Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Faction x War (S2) 

S2 EP1: Whale Island

(Heaven’s Apartments, New York City, Early Morning) 

(The household was quiet. The hallway clock showed that it was only six in the morning. The first door on the left side of the hall opened quietly, and Killua peeked his head out. He looked both ways, carefully slipping out of his and Gon’s room and carefully closing the door behind himself. 

He headed to the next room over, where the door was decorated with a beautifully calligraphed letter ‘A’. He held a hand out to knock. 

Before he even could, the door opened itself. His younger sister stood there, hair wild and looking more awake than ever in her purple nightgown. She grinned.) 

Killua: You remember what day it is?

Alluka: You guys are free! (She glanced around them, leaning down as if she were about to spring up.) 

Plan still the same? 

Killua: Yep! Three, two, one, run! (He and Alluka took off down the hall, slamming open the furthest door on the right side.) 

Killua/Alluka: WAKE UP WAKE UP IT’S TIME TO GO! (They all but dove onto the bed, Illumi nearly sharpening his hands and slicing them to ribbons as he and Hisoka were violently awoken.)

Hisoka: CHRIST, WHAT THE HELL?! 

Killua: You remember what you promised?! You HAVE to promise!! (He aggressively shook his brother, who reflexively recoiled into himself, rubbing his eyes.) 

Illumi: Give me a moment, please get OFF our bed. 

(Alluka hopped down onto the floor as Killua stared down Illumi in anticipation until he sat up fully. Hisoka was already sitting, arms folded and eyes tired as he glared at the others.) 

Killua: Today marks the day that Gon and I are un-grounded! 

Alluka: You promised a vacation with the rest of Milluki’s money, remember?

(Illumi blinked, turning to Hisoka.) 

Illumi: …That wasn’t a breakdown I had? 

(Hisoka shrugged.) 

Killua: Nope! And you better make good on that promise because I will never forgive you otherwise. (His hands clenched, eyes wide with anticipation.) 

Alluka: Yeah! We need a REAL reason to leave the house. (She put her hands on her hips, side-eyeing Killua.) 

One that doesn’t include chasing you and Gon halfway across the country without so much as a goodbye. 

(Killua cringed.) 

Killua: …Yeah. 

(Hisoka leaned forwards slightly, grabbing Illumi’s waist and pulling him into his lap.) 

Hisoka: How is Gon? He left his room at all? 

(Killua and Alluka glanced at one another.) 

Killua: I mean… There’s really nothing for him to distract himself with while stuck in here. He’s just… Not been the same. 

Alluka: And it’s all because of his stupid dad! (She fumed.) 

Killua: Yeah, exactly. The guy barely leaves his room except to watch TV or something. 

(Illumi hummed softly, picking at his nails.) 

Illumi: Hmm. I would never wish a period of prolonged isolation and never leaving bed upon another person. 

(Killua held a finger up.) 

Killua: That’s how you had to have your kidney replaced. 

(Hisoka looked over at the albino, concerned.) 

Hisoka: Illumi… What exactly did you discuss with your siblings? 

(Illumi blinked, looking to Killua. He continued.) 

Killua: Gon left for New York about a year ago from the Carribean where he lived with his aunt. She hasn’t seen him all this time, and from what I’ve heard it sounds like the island he’s from is really cool. 

Alluka: Yeah! Illumi said we could use some of the money Milluki gave him when we all headed out to Chicago for the trip, and we’ve been talking to Kurapika and Leorio about maybe taking time off school and work. 

(Killua nodded.) 

Killua: So we want to try and surprise Gon by taking him back there with all of us! (He grinned with all his teeth at Hisoka, eyes shining.) 

Illumi: Well… I haven't heard anything from our family about an upcoming meeting, so I suppose if we go soon it might be possible. 

(Alluka clapped her hands together, Hisoka rubbed the back of his head, eyeing Killua warily.) 

Hisoka: …I wish this wasn’t the first I was hearing about it. 

But! 

(Illumi jumped.) 

Hisoka: I’m all for being spontaneous! 

Alluka: Yay!!! (She ran up, hands on the bed.) 

Can we go talk to the others?! 

(Hisoka blinked, looking at the door.) 

Hisoka: What do you want- aa fucking hall pass? Sure. You probably woke the entire household coming in here anyways. 

Come on, Lulu. (He leaned up onto his knees, scooping Illumi into his arms before swinging them both up onto the floor, carrying the assassin bridal style.) 

Killua/Alluka: Fuck yeah!/Heck yeah!! (They exchanged a quick handshake before racing out of the room. Hisoka walked at a reasonable pace behind them. He looked down at Illumi.) 

Hisoka: That was sweet of you. 

(Illumi looked away, pulling his hands in the sleeves of his sweatshirt.) 

Illumi: I do not wish to see Gon showing early signs of some form of depression. 

(Hisoka chuckled.) 

Hisoka: …That’s cute, but I think this might have more to do with… Gon just dealing with the strangely, most prominent male role model in his life turning out to be a complete and utter douchebag. 

Illumi: Mmm. (He nodded blankly.) 

Any news on that friend of yours? 

(Hisoka looked up, shaking his head after a second.) 

Hisoka: …I’m afraid not. 

But that’s alright. Kite tends to disappear. They’re a drifter. (He adjusted his grip on the other.) 

Come on. We’ve got a vacation to arrange.

***

(Gon and Killua’s Room, Late Morning) 

(The door to the still dark room Gon and Killua shared creaked open, light from the hallway filtering in. Killua and Alluka looked inside, seeing the wrapped-up shape under the blankets of the racecar bed. They headed over, quiet.) 

Killua: …Gon? …You awake? 

(Gon slowly turned over, eyes half open as he blinked them before rubbing them.) 

Gon: …Yeah? What’s going on? 

(Killua sat down on the edge of the bed next to him, glancing at Alluka for a second.) 

Killua: Do you… Happen to remember what day it is today? 

(Gon squinted, looking up as his mouth fell open slightly.) 

Gon: …Bisky’s birthday? 

(Alluka looked disappointed, folding her arms.) 

Alluka: …That’s not until January. 

Killua: We’re finally un-grounded! We can leave the house! (He beamed down at Gon, who blinked a few times before giving a forced smile back.) 

Gon: …Oh yeah! 

I guess that’s true, huh? 

(Killua and Alluka shared another look.) 

Alluka: B-But unfortunately you two aren’t out of the woods just yet! 

(Gon blinked.) 

Gon: …Huh? 

Alluka: Kurapika told me to tell you. They said they have a special day trip planned tomorrow and a lesson is to be learned! 

Gon: What? Where are we going? (He sat up, shaking off a few of the blankets. Alluka shrugged.) 

Alluka: It’s part of the idea, I guess. 

Killua: Yep. Kurapika mentioned it to me too. I’ll pack for us, don’t worry about it. 

(Gon’s eyes narrowed slightly on Killua.) 

Gon: …Are you sure you’ll pack enough toothpaste and remember shampoo? 

(Killua blinked.) 

Killua: …Well, now I will. 

(Gon looked back at Alluka.) 

Gon: Who else is coming? 

Alluka: Uh, everyone, I think. 

Gon: Ah, what?! Is Kurapika making a spectacle out of us or something? 

(Alluka shrugged.) 

Alluka: No, I doubt he’d do that. There just might be something else to do along the way, I don’t know. 

(Killua nudged Gon, smirking at him.) 

Killua: Who knows? It could be fun. 

Gon: …Maybe. I’m guessing there’s no way we’re getting out of this. 

(Alluka blinked.) 

Alluka: That depends if you want to check with Kurapika or not. 

(Gon swallowed.) 

Gon: No, that’s fine. Thanks, Alluka. 

(She smiled.) 

Alluka: Pack up, you guys! (She turned, heading out of the room. Killua kicked his feet, still watching Gon.) 

Killua: How you feeling? 

(Gon looked over at him.) 

Gon: About what? 

(Killua shrugged.) 

Killua: …Everything? It’s no secret that you’ve been super depressed ever since we got back from Chicago. 

Gon: Depressed? What?! Pssh! 

Killua: Not like in the stupid clinical way! 

Gon: Oh… (He chewed on one of his nails, looking down.) 

…I don’t know… I just still feel really bad is all. 

(Killua watched him.) 

Gon: I just… It feels so weird. 

I spent almost my whole life wondering and dreaming about my dad and what kind of person he would be, and we finally meet him, and… (He trailed off.)

Well, you know what happened. 

Plus we still don’t even know where Kite is. …What if my stupid decision that night got them hurt or something? 

(Killua shook his head.) 

Killua: Kite was going to see Ging anyways, remember? I talked with Hisoka. He said not to worry. 

(Gon didn’t look fully convinced.) 

Killua: …Do you really think you’ve lost any sense of… purpose since meeting your dad? 

(Gon curled his toes, pulling his knees up by his face.) 

Gon: …Of course not. You, and Alluka, and all our friends are still the most important things to me. 

(Killua smiled.) 

Gon: …I just can’t stop myself from wishing things had gone completely differently. 

Killua: Yeah. (He flopped backwards onto the bed.) 

That’s probably normal, though.

(He felt the weight on the bed shift, looking up to see Gon was now walking over towards the mirror across the room. He looked over himself for a few seconds, one of the blankets still wrapped around his shoulders.) 

Gon: …Kurapika’s right. Leaving the house will do some good. 

(Killua’s smile widened.) 

Killua: Good. I think so too.

***

(John F Kennedy Airport, The Next Morning) 

(Bisky smirked at Kurapika and Leorio across from her. The three of them led the group towards their gate, suitcases trailing behind them. Or, in Bisky’s case, three suitcases, and an overstuffed duffel bag.) 

Bisky: I can vaguely get behind Leorio randomly flying out to the Caribbean to help cheer up a child, but I’m surprised you didn’t take at least a month to plan out the itinerary of every waking hour of our stay, Kurapika. 

(Kurapika frowned, looking over at her.) 

