It isn't morning yet, so the day isn't technically over.
That's how Leorio usually got through another intensive night of playing catch-up with his field notes and case studies. At first, the knock on his door sounded like it came down the hall; there are usually bumps at night, people coming and going. But it's the silence that seemed to draw freely on as he scribbled a few notes short-handed that were slowly replacing his calmness with unease. What if- another knock hit the door, jolting him out of his thoughts. The idea of someone outside his door at this hour was enough for him not to be able to focus on his paperwork. He quickly consolidated the papers, pens, and folders into a messy stack, pushing his glasses up with the back of his hand when they slid down. He patted his waistband for his pager before snatching it off the desk, hoping he hadn't missed a page from the wing.
He would have surely heard the beeping. Nothing was reading across the screen. He rubbed his burning vision with a knuckle before heading towards the door. He pressed his body against the door and checked the peephole. Nobody was in front of it. That never means anything. He's been a victim of a ding-dong ditch or two by the neighboring apartment kids back in York New.
Reaching for it, he realized he was underdressed for whoever could knock at this hour.
He positioned himself behind the door before he unlocked it and peeked his head out. "You might have the wrong room-"
"Are you sure I do?" Someone spoke suddenly, making Leorio's heart jump. "Were you expecting anyone tonight?" Before him stood Kurapika. Known to others as the fearsome chain-user but to Leorio, a close friend, maybe something more. His shoulders were slumped under the black suit jacket. His matching black tie was loose under the collar of the white button-down. To be honest, Leorio hated this suit on him. Everything usually looked good on Kurapika, he admitted to himself with a quick blush. He never saw it as a positive addition to his wardrobe. Often, he missed the Kurta attire Kurapika would sew and craft, showing Leorio why this goes there and that is here.
Shoes shifting on the carpeted floor reminded him that he didn't have to get introspective because Kurapika was before him.
"No! This is unexpected- were you looking for me?" He was mentally kicking himself for how much he was talking over himself. Here was the opportunity he had been waiting for since the start of the cruise and blowing it severely. Aggressively spamming one of your longest friend's voicemails while passing them in the corridors with no chance of a conversation has yet to give him much leeway, except now.
Kurapika had always been somewhat distant with them, understandably so. But since leaving him in York New, maybe telling Melody to watch out for him wasn't enough. Gon and Killua went off on their own to search for Ging, and he applied for medical school; somewhere along the way, he knew he would have very different experiences compared to the three of them- nothing quite like this, however.
His blonde hair messily framed his face, his mouth pulled into a tight line, and his eyes bored into Leorio's, seemingly unphased by this comment.
"Am I free to come inside?"
"Yeah! Yes," Leorio stepped back from the door, angling himself behind the door to give Kurapika enough space to step inside. "Come in, sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone to come by now. At this time, I mean." He became increasingly aware of how nobody had been in his hotel room since the start of the mission, let alone the person much to this standing.
Once inside, Kurapika only moved a little past the closed door. Leorio gestured towards his bed or desk, trying to silently invite him to take a seat or ultimately take up some space in their shared presence. He watched as he bent over and slipped himself out of his leather shoes, fingers hooked to the backs. They were laid gingerly next to Leorio's no-slip work shoes, and suddenly, Leorio was charged with how drastically different the two of them had become. Yes, they were Hunters. Yes, they were friends. (At the end of the day, there was nothing to deny this.) And yes, they were Zodiacs. Yet, he was hyper-aware of their differences as well.
"So, how did you know which room was mine?"
"You are a part of the medical personnel on the Black Whale. It makes sense that you are positioned near the bay in the event of an emergency. You're on call, correct?"
The pager in his hand doubled its weight to this comment.
"We have shifts," Leorio rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to alleviate the tension in his neck and the room. "But the rooms don't have assignments."
Kurapika stretched his hands by his sides, the first sign that he was becoming comfortable, even if it was unconsciously done. "I was given information regarding all medical ward attendants in case there was a need with Prince Woble."
"You know me well enough. Shocked I'm not there right now?" Leorio laughed, adjusting his glasses. "I'm like, always there, it feels like!"
A beat.
