Author's Notes:
RELATIONSHIP: Kurapika/Leorio Paladiknight
RATING: Teen and Up Audiences
NOTE: This was written for MangetsuAme for the Greed Island Game Master Server's 2024 Summer Exchange. This was inspired by their HxH superheroes alternate universe.
CONTENT WARNING: Mentions of alcohol.
Chapter 1: Breaking News
Fresh from a team mission, Leorio is unwinding with Green Beans at the lounge at HQ when a chorus of beeps suddenly reverberates within the walls. Since this establishment caters exclusively to registered heroes, every device in the vicinity is buzzing in unison.
"Oh, a general alert!" Beans exclaims.
Even as the other patrons peer at the little rectangular screens of their individual devices, Leorio blindly jabs at a button to the right side of his belt. The vibration of his gadget against his hip ceases immediately.
He takes a long pull from his beer bottle before turning toward Beans. "So what's up?"
"A villain's on the run after breaking into the Beitacle Bank and emptying its coffers."
"Opposite the Cemetery Building, right?"
"That's the one." Beans slaps some jenny on the countertop and hops down from his barstool. "For somebody who always flies solo, Scarlet Shackles has proven to be quite the nuisance to Yorknew City's inhabitants, hasn't he? Shall we get going, Medic?"
"Listen," Leorio drawls, "we just wrapped up our last mission with flying colors. How about another celebratory round of beers before we jump back into grueling action?"
"But —"
"On me," Leorio cuts in.
Beans looks around the lounge. About half of the heroes who stopped by to socialize have already departed in response to the alert. Beans blows out a sigh of resignation. With some difficulty, he clambers back onto his seat. Swinging his stubby legs from the high stool, he summons the bartender for more pale ale.
Twenty minutes later, on the flat screen mounted next to the menu, YNTV breaking news interrupts playback of yesterday's football game. Apparently, Scarlet Shackles has eluded all his pursuers and has vanished into thin air.
"Medic!" Beans gasps. "I'm blaming you for this travesty of justice! If we'd joined the chase, who knows? Maybe the enemy wouldn't have gotten away!"
Leorio shrugs. "Calm your beanstalks. You can't catch 'em all. Besides, how do you expect me to stop somebody as dangerous as Scarlet Shackles? Heal him and heal him till he succumbs to my unerring devotion and falls into my arms rather than running away? As you know, I've gone up against that guy dozens of times before, always to less-than-stellar results."
Beans crosses his short arms over his chest and puffs out his plump green cheeks.
The spring-green body paint coating every inch of Beans' skin has always been a part of his disguise. After years of seeing his friend only like this, Leorio can't even begin to imagine what his flesh must look like on his days off. Without this artificial pigmentation, would his face be glowing pink from all the alcohol he's ingested since their arrival at the lounge?
Leorio can't help but smile indulgently. "Come on. We'd better finish our beers and get started on those mountains of paperwork waiting for us upstairs at the Documentations Department. I have to be home by dinnertime. My husband and I are feasting on sushi tonight."