Kurapika: Of course I want to get Gon out of the house. Besides, we only have a short window of time before something could potentially come up with the Zoldycks. I don’t want anything to seem suspicious. 

Bisky: Mmm. 

Leorio: Besides! Gon hasn’t seen his aunt in over a YEAR. Can you imagine?! (He blinked, looking at the ground blankly.) 

Granted, I haven’t seen my parents since we moved in, but you know… 

Bisky: You know where we’re staying? 

(Kurapika nodded.) 

Kurapika: I’m sure Gon, and maybe Killua and Alluka will stay with his aunt. I wouldn’t want to impose, so I’ll make sure we use the rest of Illumi’s money to book ourselves a hotel of some kind. 

(Leorio looked up, seeing the letter of their gate up ahead. He smiled.) 

Leorio: Looks like we’re here. 

(Gon called from behind them.) 

Gon: Are you guys going to tell me where we’re going yet? I don’t know if… (He trailed off, looking at their gate’s destination. Killua and Alluka smiled at one another.

Punta Cana International Airport was the destination of their gate.) 

What… 

(Leorio grinned, looking back at him.) 

Leorio: We figured you could use a refresher from everything that happened in Chicago. 

Besides, now that you’ve [for better or worse] met your dad, it’s probably overdue that you visit your aunt, right? 

(Gon stared from the gate to Leorio to the others for several seconds. His lip started quivering, eyes filling with tears.) 

Gon: You guys are all coming with me back to my island?! (He rushed forwards, grabbing onto Leorio’s waist and crying into his shirt.) 

THIS IS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE! I’ve thought about showing you guys around my island ever since we moved in!!! We’re really all going there? 

(Bisky and Kurapika couldn’t help cracking matching smiles. Hisoka smirked down at Gon as well.)

Illumi: Why are you crying? 

(Killua frowned.) 

Killua: They’re tears of joy, you dipshit. 

Gon: Tears of SUPER joy!!! (He rubbed his face with his sleeve.) 

You guys will get to meet my aunt! And I’ll show you all my favorite beaches! And we can explore the town! And the forest! 

(As Gon excitedly ran around, yelled, and shook people, Killua and Alluka turned in on one another.) 

Killua: Think we did good on this one. 

Alluka: Yuh huh. (They exchanged another quick handshake as Kurapika brought Gon back to earth.) 

Kurapika: We won’t be able to stay super long with all the things we still have going on back at the house, but we figured a real vacation was well deserved. 

Gon: I don’t care if we’re staying one day or a month! This is so exciting! (He took off towards the gate, the others watching him.) 

Leorio: …They haven’t called for boarding yet, Gon! 

…

Leorio: THEY HAVEN’T CALLED FOR- I’ll go get him. 

***

(Punta Cana International Airport, Midday) 

(Gon stepped out confidently with Alluka and Killua on either side of him. They walked on the white-washed boardwalk out of the airport. Seagulls flew in the air above them, and the sound of the ocean wasn’t far away, visible just over the left side of the walkway. 

Alluka tied her hair back as a soft breeze blew, wide-eyed and curious as she and Killua took in the sights of a completely new environment. The sun was out, and it was a delightfully warm temperature in contrast to fall in New York. 

Gon had a ballpoint pen and an airport napkin in hand, scrawling shapes on it.) 

Gon: This is the shape of the island. It’s about an hour ferry ride from here. (He drew a smaller, slightly fish-shaped island and a poor looking boat. 

He then drew an X on the West side of the island about a third of the way down.) 

This is my aunt’s house. It’s about a half hour walk from the port town. I know that route like the back of my hand so I’ll be able to get us there easy. 

Alluka: Where are the others gonna stay? 

Gon: Huh? (He looked over at her.) 

Alluka: Yeah, Kurapika said that we shouldn’t all stay at your house. 

(Gon blinked.) 

Gon: Of course you can all stay at my house! We can make room! Besides, if things get tight, we can always camp outside! I do it all the time. I know all the best spots. 

Killua: Cool! Sleeping outside but not in a homeless child way! (He and Gon high-fived.) 

Gon: We’ve got my aunt’s bedroom, my bedroom, my grandma’s bedroom, the guest bedroom, and the fold-out couch. So we can probably make do. Especially since Hisoka and Illumi always sleep together. Same with Kurapika and Leorio. 

Killua: Yeah. (He glanced around them.) 

Weird how they never switched to separate rooms even after Leorio’s bedspread came. 

(Alluka smirked, incredibly mischievous.) 

Alluka: Yeah, weird, huh? 

(Behind them, most of the adults were talking as Kurapika explained the details of their ferry trip. Illumi reached into the bag he was carrying, pulling out a pair of black sunglasses and a matching umbrella. Hisoka blinked, looking up at the cloudless sky as Illumi opened the umbrella above himself. Leorio looked back at them.) 

Leorio: …Uh… You’re not even that pale.

Illumi: I don’t want to burn. 

Bisky: Right. (She pulled her hair back into a high ponytail, eyeing Kurapika.) 

So, you happen to know how old Gon’s aunt is by chance? 

Kurapika: Seriously, Bisky?! 

Bisky: What?! 

(He glared.) 

Kurapika; Keep it in your pants, will you? 

(She rolled her eyes.) 

Bisky: Oh, come on . Besides Gon, you might be the first person in the world that needs a vacation right now. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look remotely at ease. Ever. 

(Kurapika’s frown deepened.) 

Leorio: I’m sure we’ll all find ways to relax while we’re here, Bisky. (They took a turn, heading towards the boarding of the ferry that would take them to Gon’s home island. Kurapika corralled the kids, showing all their passes before they were let aboard. 

Gon grabbed onto Killua and Alluka’s arms, eyes shining.) 

Gon: Here, follow me! I know a spot that’ll give us the best view! ((they ran past most of the other tourists, accidentally disrupting a few corny family photos in the process as they clamored up the stairs on the outside of the cabin. 

Gon led them to the front-most point of the railing on the top of the boat. Wind blew through their hair as they stared at the crystal blue water they would soon be heading across.) 

Killua: Whoa… 

Alluka: I didn’t know there was water this blue!! 

Gon: Pretty cool, right? (He pointed in the distance, to their right slightly.) 

My island’s just that way. 

Alluka: Does your aunt know we’re coming at all? 

(Gon blinked, rubbing the back of his head after a second.) 

Gon: Uh… There’s really no way she could. Cell service is super shotty at best on my island. The only form of communication we’ve had over the past year is those few letters I’ve sent back while we were on the road. (He looked back out in the distance.) 

So, I guess this’ll be a big surprise. (He looked over to Killua.) 

Did you pack everything we need? 

Killua: Yep. 

(Alluka folded her arms.) 

Alluka: I made sure he packed everything we needed. 

Gon: Thanks, Alluka. (He grinned up at the sky.) 

God, I can’t wait for you to meet my family. My aunt will love you guys! 

…And my grandma will be incredibly brutally honest with all of you. 

Killua: Wait a minute… (He folded his arms.) 

If you haven’t heard from your aunt in forever, wouldn’t that mean that she doesn’t really… Know what happened with… Your dad? 

(Gon blinked, looking away after a second.) 

Gon: …Yeah. That’s true. 

Alluka: Are you gonna tell them what happened? 

Gon: …I don’t know. I don’t know if the whole ‘I told you so’ shpeel is really something I want to talk about right now. 

(Killua nodded.) 

Killua: That’s okay. We’re here to have fun. Not deal with boring adult talks about life, and goals, and shit. 

Gon: Right. 

(The boat slowly took off from the dock, starting their journey out to the island. The 3 kids watched the rolling, crystal-blue waves as they picked up speed.) 

???: Well, I thought it’d be much longer before I saw you come around here again, Freecss. 

(All three of the kids turned around to see who was talking. A stockily built, older man in a captain's hat headed towards them, smiling under his paper white mustache at Gon, whose face lit up in recognition.) 

Gon: Captain Whalos! (He ran up to greet the old friend, Killua and Alluka following him more slowly.) 

Captain: Good to see you again, Gon. I see you brought some friends. (He spoke with a thick Australian accent, laughing.

Gon nodded, pointing to the others in turn.) 

Gon: These are my friends Killua and Alluka. They’re coming with me to visit my aunt and grandma. The rest of my friends are downstairs. 

(Whalos pulled the pipe out of his mouth, thick eyebrows raising slightly in surprise.)

Whalos: You’ve got more with you? 

Yikes, what happened up in New York, kid? 

(Gon laughed.) 

Gon: A lot, that’s for sure. I’m living with a few friends now, it’s really fun. And now they get to come meet my family! (He blinked.) 

…How is aunt Mito anyways? 

(The captain chuckled.) 

Captain: Oh, she gets along fine just as always. She’s a hard worker, that one. 

(Gon nodded.) 

Gon: I miss her a lot. 

(The red-nosed man chuckled again.) 

Captain: Yes… I do believe a visit from you would do some good. 

(Gon smiled, nodding.) 

Gon: We’ll be sure to follow through. 

(Whalos nodded, heading back down to whatever he was doing beforehand. Killua stood up next to Gon, looking over at him.) 

Killua: So, is your island, like, one of those places where everyone knows each other. 

Gon: Pretty much, yeah. 

But don’t worry. I’ll make sure you guys feel right at home. (He headed back up to the railing, watching as a seagull took flight from the bow, flying out in the direction they were headed.) 

***

(Mito Freecss’ Home, Whale Island, Afternoon) 

(Outside a well kept, two story home, a woman in a light pink blouse and long white skirt carried a basket over one arm. She set it down in front of a clothing line in front of the house, starting to take down articles and fold them neatly inside, humming to herself softly as she worked, clothes gently swaying in the ocean breeze. 

The salmon home overlooked a cliff that dropped off onto a sandy white beach that the rolling waves crashed against; a lovely tropical abode.) 

Gon: *Far off* Aunt Mito!!! 

(The woman gasped, looking over down the narrow, dusty trail that led up to her house, grass well worn with use. 