"Are you alright? Is this an emergency?" His voice dropped. So did his stomach. A feverish, hot wave of anxiety ran from his stomach to his head at the idea of Kurapika hiding his pain. He should have made a better effort to notice, to reach out, to-
"I'm alright." Kurapika half-voiced, lifting his head to look at Leorio more clearly. Even if he was lying, this verbal confirmation settled his stomach, not his thoughts. "Have you already showered?" Kurapika dragged his eyes over the white socks, boxers, and baggy t-shirt combo. It looked familiar. It was a health awareness marathon shirt, the kind that's handed out at charity events after participating. Leorio must have volunteered, run himself, or both. His eyes settled above Leorio before he breathed, meeting his dark brown eyes again.
"Eyah. No scrubs." Leorio gestured to himself with a flat hand, waving it up and down in front of him. "You still have a full suit on, and it's..." He turned his wrist to stare at the empty spot where his watch usually sat. "It's late."
Holding himself by his elbows, Kurapika grimaced. "I am not showering in your room."
Leorio stuck a thumb towards his bathroom. "Okay, I'll hand you the shampoo, and you can shower in the hallway." A smile began to spread across his face; he couldn't help it. Poking a little bit of fun at Kurapika was always his way of showing him that he was still human. "Come on," Like pulling himself out of mud, he finally lifted his feet and shortened the distance between his friend and himself. "You're the one that decided to drop by." He didn't want to scare Kurapika away at this moment, but how could you make someone stay without making them feel like it was out of pity?
His fingers ran down the stitching, slowing to rest on Kurapika's wrist. It was hesitant, testing how far he was allowed to push before being shut out entirely. His fingers fidgeted with the cuff link. Kurapika pulled away from him as if the motion bhad urned him.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Kurapika shook his head dismissively. He backed up, creating a bigger space than anticipated, nearly tripping backward over the doormat. His right hand shot out to catch himself on the wall, splaying out as an anchor. Leorio's hands shot out to try and balance him, but Kurapika swatted him away with his other hand. The sudden movement caused his bangs to fall into his eyes, and Kurapika squeezed them shut, seemingly unbothered, until he rubbed a knuckle into one of them. And then two. And then he grounded his palm agitated.
"This is so-"
" Please. Let me help you as a friend, not as a doctor." Leorio heard himself beg. "You came here tonight. There has to be a reason."
"Fine."
He could work with fine.
Leorio picked up the scissors again, brushing away the stray hairs with his middle finger to ensure nothing fell into his eyes. Kurapika looked up at him, eyes gray like a lingering thunderstorm. Selfishly, he admitted he wished that Kurapika didn't wear contacts. He missed how his eyes would glint with curiosity and find himself daydreaming in the rich brown they were initially when they first met.
"I shouldn't be worried, but I asked Killua to take care of things for me," Kurapika mumbled, hands brushing down the sides of his suit. "Melody told me to contact him."
"Gon being home on Whale Island was probably a good call not to." Leorio began, trying to redirect his mild disappointment. They found themselves talking about Gon and Killua, a common interest between them. "He's been so focused on his studies since enrolling into school, he's becoming a mini-me."
He licked his lips, a bit uneasily. The Zodiac's mission is their most recent chance to be in the same room as each other... And now that Killua is traveling with Alluka, does Kurapika even know who Alluka is? He talked to Killua, and he would have to know Alluka! Gon was now home on Whale Island because he lost his Nen, something he tried desperately to contact Kurapika about. Did he hear about that through Killua? As time passed, it felt like he was losing his ability to connect to Kurapika outside of work-related problems he hadn't gotten a chance to be involved in.
"Do you want to talk about it further?"
"No." All right, nevermind then, he could dwell on this alone.
He fanned Kurapika's face with a notepad from his bedside table; his eyes were closed, and his nose wrinkled up as he tried to brush off the trimmed hair. Leorio swiped a few times across the bridge of Kurapika's nose and cheeks, failing. It wasn't until Kurapika reached up, pinched the bridge of his nose a few times, and shook his head, weaning off the usual sneeze that would follow.
