Chrollo will not appreciate this, still having that PTSD from Silva, yikes!
*UrPrettyOne - At this point, Valtiel has officially slapped all three adult trio members, lmao. By obsessed with Valtiel, did you mean potentially Illumi as well? That would be something really interesting to explore! Thank you for the reviews! Stay safe!
*Amy - Thank you so much! Just imagining Val with a baby with Chrollo... *tears up*
Also, to my friends who read Tokyo Revengers, I've published a new story, "Sakayume 🌸". Just in case this would be something you'd be interested in!
Thank you all for the support! Stay safe! 💓