In the distance, emerging from a small patch of trees, Gon waved both arms to her, running up with a group of others in tow. Her eyes widened as she stopped what she was doing.) 

Mito: Gon?! (She ran towards him as well, the two catching up to one another as Gon jumped into her arms, hugging her.) 

Gon: I missed you so much!!! (He clung onto her, bouncing up and down, she laughed, dark complexion creasing with a smile. She held his head with her hands.) 

Mito: I hadn’t heard from you in so long, I was starting to get worried! I missed you too. 

(Killua was the first to catch up. Gon turned to look back at him.) 

Gon: My friends came to visit you! They’re who I’m staying with in New York! 

Mito: O-Oh! (She blinked a few times as the rest of the group approached. She looked to Killua, who gave an awkward wave. Gon grabbed onto his arm.) 

Gon: This is my best friend in the whole world! His name’s Killua! 

(Mito smiled.) 

Mito: It’s lovely to meet you, Killua. 

(Alluka ran up next, beaming.) 

Alluka: Gon, is this your aunt?!

Gon: Yeah! (He looked from Mito to Alluka.) 

Killua: This is Alluka. She’s my sister. (He placed a hand on the top of her head.

Alluka waved up to Mito.) 

Alluka: Nice to meet you! 

(Mito chuckled.) 

Mito: You as well. 

Gon: Alluka and Killua stuck with me before the others gave us a place to stay in our big apartment. It’s super cool. 

(Kurapika awkwardly cleared his throat as the rest of the group approached. Gon didn’t give Mito any time to recover before he jumped around, introducing the others.) 

Gon: This is Kurapika and Leorio! They’re the ones who offered us a place to stay in the first place! 

Mito: O-Oh! Well, it’s lovely to- 

(Gon grabbed onto Hisoka’s arm, nearly dragging him to a stumble.) 

Gon: This is Hisoka and Illumi! Hisoka’s a super cool magician-fighter-person, and Illumi and I outran the police one time! They’re dating. 

(Hisoka gave an awkward smile to Mito as Illumi hid behind him slightly with his umbrella. Mito opened her mouth to say something.) 

Gon: And this is Bisky! She taught Killua and I how to take care of ourselves before we met the others. She’s super cool. 

(Mito did a double take from Bisky to Gon, laughing awkwardly.) 

Mito: Ah, Gon? 

Gon: Yeah? 

Mito: Why don’t we all head inside and we can all get to know one another with your grandmother around. 

Gon: Okay! (He grabbed Killua and Alluka, pulling them towards the house, leaving their bags behind.) 

Come on, you guys!! 

(Kurapika approached Mito, smiling meekly.) 

Kurapika: Ah… I-I really do apologize for the sudden arrival. This was a bit of a spur of the moment decision, you see. 

(Mito shook her head, waving him off.) 

Mito: I’ve missed that boy for so long, you have no idea how little I care about how you got here. 

Please, come in. All of you. (She turned to grab her things, gesturing for the others to follow. Kurapika looked up at Leorio, who blinked, giving a smile before following Mito into the house. 

Kurapika was the first to step inside, Leorio and Bisky grabbing the luggage left behind the kids. 

The house was cozy, welcoming, and smelled slightly of cinnamon. There was an open living space with a couch and a few chairs. A few memorabilia hung up on the walls, along with a doorway to a kitchen and an adjoining dining room. As everyone filed in, an old woman with silver hair tied back in a bun made her way into the room, carrying a stick.) 

Old Woman: Mito, did Gon not even bother to take his shoes off once he got here? There’s also three of those kids now. 

(Mito swallowed, smiling back at the others before turning to the woman.) 

Mito: Mom, you’re not at all phased by the fact that Gon’s back after almost a YEAR of being completely gone? 

(Her mother blinked, slowly turning to the others.) 

Leorio: Uh… Hi? 

Mito: I’m so sorry. (She gestured to her.) 

This is my mother; Abe. (She put a hand on Abe’s shoulder.) 

Mom, these are friends of Gon’s. There’s no need to be so hostile. 

(Abe blinked, approaching the lot of them. She pointed the cane she was using at Leorio.) 

Abe: You’re too tall. (She looked to Kurapika.) 

You’re too short. And so are you. (She gestured to Bisky, who was at least two inches taller than her.) 

Your hair is too bright. (She looked away from Hisoka, looking at the umbrella Illumi had closed.) 

Why in hell do you have an umbrella?! It’s clear as day out! 

Mito: Mom, please. (She ushered her mother towards a recliner, looking back to the others.) 

We might not have a ton of space for all of you- I can try and see if Gon might be willing to stay outside or something similar. 

Kurapika: No, no, we can find a hotel to stay in of some kind. 

(Mito waved them off again.) 

Mito: Oh, no. I cherish visitors like this, you see. I’ll figure something out so you can all stay together. (She headed up the stairs, probably to try and find Gon. Kurapika called after her.) 

Kurapika: Are you sure?! 

(Mito yelled something back down, but whatever it was, she was too far away to hear clearly. Leorio rocked back and forth on his heels, most of the others glancing at Abe, who was still staring them down from her chair.) 

Bisky: Uh… Nice place you got here. 

(Abe blinked. Leorio took a few steps inside, looking around.) 

Leorio: It’s cute! I would’ve loved to grow up on the beach. 

Abe: Not in those clothes, you wouldn’t’ve. 

(Leorio frowned, crossing his arms over his suit.) 

Kurapika: Uh- it’s lovely to finally meet Gon’s grandmother. My name’s Kurapika. 

(Abe blinked again, looking at them all over one more time.) 

Abe: Listen, young lady- 

Kurapika: Uh, actually, I’m not- 

Abe: Please do not expect me to remember all your names. From now on, I’ll refer to you all as Blondie, (She pointed to each person in turn) 

Glasses, American Girl Doll, Rapunzel, and Metrosexual. 

(Most of the others blinked in unison.) 

Leorio: That might not be so bad.

(Everyone looked over once Gon charged down the stairs, now dressed in flippers that he kept tripping over, carrying a snorkel set, and wearing bright green swim trunks.) 

Gon: You guys, hurry up and get ready! We’re going down to the beach! 

(Mito was behind him, looking from back up the stairs to her nephew.) 

Mito: G-Gon, don’t you want to give your friends some time to unpack first? 

Gon: They can unpack later before bed! We have sights to see! (He tripped down the rest of the stairs, quickly rightening himself and running for the door.) 

Come on, you guys! Get your swimsuits on!! 

***

(Whale Island Port Town, Late Afternoon) 

(Gon led his friends through the welcoming, busy streets of the port town they had come into on the ferry. 

They passed by several shops and vendors selling a number of homemade foods and other goods, people getting off boats, chatting with fishermen, or just meandering through the streets. Kurapika looked around with a quiet sense of wonder, hands clasping together below their waist.) 

Kurapika: So, this is where you grew up, huh, Gon? 

Gon: Yep! My aunt and I came down here all the time to sell things, or talk to people. Everyone’s super nice. (He carried a beach ball in his hands, stepping awkwardly with the fins he had on. 

The rest of his friends were dressed in water-ready outfits as well; mostly swim trunks, or in Bisky’s case; a giant skirt with her bikini top, and Alluka wore a big puffy dress that was hopefully for swimming. 

Illumi was dressed in a dark green wetsuit, still carrying his black umbrella and wearing the sunglasses that were too big for him, the whole ensemble warranted stares from many of the people in town. Bisky looked over across the walkway at the wide, white, sandy beach that dipped off from the pier, looking up at Gon.) 

Bisky: Gon, isn’t the beach that way? 

Gon: That’s the public cove. I know a secret spot! (He picked up the pace, stumbling over his flippers again. The others followed behind him as they headed out of town, heading along a rocky, sandy path around the edge of the island.) 

Just a bit further you guys! 

(Killua picked up the pace, running up with Gon. After a few more minutes, the group emerged around an outcropping of rock to see the beautiful, sandy cove in front of them. 

A wide open beach let off into the crystalline water, palm trees shaded the far part of the beach, and waves crashed gently.) 

Kurapika: Wow… 

Alluka: This is so cool!!! (She and the other two kids took off onto the hot sand, running around and getting footprints all over the area. They others followed slower, taking in their surroundings.) 

Bisky: Damn. I deserve this full time, for real. 

(Leorio, who was carrying two full-length surfboards, tossed them onto the sand, wiping his brow.) 

Leorio: Hey, Kurapika. You want to help me look for shells? 

Killua: *far off* You guys! 

(The adults looked over as the kids waved them over, Gon was dragging out what looked like a long white net from some of the trees. 

As everyone headed over, they could see that it was actually a slightly beaten up volleyball net. Gon started setting it up as they approached. Alluka was now carrying the volleyball, tossing it to Killua back and forth excitedly.) 

Killua: We’re gonna play volleyball! four-v-four, okay? 

(Bisky cracked her knuckles, planting her feet.) 

Bisky: Oh, hell yeah. 

(Gon finished setting up the net, grabbing the ball from Killua and turning his nose up importantly.) 

Gon: This game is a mixture of volleyball and a type of dodgeball. My grandma calls is; deathball. 

(Most of the others stared.) 

Hisoka: Hot. 

Killua: Cool! (The others gathered around as Gon explained.) 

Gon: The rules are simple. It’s like regular team volleyball, but whoever misses the ball is out, and we go until there’s only one person left playing. 

Any type of shot is fair as long as it’s in bounds. If you shoot the ball out of bounds, you’re out. 

(Bisky placed her hands on her hips.) 

Bisky: So the stakes are high. I like it. 

Gon: One last rule. (He grinned darkly.) 

If you hit someone with the ball, they’re out. No catching. 

(Hisoka leaned most of his weight on one foot, smiling.) 

Hisoka: So. How are we picking teams? 

Gon: I’ll be team captain number one since me and my grandma invented the game. 

Killua: Can I be team captain number 2? 

Gon: Yeah. But only because you asked first. 

(Killua smiled dumbly.) 

Bisky: How were we supposed to know that?! 

Gon: Killua has VERY good intuition skills, Bisky. 