"I hate this feeling," Kurapika said as he sat on the bed's edge. He looked up to Leorio now through trimmed bangs. Reaching and pinching a particularly longer strand that missed the initial trim, Leorio snipped it without a thought before tossing the scissors onto the bed beside Kurapika. His hands brushed over his face again, trying to remove the spare hair.
He shook his head. He pinched and pulled at his white button-down. Wiping his hands down his black slacks. "It's all over me." With little hesitation, Leorio blew on Kurapika's face. When Kurapika reopened his eyes, he was met with a glare. "You just spit all over me."
Leorio tried to hold back one of his shit-eating grins that Killua found humorous. "Oops."
Kurapika stood, fluffing out his white button-down again with little result. Leorio could see the frustration built by his furrowed brow and the aggravated mumbling only Kurapika could hear.
"If you would let me. I will take a shower." Kurapika resigned. Head rolling on his shoulder to look at Leorio. "Which door leads to your bathroom?"
"The door attached to the kitchen space; it's not practical seeing how open this space is an-" Leorio rambled before jumping at the sound of Kurapika turning the door handle to the bathroom. "You're not putting the same clothes back on if that's what you think!"
Kurapika paused. "This is what I have. Is there a problem?"
" Is there a problem? " Leorio groaned, "Yes, there is! You're my guest, let me get you a change of clothes." He crossed the room, pulling the jacket out of Kurapika's hands, tossing it haphazardly over his desk chair, and jutting a thumb to the unplugged iron and board that sat against the side of his fridge before Kurapika could complain about it getting wrinkled.
Rummaging through his dresser, he pulled out multiple options for Kurapika to change into—a 'York New University' shirt from when he first got onboarded, two more charity marathon shirts (he liked running, what could he say?,) and finally his final option of parody shirt Killua and Gon had gifted him that said 'You bet your Gluteus Maximus Im a Doctor!' He tossed the shirt and boxers to Kurapika, who caught them and held them close to his chest. He peered down, presumably catching a glimpse of the punchline because the corners of his mouth tightened into a thin line.
Leorio began gathering some of his dirty clothes from the chair beside his bed, throwing them into another pile in the corner of the room. He should do laundry on one of his off days…maybe. An arching wave of socks and scrubs swallowed up two dress shirts resting on the pile. "Do you want to wash your binder?"
Kurapika paused to look at Leorio before looking back to the bathroom. "I'm not taking this off in front of you."
"I'm not asking you to!" Leorio barked as the bathroom door closed with Kurapika inside. "Just leave it on the counter!"
—
Kurapika stood in the bathroom doorway, wet and cold, waiting for something to happen. He had grabbed a towel off the rack and scrubbed his hair tiredly, and before he knew it, he was getting a toothbrush shoved into his mouth. He spat at the taste of mint and opened an eye to glare at Leorio. "I have so many of these from the supply room, and now I have a purpose to have too many!" He laughed, reaching past Kurapika to grab his own, bracing the doorway with his grip. He stood back into the bedroom, brushing his teeth, messily smiling back at Kurapika, holding the brush handle loosely.
"Can you wipe your mouth? You're making a mess." He grumbled, turning away from Leorio, who swiped his mouth on the back of his hand. So gross. He spat into the sink and began to run the water, taking a hand and guiding the stream of water around the bowl to get rid of any splatter— that was until Leorio butted his head in, garbling a "letmehspitt" and craning his head over Kurapika's shoulder to do so.
He removed himself entirely, dragging himself to the bed, laying claim on one of the sides. With each step towards the bed, he felt how the fabric of the shirt Leorio lent him gathered on his shoulders. Two sizes too large for his frame. He just had to close his eyes, and he could tell Melody that he did the thing they talked about, and she would never have to ask him about it again. Though she would know if he was thinking otherwise, for now, he did it.
He dug further into the pillow, which smelt reminiscent of Leorio, his lingering cologne and body wash—seeking comfort in something easily given if he let himself have it.
The shirt bunched under his arms, and he struggled to smooth it out, twisting and pulling at the hem and sleeves to try to lay comfortably. To Leorio, Kurapika would be sleeping in a moment, a rounded mass of blankets and sheets on a notoriously small bed. But to himself, he was awake, trying to picture something with different circumstances. Now was not the time to gather his belongings and hold the door steady, trying to click it close as quietly as he could. With a sigh, seemingly content with his sleeping arrangements, he tried to fall asleep.
…
…
…
"Christ Kurapika! You can't just leave this on the counter!" This made Kurapika lift from the pillows, squinting toward the bright light of the bathroom. There was a grumble that sounded like You told me to. followed by the sound of the pillow deflating as Kurapika's head connected with it again. Suppose there's no threat of the binder, but the gun on top of it was the more significant concern. He ensured the safety was on, as it was, and moved it back towards the counter wall.
Out of sight. Out of mind. It's no different than someone learning a Nen ability that mimics bullets or something along that line. Leorio began to fill the tub with warm water, pouring some detergent from the med bay. It's best not to think about how he secured this position in the Zodiacs and ended up on a mission to the Dark Continent with a cruise brimming with Hunters with intense abilities and something else entirely.
Punching Ging was pretty satisfying. He couldn't lie about that to anyone.
He then dropped the binder into the growing suds. He swirled his hand across the water's surface, watching it ripple and splash against the sides. Meticulously, he wrung out the binder, running it under the tap to guarantee it was being thoroughly washed. With one last twist of the fabric, he rose from the floor, noting the bite of the grout against his knees, and hung it over the towel bar to dry. He pushed up his glasses with his hand and shuffled backward to peek out the door.
" I can't tell if he's sleeping…" Leorio whispered to himself, craning his head to see if he could glimpse the blonde. He looked at his damp hands, wiping them down his shirt and boxers. He continued to tidy up around the room, restacking and organizing the notes he had hastily piled together at the start. Dumping the now cold tea he made hours prior down the sink; he gathered the little things that made this temporary room his: reading glasses, an unraveled tie, the Beetle-07, and his medical pager—lining them on the end table. Suppose the mission was longer than they anticipated. He would surely go mad trying to keep his room his own if Kurapika was already inhabiting the cramped walls. The pleated shoes at the door made his heart grow heavy with the want of domesticity he'd been so desperately chasing. He hasn't brought himself to pinch and dispose of the hair clippings that fell to the carpet. Easy to do in the morning, he shrugged.
He waved off the other medical interns back in York New when they would ask if he would go home to anyone special. It was enough of a reminder. Giggling behind their masks, eyes sparkling with curiosity anytime they would catch him leaving a voicemail in the janitor's closet, voice hushed, pressing the Beetle between his shoulder and cheek, scribbling down clinical notes. Get a clue. Something he would think to say with a swat through the air, but instead, he laughed bashfully to disconnect from his true intentions of the call. Getting a clue is easy to say when you ignore said clue yourself. He's thoroughly overthinking this right now.
For Kurapika, it was more than complicated. Something so genuine and straightforward is quickly turned into a vulnerability and an exploitable weakness by the wrong party. This was a fault Leorio knew all too well. His bold actions now overshadow his logical side. To think, he was in the next room over and no less for his company. That's how he knew he was being brash. He wouldn't have bothered to give Leorio more than a passing glance if he were being logical.
Doing so could have put a target on his back with this ever-growing feud between the royal family and their bodyguards. Vulnerability was never a close friend of Kurapika; that was a given, but that didn't mean he couldn't be. Yet, here he is, intertwined beneath the sheets of the man he wanted to protect at the most significant distance he could muster.
He often would find himself chewing on the inside of his cheek in thoughts like this. Quite stupid, to be honest, for him to have these conflicting feelings when the person you're involved with is four to five steps to the left in your bed. But they caught glances before, during the Zodiac debriefings. When they would brush hands while passing, it felt like only Leorio was turning back to see if Kurapika did as well.
The meetings were fine. They would sit next to each other as the newly appointed Boar and Rat. But never as Leorio and Kurapika. It was too important to be as such. The two of them would have to wait. Leorio wouldn't have joined the Zodiacs without securing Kurapika's role.