(She rolled her eyes, folding her arms.) 

Bisky: *muttering* It’s funny because he absolutely DOES NOT. 

(Gon turned to Killua, setting the beach ball down.) 

Gon: Rock paper scissors for who picks first? 

Killua: Sure! (They exchange a rapidfire game, Gon ending with rock, and Killua with paper.) 

Yes! (He picked up the ball, looking over the other six.) 

I want… Alluka! 

Alluka: YAY!!! (She ran over, high fiving her brother before standing next to him. Gon put a hand on his chin, squinting.) 

Gon: Hmmm. (He spoke to himself.) 

Kurapika’s pretty quick, but he’s not tall or super strong. Leorio’s tall enough, but I don’t know if he has enough coordination to avoid certain hits. Hisoka’s super strong and fast, and Illumi could probably dodge anything you threw at him. Even so, Bisky’ still one of the most well-rounded players, but I don’t know if her height could make up for- 

(Killua rolled his eyes.) 

Killua: Just pick someone, Gon! 

Gon: I pick Hisoka! 

Hisoka: HA! Eat SHIT , losers. (He flipped them off with his pointed nails before turning to join Gon. Leorio flinched.) 

Except you, Illumi. You are lovely. 

(If the assassin blinked, you couldn’t see it under his sunglasses.) 

Leorio: WHAT?! 

(Gon shrugged.) 

Gon: Don’t take it personally, Leorio. I’m strategizing here. (He fist-bumped Hisoka, who looked back at Leorio and flexed his arms. Leorio fumed. Killua raised a brow over at them, growling.) 

Killua: YEAH, GON?! Well, ME TOO! 

I pick Illumi! 

(Illumi’s eyes widened. He froze. Alluka cheered.) 

Alluka: Woohoo!!! Team sibling time! 

(Illumi closed his umbrella, tossing it away as he headed over, pulling a hair tie off his wrist and pulling the black tresses out of his face. He nodded to Killua.) 

Illumi: …I won’t let you down, Killua. 

(Killua blinked slowly.) 

Killua: Yeah, you better. 

Leorio: OH, COME ON! 

Bisky: THIS IS BULLSHIT! 

Gon: Quiet down, you guys. (He folded his arms.) 

I pick Kurapika next, because they’ve at least been quiet up to this point. 

(Leorio and Bisky fumed at him. Kurapika smiled, walking up with Gon and Hisoka.) 

Kurapika: Suck my fucking cock, you two. 

(The two left alone gaped at him.) 

Leorio: K-Kurapika- 

Killua: Okay. We’ll take Bisky. 

(Leorio sat down on the sand as Bisky huffed, heading over to the Zoldycks.) 

Bisky: Finally. Someone with some goddamn common sense. (She marched past Leorio, head held high.) 

Killua: Congratulations, Bisky, you’re now an honorary Zoldyck.

Bisky: Cool. 

(Leorio, grumbling, eventually took his place with the other team. Kurapika blinked, watching him.) 

Kurapika: Glad our team’s off to a great start. 

(Bisky called over to Gon as she and her team took the other side of the net.) 

Bisky: So. How long do we get to strategize? 

Gon: Zero minutes and zero seconds! (He planted his bare feet.) 

This game is about coordination with your team and improvisation.

Bisky: WHAT?! 

Killua: Cool. (He tossed the ball over to Gon, who caught it with both hands.) 

Gon: Spread out! We start in ten! Seconds!

(As Gon started counting down, both teams scrambled for a place in the sand. Opposite them, Killua and Bisky took the space by the net while Illumi and Alluka hung back. Kurapika pulled Leorio back to the edge of the court as Gon tossed the ball to Hisoka for him to serve.) 

Gon: Careful not to pop it. 

(Hisoka snickered.) 

Hisoka: You should be worried about the other team in that department. (He tossed the ball up in the air, hitting it far and fast over the net. Killua immediately jumped up, slapping it back over the net with his hand faster than anyone could blink. 

Kurapika gasped, diving forwards to rebound the ball. They rolled to a stop in the sand, but managed to hit it back, not looking like it was going far enough to make it over the net.) 

Gon: I’ve got it!!! (He sprinted forwards, jumping as high as he could to bump the ball in a wide arc over the net. 

It was too high for Killua or Bisky to reach. Illumi ran forward to hit it back over the net, backhanding it fiercely. Hisoka jumped up to reach the ball, but just missed. Leorio took off, running towards the ball, barely knocking it upwards with the tips of his fingers. 

Kurapika dove in to cover the quickly falling ball, tossing it back over the net. It was too easy a shot. Bisky jumped up, swinging a leg around herself to slam the ball back towards them, it went screaming towards Gon, hitting him square in the face.) 

Gon: OUH! (He fell backwards into the sand as the ball rolled to a stop.) 

Kurapika/Leorio: Gon! 

Bisky: HAHA! Gon’s out! 

(As Leorio and Kurapika ran over to see if Gon was okay, Alluka and Killua cheered, crowding around Bisky to congratulate her. Behind them, Illumi clapped politely.) 

Kurapika: Gon, are you okay? How many fingers am I holding up? (They held up all five. 

Gon high-fived him before sitting up.) 

Gon: It’s fine, you guys. I know you can win. Even without me. 

(Hisoka blinked, unimpressed.) 

Hisoka: …We’ll try our best. (Gon hopped up, heading off the court.) 

Bisky: We ready to keep going? 

(Gon called out.) 

Gon: Your serve, Bisky! 

(Hisoka tossed the ball to Bisky, who caught it. 

Before even waiting for anyone to get in position, she spiked it towards them. Hisoka dove forwards, hitting it back. 

Teaming up and at the front of the net, Bisky and Killua were nearly impossible to get past. Killua slammed the ball back towards them, Kurapika hitting it with his palm high and far enough for Alluka to reach it, bouncing it back nicely. Leorio continued the leisurely pace, bouncing it back over the net. 

Bisky jumped upwards, tipping the ball up just in time for Killua to backhand it, it was sent flying towards the ground. Kurapika dove for it, only for the ball to slam into the sand, almost so hard Kurapika stumbled backwards slightly, fingers just grazing the ball.) 

Hisoka: FUCK! 

Gon: Kurapika’s out!!! 

(Kurapika slowly stood up, breathing heavily.) 

Kurapika: I-I’m sorry… 

(Bisky, Alluka, and Illumi cheered for Killua.) 

Alluka: Two down, two to go! 

Bisky: Nice one! 

(Kurapika sighed, dusting themself off as they went to stand beside Gon.) 

Kurapika: This game is ridiculous. (He folded his arms. Gon hid a smile.) 

Gon: Someone’s a sore loser~.

KILLUA’S BALL! 

(Leorio threw Killua the ball as Hisoka backed up next to him.) 

Hisoka: Shit. We’re gonna have to play this smart. 

You take forward, I’ll go back. 

(Leorio nodded, moving forwards as Killua tossed the ball from hand to hand. 

Somehow, in the short seconds Hisoka and Leorio were talking, the other team must have brewed up something, because Killua immediately hit the ball to Bisky. She hit it back towards Alluka, who tossed it back up to Killua. 

The albino leaned down, only to spike the ball upwards with both hands as high as he could before flattening himself to the ground. Illumi sprang forwards, bouncing off him, sharpening his nails. The veins bulged out of Illumi’s arm as he flat-palmed the ball as hard as he could. 

Almost losing shape, the ball seared towards the ground as Illumi landed, right towards Hisoka. Instinctively, the magician held a hand out, the ball slamming into it and sliding Hisoka back, sand kicking up. 

Nearly at the edge of bounds, Hisoka stopped. In the silence, as the dust cleared, he was revealed, clutching the ball in one of his hands. Illumi adjusted his sunglasses, the light catching on them as Hisoka smirked.) 

Hisoka: Well, that was a cute attempt, you all. But I’m afraid- 

Gon: No catching allowed! Hisoka’s out! 

Hisoka: WHAT?! (He slammed the ball on the ground.) 

WHY ARE ALL THESE RULES FUCKING SABOTAGING OUR TEAM?! 

(Gon shrugged.) 

Gon: I didn't make the rules, Hisoka. 

ILLUMI’S BALL! 

(Hisoka kicked the ball towards the other team, stalking past Gon. The ball hit Leorio in the back of the head.) 

Leorio: Ow! Hey! (He tossed the ball over the net before turning back to the others on the sidelines.) 

Terribly as you may have mistreated me before, I promise that for you guys, I’ll make sure I- 

Alluka: Heads up! 

(The ball whizzed to hit Leorio in the back of the head before dropping to the ground.) 

Leorio: …Fuck. 

(After about a second of silence, the four on the other team broke out into screams and cheers of victory, grabbing onto one another and spinning around. 

Gon ran up to Leorio, grabbing onto his hand.) 

Gon: Don’t worry, Leorio. I’m still glad I picked you to be on my team. 

(Leorio adjusted his glasses, Gon pretended not to see the small crack in them.) 

Leorio: …Thanks, Gon. I appreciate that. 

(A few paces away from them, Kurapika folded his arms, looking up at Hisoka.) 

Kurapika: I’m determined not to let this celebration last long. Surfboard time? 

Hisoka: Surfboard time. 

***

(Leorio resurfaced, taking a deep breath in and using his free hand to grab onto the edge of the surfboard that Kurapika was straddling. 

In his other hand, he was carrying an arrangement of pearly, colorful seashells, and other treasures.) 

Kurapika: Ooh! 

(Leorio reached up to set them with the rest of the things Kurapika was arranging and organizing on their board.) 

Leorio: I think I saw a cool looking sea star out that way. Want me to push us out? 

Kurapika: Yes. Thank you. 

(Leorio headed around to gently push Kurapika’s board out further into the calm water before taking a deep breath to dive back under. 

Kurapika looked behind them to see Hisoka pushing Illumi out on their other board, who had his umbrella back, legs hanging off either side of the board into the water.) 

Hisoka: Your boy-toy treating you well, Kurapika? 