Leorio finished cleaning up his room, slippers shuffling across the room to tug on the drawstring light on his side of the bed. The room grew dark. In such moments, he would remind himself how he was in the middle of the sea, drifting until landfall. It was dark in the room and just as dark on the very top of the ship. Were there security lights up there? There's one in his bed tonight. He felt for the fitted sheet, cursing himself for not setting it up earlier, yanking on it lightly to find the tuck to undo and climb in.
Eyes closed, he felt his chest rise and fall. The weight of the bed was different tonight. This time, it wasn't from the ever-mounting exhaustion he found himself carrying after a double in the medical wing. This time, it was the weight of another person, precisely that of Kurapika.
Kurapika was silent. If he could hear his thoughts, he's sure he would be lectured. Leorio, with shaky vigor, found himself pulling himself across the bed, bridging the gap between them. Unspoken, he draped an arm over towards Kurapika, the two of them side-to-side, eyes opening to look at the ceiling, not at Kurapika. Awkwardly slotted next to each other for a while, they laid.
After a while, he spoke, "Pika-"
Kurapika spoke suddenly, overlapping Leorio's own words. "Leorio.. I have to go to the bathroom." Oh. Slowly, he untangled himself from Kurapika's frame and felt the other slide closer to the side of the bed before getting up suddenly. He thought he might have been asleep, but Kurapika was very much awake, not an ounce of sleep in his voice. He ran his hands across the warmth left behind, evidence that he wasn't half-asleep wishing to dream in his favor this once.
The bathroom light clicked on as the door clicked closed. Leorio didn't move in the darkness, still waiting with bated breath for more signs of life behind the door. The toilet flushed, the sink started, and the faucet squeaked when he assumed Kurapika had adjusted the angle, and then there was silence. When the bathroom opened again, the light was already off. Keeping his eyes closed, he imagined Kurapika quietly padding across the room's carpeted floor, glancing between the bed and the door, silently willing him closer.
The mattress dipped again. The sheets were lifted and floated back down upon him softly. Part of him cursed himself for not flipping over to try and sleep away the lingering embarrassment. Just go to sleep. Shut up, brain. Go to bed, goodnight! That was a great option until the dip in the bed started returning towards him, Kurapika's knee bumping into his once their two weights came together.
He lifted his head, allowing Kurapika to slot himself under his chin. This was different. He could smell the lavender shampoo he bought onto the Black Whale that Kurapika used in the shower; he was so much closer now. There was a murmured " sorry." Leorio shook his head and hummed lightly, signaling to Kurapika that it wasn't uncomfortable.
He found himself placing a hand on the other's hip, nothing meaningful besides securing him in place—weighing him down with the feeling of security. His heart hammered in his chest. Surely, Kurapika could hear it. He was so close. It was the closest he had been in months. No, that's not right. It's been longer than that now.
He listened to Kurapika's breathing momentarily, shallow and hesitant against him.
"You don't have to apologize." Leorio found himself saying, whispering it into the golden spindles of hair. Leorio's thumb dragged across the fabric that stretched across Kurapika's hip, opting to swipe it back and forth a few times in thought. His grip tightened on his hip before loosening completely, a moment of possession that shadowed his thoughts. What an unfair hand they both have been dealt.
There's a hum. "You say that now." Kurapika lifted his head, breathing hot on Leorio's neck. "Until you understand why I have to." Morals be damned. Kurapika searched again, hands fitting themself under the white t-shirt, spreading out along Leorio's chest. The hammering of his heart was thunderous now; if Kurapika wanted to, he could pierce his heart, and all he could mutter would be a 'thank you. ' Kurapika's head leaned heavily against his jaw. This time, it felt right to notice how their bodies were shaped by each other.
The pressure from his head, the heat of their shared space under the sheets, the smell of lavender and body wash, and the pads of Kurapika's drumming idly against his chest were all becoming too much and not enough at the same time for Leorio. Kurapika began to readjust, and it came to Leorio's attention just how momentary this moment could become for the both of them.
His hands are so cold. His breath was so hot. He was so hot.
Suddenly, Leorio leaned in and planted a soft kiss on Kurapika's lips. Close to them anyways, he landed at the corner of his mouth. It was hard to gauge anything in the dark. Kurapika stilled his actions. They haven't kissed like this before. It feels new. Back then, they were stolen with hesitation and lacked clarity. It left him feeling confused and flustered. But, this felt like a lit firework, a warmth growing under his sternum with want and overwhelming domesticity. He took a short breath before initiating again, thinking how long he had waited for this opportunity to present itself.