(Kurapika blinked.)

Kurapika: Excuse me? 

Illumi: Ooh. What shells do you have? May I see? 

(The blonde smiled, adjusting their position slightly as Illumi craned his neck to look over.) 

Kurapika: Of course. 

(Hisoka pushed Illumi’s board up next to Kurapika’s. The raven leaned over to look better at their collection.) 

Illumi: Wow. This one’s beautiful. (He pointed to a droplet shaped stone that glimmered darkly in the sunlight. Kurapika nodded.) 

Kurapika: Do you want it? 

(Illumi’s pupils dilated, so much so that you could see it through his glasses.) 

Illumi: A-are you sure? 

Kurapika: Mm hmm. (They picked up the moon-like stone, handing it to him. Illumi couldn’t help a smile.) 

Illumi: Oh, wow. Thank you. 

(Kurapika smiled back.) 

Kurapika: You’re welcome, Illumi. 

(The assassin pulled his hair loose, letting it fall over himself, careful not to let any touch the water. 

Hisoka swam around to the front of their boards, drawing their attention as Kurapika went slightly red.) 

Hisoka: Either of you worried for how long Leorio’s been underwater? 

(As if on cue, Leorio gasped, resurfacing and breathing heavily. He flailed, desperately trying to show the magenta sea star he had in hand.) 

Kurapika: Wow! You actually got it! 

(Leorio coughed, all but slapping the starfish on the board.) 

Leorio: Yeah! Why wouldn’t I? 

(Hisoka chuckled softly.) 

Hisoka: Don’t kill him, Kurapika. 

(Back on the beach, the tide was starting to come in. Gon and Killua each held onto one of Alluka’s arms, keeping her balanced as she waded into the shallows. Her eyes were wide and curious.) 

Alluka: Ah! The sand is like- sucking my feet in. 

Killua: That’s why you’ve gotta keep moving. 

(Alluka nodded, taking another few wobbly steps before freeing herself from Gon and Killua, breaching the water and paddling forwards.) 

Gon: Oh! 

Killua: Careful, Alluka! 

Gon: Tread water! 

(The outfit Alluka was wearing almost made it impossible for her to sink. She glided across the gentle waves easily. Gon and Killua followed her.) 

Killua: Just don’t go out too far yet, okay? 

(Alluka nodded, giggling. A bit of seawater got in her mouth and she coughed.) 

Alluka: Ew, gross! I forgot that all of this was super salty. 

(Gon laughed, bouncing up and down on the sandy shore.) 

Gon: One time, I was swimming to shore, and a wave totally knocked me over myself when my back was turned, and I swallowed, like, eight cups of seawater. 

(Killua and Alluka laughed, Killua splashing water towards Gon.) 

Killua: Don’t lead with that, Gon! You’ll make her never want to swim again. 

(Alluka laughed again.) 

Alluka: It’d probably be bad if that happened to me. Not for the water part, but sand will probably never get out of my hair. (Most of her usually incredibly poofy hair was wet at this point, making it look half as fluffy as usual.) 

Think you guys could help me swim out to Kurapika’s board? I want to help look for shells! 

Gon: Sure! 

Killua: Just hold onto me. 

(Alluka nodded, wrapping her arms around Killua’s shoulders as they headed out into the waves. Gon went up ahead, diving under the surface.) 

Killua: Pssh. Show off. 

(Gon swam up through the water, up by the surface before resurfacing up by Kurapika, Illumi, and Hisoka.) 

Gon: Hey, you guys! What’cha collecting? 

(Kurapika smiled.)

Kurapika: We’ve got quite the assortment already. Leorio’s collecting shells for me. 

Gon: Hey, this one’s pretty cool! (He picked up a salmon shell that must have belonged to a hermit crab at some point. 

Hisoka dipped his head down under the water, resurfacing after a few seconds.) 

Hisoka: How far down are those coral shelfs? 

Gon: About twelve feet. I bet there’s some cool stuff under there. 

(Hisoka grabbed onto one of Illumi’s hands, rubbing it gently.) 

Hisoka: I feel upstaged. Should I dive down and get you something, Doll? 

(Blush rose high on Illumi’s cheeks. He looked away.) 

Illumi: You don’t have to do anything for- (He gasped as Hisoka suddenly yanked on his arm, pulling him off balance as he was sent crashing into the water. 

Illumi immediately sprung up, desperately pushing Hisoka away from himself and batting soaked hair away from his face. Hisoka and the others stifled their laughter, the magician still trying to hold onto him.) 

WHAT is wrong with you?! 

Hisoka: What, you didn’t think that was funny?

(Illumi hissed at him, madly pulling hair back.) 

Illumi: NO. Now I can’t SEE anything because my sunglasses are at the BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN. (He covered his eyes, Hisoka finally giving him some space.) 

Hisoka: Aw, I just wanted you to swim with me~~~. 

Illumi: You COULD have just asked. 

(Gon swam up to them, treading the water easily.) 

Gon: Isn’t the water nice, though? 

It’ll probably start getting a bit colder soon now that fall is setting in. But for right now, I think it’s perfect. 

(Leorio resurfaced, setting more shells on Kurapika’s board. The blonde dipped a hand in the water, moving it around.) 

Kurapika: It is nice. 

Hisoka: I’ll go get your glasses, Lulu. Give me one second. 

Gon: Oh, I can get them, Hisoka. Don’t worry, I’ve been diving here for years. 

(Illumi blinked before smirking in Hisoka’s direction, swimming over to Gon, who held out his hand.) 

Illumi: Come on, then. 

(Gon took a deep breath before diving down beneath the glassy water, Illumi following him. They both closed their eyes, Gon’s face scrunching up almost unreasonably as they swam down to the shelves below. 

The underwater world was a mix of colors, muffled sounds, and different creatures. Schools of small fish swam around in different colored plants, coral of all different colors provided shelter for the bottom-feeding creatures of the deep. 

Up above them, Killua and Alluka reached the surfboards, Killua grabbing onto the edge of the empty one as Alluka pulled herself up on it.) 

Alluka: We made it! (She grinned at Killua.) 

Thanks, Killua! 

Killua: Yep! (He put his arms up on the board, looking from Hisoka to Kurapika.) 

Where’d Illumi and Gon go? 

Kurapika: Hisoka pushed Illumi into the water so Gon’s exploring the reefs and looking for sunglasses with him. 

(Leorio gasped, resurfacing.) 

Leorio: Yep. I tell you. Almost suffocating while finding a shit-ton of shells sure beats getting my ass blasted in death ball. 

(Killua smirked.) 

Killua: Aw, sorry you happen to suck. 

(Alluka shrugged.) 

Alluka: Don’t feel bad, Leorio. All the Zoldycks teamed up. …And Bisky. 

(Leorio blinked.) 

Leorio: Where is Bisky, anyway? 

(Alluka turned, pointing to the shore where Bisky was walking up and down the coast, occasionally leaning down to pick something up.) 

Alluka: Looking for beach glass. I was helping her earlier. 

Hisoka: Wait, really? (He laughed.) 

Ha! She IS old, isn’t she? 

Killua: That’s what I keep saying. 

(Gon gasped, resurfacing loud enough to wake the dead, splashing everyone.) 

Gon: Hey, you guys! You made it! 

Killua: Yep! 

(Illumi came up a few seconds after him, leaning up as his hair flew up over his head and behind him in a glossy curtain. He pulled his dark sunglasses up with one hand, placing them back over his eyes.)

Hisoka: Welcome back. 

(Gon and Killua hopped up onto the board with Alluka.) 

Hisoka: Someone stole your board. 

(Illumi sighed.) 

Illumi: What difference does it make? I’m soaked now. (He brushed his hair back behind his ears and shoulders, leaning up to kiss Hisoka on the cheek.) 

The water is nice. 

(Hisoka grinned. 

Leorio surfaced one last time, placing his forearms on Kurapika’s board as they stared out at the sun that was setting steadily over the horizon.) 

Kurapika: It is getting rather late, huh? 

(Gon nodded.) 

Gon: My aunt’s probably making dinner right about now. Do you guys want to come back tomorrow?

(Kurapika nodded.) 

Kurapika: Probably for the best. We should probably get back and help unpack anyways. 

Gon: Wait, wait, wait! I almost forgot! Push us pack to shore! There’s one more thing I want to do before we head back! 

***

Bisky: Okay, okay, we’ve only got ten seconds on this thing, so I want everyone to look absolutely PERFECT. Got that?

(She positioned her phone up on the stand of sticks she had set up, careful to center it well enough to get everyone in the picture. 

Leorio and Hisoka were in the back, Hisoka’s arms wrapped around Illumi’s shoulders, who was in front of him, hands holding his wrist. Kurapika stood next to Illumi, slightly awkward with their folded arms. The three kids stood in front, with Gon centered and his arms around Killua and Alluka.) 

Gon: It’s gonna be great, Bisky! Hang-up-on-the-fridge material! 

Bisky: Alright, timer sets in three, two, one!!! (She sprinted towards the picture, accidentally tripping Kurapika in the process. The kids jumped out of the way as Leorio tried to grab onto Kurapika’s swim shirt. His free hand hit Hisoka, who’s grip on Illumi disappeared and he fell backwards.) 

Killua: FUCK! (Mid-word, the camera took it’s picture, and light was quickly being lost. 

As the others recovered, checking if one another was okay, Gon and Killua ran up to look at their picture.) 

Killua: Uh… What do you think? 

(Gon blinked at the picture. Killua’s mouth was wide open as he fell, Alluka was laughing so hard her face was red, Kurapika was trying to bat Bisky away as he fell towards the ground, with Bisky recovering and clutching her head, Leorio being yanked forwards with Kurapika, Hisoka trying to elbow Leorio in the skull as Illumi’s nails dug into his shoulder for balance. 

Gon was still smiling, beaming at the camera, so much so that his face almost looked slightly disfigured.) 

Gon: I think It’s perfect. 

***

(Mito Freecss’ Residence, Night) 

(Kurapika headed into the kitchen from the living room, Leorio close behind them. Both were showered and dressed in pajamas. They passed by the fold out couch, careful not to wake up Hisoka and Illumi, who were curled up under several blankets, barely recognizable who was who. 

Bisky laid on the discarded couch cushions at the foot of the bed, clutching a pillow in hand. 

As they headed into the kitchen, Leorio and Kurapika were surprised to see Mito already there, pouring a glass of water from a kettle on the stove.) 

Kurapika: Oh, my apologies. We were just coming to grab some water. 

Mito: Oh, here. (She opened a cupboard above herself, pulling out two other glasses.) 

Leorio: Thanks! 

…Did the kids already head outside? 

(Mito chuckled.) 

Mito: Yes, I’m sure those boys grabbed all the camping supplies we have. (She smiled.)

Gon has a number of tents for camping out in the woods, you see. 

(Kurapika and Leorio smiled back. Mito handed them their water.) 

Mito: I want to thank you for… Well, I don’t know all the details, but for everything that you’ve done for Gon up until now. I’ve been… worried. (She stared into her glass of water.) 

Leorio: Gon… Gon means the world to us. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do to keep him safe. 

(Mito and Kurapika both nodded.) 

Mito: I appreciate that, thank you. He’s always been rather independent. (She paused, slowly looking up.) 

…I have to ask. 

(Leorio and Kurapika watched her.) 

Mito: …Did that boy ever find his father? 

(Kurapika and Leorio looked at one another. Kurapika nodded after a second.) 

Kurapika: That’s… Actually why we came out to visit. 

…It didn’t exactly… Go the greatest. 

(Mito sighed, her eyes drooping slightly.) 

Mito: I feared as much. 

…That boy is his own final authority. He won’t believe a bad thing until he sees it for himself. (She looked up at them.) 

I trust he’s okay? 

(Kurapika and Leorio nodded. She smiled.) 

Mito: Y'all seem like good friends to him. He’s spoken about all of you in his letter to me. When you first moved in. 

…I take it he’ll be heading back out to the city with you. …That other young boy seems to have his heart more than anyone. 

Leorio: Killua’s Gon’s best friend. 

(Mito nodded.) 

Mito: …I’m glad my nephew found y’all. The last thing I wanted was for him to be alone when he met that deadbeat brother of mine. (She rolled her eyes before folding her arms.) 

Y’all take good care of him, okay? 

(Kurapika nodded.) 

Kurapika: O-Of course. Gon’s the strongest kid we know. 

Mito: It’d take a lot to break his spirit, yes. 

Leorio: We’ll tell you that. Gon’s safe with us. 

(Mito nodded, suddenly holding up her pinky. Leorio reciprocated, holding it with his own.) 

Leorio: We promise. 

*****

Chapter Text

  S2 EP2: The 12 Zodiacs

(New York City Capital Hall, Late Morning) 

(A spotless, minimalist meeting room held a table with twelve chairs. Only ten of them were filled at the moment, each by incredibly colorful looking characters. Most of them were loudly talking over one another. 

One of them; a woman with shoulder-length, aquamarine hair, a strange looking hat, and large, round glasses clapped her hands together, trying to draw attention to herself.) 

Glasses Woman: Okay, okay, enough useless chatter, you all. We’re well past our starting time. (She adjusted her glasses, looking up to see that only around two other people were paying her any sort of attention. She sighed, sitting down in her chair. 

Across from her, a stoic looking man in a black and white suit cleared his throat.) 

Suit Man: HEY! 

(The others were quiet, looking over.) 

Suited Man: I believe Ms. Cheadle would like to say something. 

(The others in the room got comfortable, looking a bit disgruntled. The short, spiky haired man next to the one who spoke up put his feet up on the table. 

Cheadle adjusted her glasses, clasping her hands together as she stood back up.) 

Cheadle: Ah- right. Thank you, Mr. Mizaistom. 

(He nodded. Cheadle cleared her throat.) 

Cheadle: Now, I know opinions and emotions are high, so I’m as eager as the rest of you to get our meeting started. 

Unfortunately… (She frowned, eyes narrowing as she looked to the doors of the meeting room.) 

A certain pair has NOT arrived yet. (She huffed.) 

However, given that this meeting was supposed to start twenty minutes ago, I’m just going to go ahead and get the ball rolling without them. (She smiled importantly, picking up a pen off her desk.) 

Any objections? 

(Before any could be made, the doors to the meeting room were slammed open.) 

???: Sorry for the delay, everyone! My meeting with the chairman ran a bit later than I thought it would. (The almost plastic-looking man in a bronze suit stepped into the room, frilling his blonde hair slightly. He smiled, the whiteness of his teeth almost unnaturally bright. 

The energy in the room dropped to complete zero upon his arrival. The others glared as he took the most extravagant seat at the head of the table. Cheadle’s eye twitched.) 

Cheadle: …Glad you could join us, Secretary Pariston. We were just about to get started. 

(Pariston smiled.) 

Pariston: Ah, how wonderful! (He smiled again.) 

I’ll conduct the meeting for us naturally. (He surveyed the room, eyes unreadable.) 

I see our boar has not made it? 

(Mizaistom shook his head.) 

Mizaistom: Not yet. I suggest we conduct business as usual. (His eyes hardened.) 

Especially since he really is the subject of this meeting. 

Pariston: Mm. Yes. 

Mr. Ging’s actions in Chicago have not only dangerously strained our relations with the Ten Dons, but have jeopardized just how professional we appear in comparison to some of the other factions we associate ourselves with. 

Mr. Zepile of the Ten Dons has gone on record to say that his meeting with Ging went nowhere in terms of making a deal. As I have learned more information, it’s become clear to me that Mr. Ging’s meeting was entirely of personal accord. 

(One of the others, a pale, skinny woman with feathers laced into her blue hair raised a brow, looking more annoyed than she already was.) 

Feather Woman: Is that all this is, then? Shouldn’t we just be able to leave Ging to clean up his own messes for once?! 

(Pariston’s smile didn’t waver.) 

Pariston: Unfortunately not, Miss Cluck. 

It seems that Mr. Ging also failed to mention this meeting was an entirely personal affair. 

(The spiky haired man almost seemed to snap back in on the situation. He blinked.) 

Spiky-Haired: Wait, what was the meeting for again? 

(Pariston sighed.) 

Pariston: Something that should have been simple. It seems Mr. Ging would like to earn himself an audience with this year’s tactical seminar. 

(A few of the others in the room blinked in surprise. Cheadle rolled her eyes.) 

Spiky-Haired: That checks out. That guy’s always looking for the next best thing. 

(Cheadle sighed, raising a hand as she spoke up.) 

Cheadle: Mr. Secretary, I hate to be the one to bring this up, but I think it’s irresponsible to say this was a completely independent decision on Ging’s part. (She shrugged.) 

I mean, many of us have seats at these seminars and are active sponsors and betters in the events. Including yourself, I may add. 

(A few of the others looked annoyed at her response. Conversely, Mizaistom nodded. Pariston appeared unfazed; he chuckled dryly.) 

Pariston: How right you are, Miss Cheadle. It’s true that a number of us actively participate in these events. You seem to suggest that’s a bad thing. Need I remind you of all the benefits we gain from being actively connected to the Zoldycks? 

(Cheadle folded her arms.) 

Cheadle: That’s not what I- 

Pariston: The issue with Mr. Ging’s decision is how it reflected poorly on the rest of us, and that he saw no need to consult me before heading off to meet Zepile in Chicago. 

(One of the other Zodiacs; a young woman with shoulder-length auburn hair and a rabbit ear headband looking up for a moment from the computer she was typing on.) 

Rabbit Woman: Why? Are people saying things about us? 

(Mizaistom shrugged.) 

Mizaistom: It’s mostly limited to just the Ten Dons. Neutral wants an updated statement from me about why exactly one of his comrades was put in a situation like that. 

Rabbit Woman: Well, the smart thing would be just to ask- 

(The doors to the meeting room were slammed open again as someone else stepped in. Ging wore his usual hat and baggy looking robes, frowning as usual.) 

Ging: ‘Ey. (Hands in his pockets, he slouched on his way to his seat next to Cheadle. Everyone in the room glared at him as he headed over.) 

Pariston: Ah, Mr. Ging. No explanation for where you were? 

(Ging folded his arms, raising a brow up at Pariston.) 

Ging: Do I need one? 

(Pariston gave the same forced chuckle.) 

Pariston: No, that’s quite alright. You have plenty to explain for us regardless. 

(Ging’s eyes narrowed. He looked around to see everyone watching him.) 

Ging: Is this about- 

Cheadle: Your unofficial meeting with Zepile? Indeed so. Care to enlighten us on what actually took place that night? 

(Ging’s face darkened. He heaved out a sigh.) 

Ging: …Someone. A few someones, actually, found our location. 

You all remember Kite to some degree. 

(One of the others in the room; a tall, muscular man with a white, two-piece mustache spoke up.) 

Muscular Man: The outlandish one that followed you like a lost puppy? 

Mizaistom: Didn’t they used to work under Neutral anyways? Are they back with him or something? 

(Ging shook his head.) 

Ging: No. But they still seem to think we have some unfinished business. …And unfortunately that ended up interrupting my meeting with Zepile, and we had to flee the scene. I wasn’t about to let one of the Ten Dons get hurt on my time. 

(Cheadle crossed her arms, looking incredulous.) 

Cheadle: Right. So it was all outside factors that set Mr. Zepile off. 

(Mizaistom chimed in before Ging could respond.) 

Mizaistom: Who else was there? 

(Ging sighed again.) 

Ging: Zepile wasn’t mad about the meeting being interrupted so much so as about WHO interrupted it. 

…Kite somehow brought Killua Zoldyck with them. 

(Shocked gasps and comments swam across the room. Cheadle stiffened.) 

Cheadle: What?! 

(Ging nodded.) 

(The spiky-haired man spoke up.) 