Kurapika's blonde hair was still damp as Leorio tilted his head and threaded a hand through it, settling at the nape of his neck. Their kiss deepened as Kurapika parted his lips, welcoming him to indulge further. Leorio's hand remained at the base of his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss began to taper off. He would never wish for this moment to end.
Leorio pulled away, albeit allowing Kurapika to catch his breath, and imagined the blush falling over his cheeks. " Oh? " Kurapika gasped, which in turn let the fireworks loose. He noted how Kurapika's lips were a bit chapped, and he tasted like his mint toothpaste. It was growing hot under the sheets; Kurapika's hands, still resting on his chest, were methodically opening and closing in presumed thought. Leorio's heart raced with excitement as he felt Kurapika's touch reciprocated. It was real. He let go of Kurapika's head, dragging a hand down to rest again on his hip.
"You're so pretty."
"You can't even see me right now." It sounded like he spoke out the corner of his mouth, muffled by a fallen sheet. His face has to be pressed into the pillow, his hair fanning across his face after pulling back from their kiss.
Leorio hummed. "I can imagine."
"He can imagine." Kurapika parroted. There was a short breath of a laugh. Something quick of the playfulness he remembered warmly from the Hunter exams. Momentarily, Kurapika separated from Leorio, arms running down his biceps before resting on his elbows, unable to go lower as Leorio wrapped him around the waist. There was a pause. "I found myself talking quite fondly about you to Melody. I suppose that is why I find myself here tonight."
"Does this mean I can have your email?" Playfully, Leorio asked, running a warm palm across Kurapika's lower back beneath the oversized t-shirt. He could get used to these late-night surprise visits, though the lack of spare shirts might soon become problematic.
There was a scoff. "You and that damn email." Kurapika's head dipped to settle back into the nook of his shoulder. Another hot sigh lingered on Leorio's skin. A whisper. "You won't need it." Leorio found himself between rolling his eyes and wanting to squeeze Kurapika closer to him.
Leorio licked his lips nervously. "Are you leaving?"
"I…" Kurapika trailed off. Unable to see his face in the dark, Leorio imagined him biting his lip, mentally tapping his chin, sand crambling to find a reason that would suffice for both of them. He's older now. He can accept whatever Kurapika tells him as long as it means they will always be within reach of each other. "I will have to leave in the morning. I have to."
Leorio propped himself up suddenly on his elbow. "Did you take your contacts out?"
"You're going to be a good doctor. Yes, I did." His voice was small beneath him. He sounded breathless and agitated.
"You took your contacts out…" Leorio scrambled for the pull string for the light and yanked it down. The room suddenly glowed from the bulb, and Leorio looked at Kurapika, warmth spreading across him as he saw the honey brown he had always dreamt about when he was particularly restless. Specks of darkened ruby and scarlet mottled the brown. Kurapika's cheeks were flushed, and the back of his hair was pushed up from the pillow and Leorio combined. How lucky am I right now?
"Can you turn that off? It's bright." Kurapika winced, his eyes quickly covered by his free hand. "I'm going to be honest, I would wish to continue what we started if…"
"Sorry! Sorry." He pulled on the string as fast as before, nearly taking the lamp with him back under the covers. He forgot how sensitive his eyes could be. "Got excited."
"That easy, huh?"
"Shut up." Leorio laughed lowly. He felt like a little kid with a crush. He knows he shouldn't play with fireworks but always reaches for the lighter. Maybe one day, he wouldn't have to answer Kurapika after a knock. The door would open on its own with his own set of keys. And maybe he would trip over Kurapika's shoes more often than his own.
His hand found the softness and familiarity of Kurapika's cheek, guiding him closer and securing him with another small kiss. Kurapika's fingers danced over Leorio's wrist, bringing them closer, padding softly on the pulse beneath the skin.
"It isn't morning yet," Kurapika whispered after the kiss broke and Leorio knew he said it with a smile.