Spiky-Haired: He was right there with you?! If you want a seat in the tactical seminar, taking that brat back to his parents is all you’d have to do! 

(Ging glared at him.) 

Ging: That is precisely what Zepile told me to do. Think about it for one second, Kanzai. 

The Zoldycks are one of the most strict, dangerous, and efficient crime factions in the entire modern world. If they wanted their heir back, they’d have him by now. 

(Kanzai huffed, crossing his legs the other way.) 

Cheadle: So what did you do?

Ging: I told Zepile to book it and dealt with Kite myself.

(The muscular man’s brow furrowed slightly.) 

Muscular Man: Are they dead this time? 

(Ging shook his head.) 

Ging: I just stalled them long enough to get out of there. ‘Not worth my time at this point. (He shifted in his seat.) 

Cheadle: So nothing ended up coming out of this meeting at all. No personal gain for you, for us, for the Ten Dons? 

Ging: Don’t take this all out on me! This was out of my control! 

(Cheadle clenched her fists.) 

Cheadle: You could have at the very LEAST had the common sense to consult the rest of us before doing something like that! What do you think- 

Pariston: Miss Cheadle, Mr. Ging, please. The situation is done and over with. (He turned to Ging.)

If I may ask, why are you so interested in a seat at this year’s seminar, Ging? Wealth? Status? Both? 

(Ging raised a brow.) 

Ging: …That’s a loaded question. 

Pariston: Is it? I don’t think so. 

Ging: Sure. In the short answer, yes. 

Pariston: Wonderful. Chairman Netero could have that sorted out for you quite nicely. …At least he could have. 

I’m not sure at this point. 

(Ging rolled his eyes.) 

Pariston: Mr. Mizaistom, Miss Cheadle, and I have a meeting with Mr. Neutral tomorrow evening. I’m sure he’ll better understand the situation once we give him the updates. 

…Especially if you’re truthful in saying one of his old playthings was in Chicago. 

(Ging continued glaring. Cheadle glanced over, looking uncomfortable.) 

Ging: …I don’t know where any of them went after the fact. So don’t come to me looking for any sort of location. 

(Pariston laughed, his smile widening in amusement.) 

Pariston: Oh, Mr. Ging, you’re quite amusing. (His lips pursed for a moment, he looked away.) 

I would never put myself in a situation where I had to rely on you in any sort of way. Unlike you, I have the best interest of this group in mind…

***

(The Apartment, Hisoka And Illumi’s Second Room, Late Morning) 

Hisoka: Dead? Oh, cross that off the board completely. Kite’s well positioned to defend themself. Certainly well enough to hold out against the Zodiacs. They’re all talk. (He flipped a few cards between his fingers in one fluid motion. One appeared in his other hand as he flung it against a board in the wall that had several other scratches the size of his cards. 

Next to him, Gon and Killua sat on the floor, looking up at the magician. Gon breathed out a sigh of relief.) 

Gon: I sure hope so. 

Killua: Well, okay, but there was also one of the Ten Dons there. How strong are they supposed to be? 

(Hisoka blinked before shrugging.) 

Hisoka: Kind of hard to say if I’m being honest. Some of them are incredibly skilled in combat, and others are politically powerful enough that they can just hire muscle to do everything for them. (He held up a finger.) 

Based on what I’ve heard about Zepile, he’s not exactly a powerhouse in combat. 

(Killua snickered, leaning back on his hands.) 

Killua: Yeah. Sure didn’t seem like it. 

(Gon chimed in.) 

Gon: Killua and I left before we could see where any of the others would have gone. …So we really have no idea where to begin when thinking about where it is Kite could have gone. 

(Hisoka nodded.) 

Hisoka: Start with common ground, I guess. You at least know where your dad works. …To some extent. 

Killua: Well, if he’s a member of the Twelve Zodiacs, they work right up with the chairman, right? 

(Hisoka nodded.) 

Hisoka: Gon’s dad’ll know more about where Kite went than any of us. 

(Gon held onto his ankles, looking down as his brow furrowed.) 

Gon: …You guys think that maybe Kite doesn’t want to come back and see us for some reason? 

(The other 2 looked over at him.) 

Gon: If they’re uninjured and on the move, aren’t they smart enough to figure out where we are? 

(Hisoka shrugged.) 

Hisoka: Who knows. Kite could have a million other obligations to get around to by now. I wouldn’t chalk it up to them ‘avoiding you’. 

Killua: Well, I’m all for getting information out of Gon’s dad. If we can pin him in a situation where he HAS to talk to us, then maybe we can learn something useful.  

(Gon looked slightly squeamish.) 

Hisoka: Well, getting an audience with one of the Twelve Zodiacs isn’t as simple as setting up a time and place. They’re practically untouched by the public. 

(Killua blinked, his face unreadable.) 

Killua: …But we’re not some standard public people. 

Hisoka: Hmm… You’re going to need more information about where they are at any given time. 

Killua: So, how do we do that? 

Hisoka: Well, this household is full of shady characters. I bet you someone knows something. 

(Gon sighed.) 

Gon: MORE follow up questions. 

Hisoka: I’m afraid that’s part of the process. (He threw a few more cards at his board.) 

What are the others doing anyways? I should find Illumi before I have to leave. 

(As if on cue, Kurapika’s voice called from downstairs.) 

Kurapika: *Muffled* GON, KILLUA, HISOKA, ARE YOU UP THERE?! WE NEED YOU DOWN FOR A BIT! 

Killua: …Something, apparently. (The three of them got up, Hisoka grabbed a jacket and a bag by the door before heading out behind the two kids. 

They quickly made their way downstairs to see everyone else in the household gathered in the main room. They all looked over once they arrived.) 

Alluka: What were you three doing? 

Killua: We were just helping Hisoka unpack after getting back. 

(Illumi’s brow furrowed slightly.) 

Illumi: I thought you had finished unpacking. 

(Hisoka rolled his eyes at Killua and Gon.) 

Hisoka: No need to make yourselves seem all aloof and important, you two. 

Gon: R-right. 

We’re still kind of trying to locate Kite. The person who took me and Killua to Chicago? 

Kurapika: Ah. (They frowned, folding their arms.) 

Gon: Don’t be mad at them, Kurapika. We probably would have gotten ourselves hurt or worse if they weren’t there helping us out. 

(Kurapika sighed.) 

Kurapika: Well, what’s this about them, then? Why the need to figure out where they went? 

Killua: We want to make sure they’re okay. We don’t know what happened after Gon and I fled the scene downtown. 

(Bisky nodded after a second.) 

Bisky: Oh, right. Hisoka, you’re friends. 

(Hisoka nodded. Kurapika held their hands out before anything else could be said.) 

Kurapika: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. (He looked back at Gon and Killua.) 

We’re not doing anything crazy that could potentially get us involved in another TROUBLING SITUATION. 

Killua: Alright, fine. Any of you know anything about the Twelve Zodiacs?  

(Kurapika, Illumi, and Bisky all looked up in recognition.) 

Kurapika: Why do you- 

(Killua shrugged.) 

Killua: Gon’s dad is a part of them, apparently. 

Kurapika: What?! 

(Bisky folded her arms.) 

Bisky: Well, add that to the list of shitty things about Gon’s dad. 

(Gon frowned. Kurapika rubbed their temples for a moment.) 

Kurapika: Listen. If you’re thinking of trying to contact the Twelve Zodiacs, you can forget about it. 

Bisky: I could try and get you in contact with one of them. 

(All of the others whipped around to look at her. Leorio and Alluka blinked in unison.) 

Killua/Kurapika: HUH?! 

(Bisky’s face darkened.) 

Bisky: Not that I’d EVER want to speak with Pariston Hill again. 

(Kurapika blinked a few times.) 

Kurapika: You- You know him?! 

Bisky: I KNEW him. We went to school together in college. 

(Killua stared blankly before laughing.) 

Killua: Hey, wait, that makes sense. You both certainly COULD be around the same age with all the plastic surgeries. 

(Bisky rolled her eyes.) 

Gon: We’re not trying to do anything dangerous, Kurapika. The Zodiacs might just be the easiest way for us to get information on Kite. 

Kurapika: That’s still not- 

(Bisky stood up, brushing off the lint on the cropped, buttoned sweater she was wearing.) 

Bisky: Here. Why don’t you 2 come with me? Let’s get some fresh air. (She immediately locked eyes with Kurapika, who looked appalled. She gave him a knowing look.) 

Trust me on this one. Please. 

(Kurapika hesitated, looking down after a moment. They nodded. Bisky grabbed some running shoes by the door, sitting down to put them on.) 

Bisky: Well? Come on, then.

(Gon and Killua blinked at one another before getting their own shoes on with her.) 

Hisoka: I’ll be back in a bit as well. 

(Illumi moved to get up from the couch.) 

Illumi: Where are you going? 

(Hisoka held onto his bag with both hands. He shrugged.) 

Hisoka: I got an extra job. Super easy, I promise. (He smiled at the assassin.) 

Let me handle this one? 

(Illumi blinked, rubbing his hands together.) 

Illumi: I can- 

(Hisoka lowered his voice.) 

Hisoka: I think Kurapika could use all the help he can get right now. …If I’m being honest. 

(Illumi nodded after a second, squeezing Hisoka’s free arm.) 

Illumi: …Be safe. 

(Hisoka nodded, leaning down to kiss his hairline.) 

Hisoka: Promise. (He headed out the door past Bisky and the other two. Illumi watched him go before the door closed behind the other three.) 

Kurapika: Bisky, make sure to- 

They’re gone. 

(Illumi turned back around, sitting on the couch next to Kurapika.) 

Leorio: Are you sure Bisky taking them won’t be a problem? You didn’t want to ask them any more about the auction? 

(Kurapika sighed.) 

Kurapika: What more is there to uncover, really? Nothing came of it. 

(Illumi turned to look at them, his face unreadable. Kurapika blinked.) 

Kurapika: …Everything okay?

(He nodded after a second, looking away. Alluka piped up from Bisky’s usual chair, rolling onto her stomach.) 

Alluka: Man, all this stuff’s really confusing. What’s up with all these dangerous Zodiac and Phantom Clan stuff you keep mentioning?

(Leorio sighed, folding his arms.) 

Leorio: I’m really just as in the dark as you, Alluka. 

(Kurapika shook his head.) 

Kurapika: It shouldn’t have to concern you two, really. …I just really want to lay everything out where all of us can figure out exactly what we’re dealing with at the moment. …Along with being a little paranoid. 

(Leorio smiled.) 

Leorio: Well, look who’s becoming self-aware! 

(Kurapika looked away, biting his lip to keep from smiling.) 

Leorio: Awww. 

Illumi: Kurapika? 

(Kurapika stopped, looking back over at him.) 

Kurapika: Hmm? 

Illumi: Can I ask for your help with something? Just for a bit? At some point today? 

(Kurapika blinked.) 

Kurapika: Of course. What do you need? 

Illumi: Uh…. Our shower’s broken. 

(Kurapika’s brow furrowed.) 

Leorio: What?! Let me take a look. 

Illumi: NO! Someone… Short will be able to fix it! …For the right angles and everything. 

(Both Leorio and Kurapika stared at him.) 

Kurapika: …You think I’m short? 

(Illumi froze.) 

Illumi: I don’t- of course I don’t- 

(Kurapika laughed at his reaction, waving him off after a moment.) 

Kurapika: Just messing with you. Sure, I can help. Just let me finish filling Alluka and Leorio in. 

(Illumi nodded after a second, not looking any less worried. Kurapika grabbed their pen and notepad, looking back at the others.) 

Kurapika: …Should I make a flowchart for you guys? That sounds like a good idea.

***

(Somewhere in Brooklyn, Midday) 

Bisky: So, let me make sure I’ve got this sorted out in my head right. Your dad’s the newest member of the zodiacs? 

(Killua and Gon both nodded.) 

Gon: Yeah, according to Kite. (The three of them walked at a steady pace through the city, Bisky leading.) 

Bisky: That would mean he’s boar, then? 

(Gon’s brow furrowed.) 

Gon: Huh?

(Bisky elaborated.) 

Bisky: Each of the Zodiacs represents a certain animal. And if Ging’s the newest one, then he would be the boar. 

(Gon nodded after a second, processing the strange concept.) 

Killua: Wait, how do you know all this? 

(Bisky sighed, folding her arms and turning around to face them.) 

Bisky: Because I used to be a member. 

(Gon and Killua stopped, staring at her. The blonde’s face was indifferent.) 

Killua: You- When- 

(Bisky waved him off.) 

Bisky: You wouldn’t have heard much about it. They’re not very involved in the public eye, of course. …And I left over a decade ago. 

Killua: B-But you seem like such a trainwreck! How the hell did you even get involved in something like that?! 

Bisky: I already told you I went to school with their stupid little ringmaster; Pariston. (She chuckled, leaning towards them.) 

Fitting that his animal is a rat. 

(Gon caught up to be side by side with her.) 

Gon: I don’t get it. How come you never told us any of this before? 

(Bisky shrugged.) 

Bisky: It didn’t really pertain to anything until now. …Besides, it’s not exactly something I’m proud to say I was a part of. 

…Kurapika’s right in saying that these are people you can’t just approach and make demands to. They’ve got ties to other dangerous groups like the Ten Dons, your family, (She nodded to Killua)

And probably Kurapika’s boss as well. 

(Killua put his hands in his pockets.) 

Killua: How were you even able to be a part of something like that? 

(She smiled, clearly amused by his sudden curiosity before.) 

Bisky: Suddenly interested in something I have to say? 

(The albino frowned. Bisky slowed her pace.) 

Bisky: Well, since we went to college together, we were kind of rivals headed on the same career path. …We were never on good terms. 

(Gon and Killua nodded.) 

Bisky: Both of us ended up being ‘niche’ enough to be reached out to by the Zodiacs, and soon enough, Pariston became Chairman Netero’s little lapdog. (Her eyes narrowed.) 

But that organization is a slimy batch of snakes. …I was smart enough to figure that out pretty quick. So, I left. …And I can only assume Ging’s been my replacement.

(The two boys were quiet for a second. Gon put a hand on his chin, thinking.) 

Gon: But I don’t get it. You’re such a free spirit, Bisky. What would make you want to join into something like politics? 

(Bisky shrugged again, folding her arms. She stopped walking altogether.) 

Bisky: To be honest, I still don’t really know where I got the idea. I guess I was a lot more ambitious when I was younger than I am now. I guess I was too caught up in the heat of things to realize what I was potentially getting myself into. …Who knows what else I could have done with all that time. (She looked over at Gon and Killua after a second, doing a double take when Gon’s eyes looked misty. He gazed up at her, looking pitiful.) 

Oh, come on, don’t give me that. It’s not like I think I wasted my life or anything like that. …I think I just liked the idea of being a part of something bigger than myself. 

I think that’s how most people feel at that age. 

(Killua put a hand on his shoulder, calming him. Gon nodded after a second.) 

Gon: Oh… Okay. 

I guess that makes sense. 

Bisky: Sorry, Gon. 

I know you’ve heard this about a hundred times already, but from personal experience… 

If your father’s been involved up to this point… And isn’t looking for a way out… 

I can’t, in good conscience, call him a decent human being. 

Gon: …Yeah. 

Yeah, I know. 

(Killua blinked a few times, finally looking up to take in their surroundings. They were at a bus stop; or rather, behind it. A crowd of people stood in front of them, far enough away to be out of earshot.) 

Killua: Where are we going? 

(Bisky placed her hands on her hips, looking up.) 

Bisky: Well, I might be able to give you a glimpse of what you’re dealing with. (She smiled back at the other two.) 

We’re heading out to Manhattan. 

***

(The Apartment, Afternoon) 

(Alluka held the remote up to the TV, turning it on and revealing the home screen of the gaming console she had set up. She jumped back onto the couch next to Leorio, grabbing one of the controllers in between them.) 

Alluka: You look distracted. (She blinked up at Leorio’s far-off expression. He gave a small gasp, being brought back into the moment.) 

Leorio: Oh, sorry! …Just lost in thought for a minute, there. 

Alluka: Still thinking about all the stuff Kurapika was talking about? 

(Leorio nodded after a second. He and Alluka’s characters in the fighting game they were playing started hacking away at one another.) 

Leorio: …Things never really went back to normal after that auction. You know? 

…To be honest, I’m worried about Kurapika. They’ve been so hyper-focused on all these crazy-dangerous-illegal-supervillain groups since then. 

(Alluka nodded.) 

Alluka: …It has felt sort of different since then. 

Nanika’s noticed it too. 

(Leorio blinked over at her.) 

Leorio: …How is Nanika? 

Alluka: She’s okay. A bit worried. Like you, I think. 

(Leorio smiled, Alluka landed a combo attack on him.) 

Leorio: …I could just be getting inside my own head, too. 

(Alluka smiled as well, shaking her head.) 

Alluka: No. It’s normal, I think. 

I’m worried about my brothers too. …They know a lot more about all this stuff than I do. Which almost makes it scarier. (She blinked a few times.) 

Leorio: Right. I’m not so sure ignorance is bliss in this case. 

***

(Just upstairs, Illumi ushered Kurapika into his and Hisoka’s room, shutting the door behind them. Kurapika looked around, unsure of what to do with themself.) 

Kurapika: So… The bathroom- 

(Illumi blinked.) 

Illumi: Oh, no, that wasn’t true. I needed to talk to you about something, but I didn’t want to scare Leorio or Alluka. 

Kurapika: O-of course, right. (He swallowed awkwardly.) 

…I picked up on that. 

(Illumi rubbed his sleeves, moving to sit on the edge of his bed. After he gestured beside himself, Kurapika sat down next to him.) 

Kurapika: What is it? 

(Illumi looked down.) 

Illumi: Well… I wasn’t sure about the auction until now. 

Gon and Killua were there, of course. …And you and I, along with Hisoka. 

(Kurapika nodded slowly.) 

Kurapika: …Yes? 

Illumi: …What time did you leave, Kurapika? 

(Kurapika’s brows knitted slightly.) 

Kurapika: …Just a bit before ten, why? 

(Illumi swallowed.) 

Illumi: …Your boss got you out of there because he wanted you alive, then. 

(Kurapika stared at him, at a loss.) 

Kurapika: …Illumi, what are you talking about? 

Illumi: The important guests were all gone before ten. …The Phantom Troupe shot up the auction; killing most of the investors and taking most of the items for themselves. 

(Kurapika stared at him, completely frozen.) 

Illumi: That’s why I was so intent on getting back to the auction house after finding out about Gon and Killua. …I thought they might have been… Hurt. 

(Kurapika’s heart raced. When Illumi looked back up to meet their eyes, a bright ring of scarlet highlighted the outside of their irises. His hands were clenched.) 

Kurapika: …They… 

All of them… Were there? 

(Illumi nodded.) 

Illumi: I’m sorry. I should have taken initiative to tell you sooner. 

(One of Kurapika’s hands raised to touch their cheek, right below his eye.) 

Kurapika: …All of them were there, and I never knew. 

Illumi: Kurapika- 

Kurapika: And Gon and Killua were an inch away from getting killed by them?! They killed everyone. EVERYONE in those seats? They’re all dead?! (His breathing became labored. They stood up, pacing the ground and threading hands in their hair.) 

I-I don’t- What was this, all some sort of big joke to them?! 

(Illumi’s voice was quiet.) 

Illumi: I don’t know. 

Kurapika: Where the hell do I even- 

Are they still here in the city?! What the hell are they going to do with everything they STOLE?! (He looked back to Illumi, suddenly realizing how loud they were getting. Kurapika drew back slightly, swallowing.) 

I-I’m sorry, I don’t know what to… (They trailed off, looking down at their feet. Illumi slowly held a hand out. Kurapika tried to steady their breathing, walking over to take it. He squeezed the assassin’s hand, closing his eyes.) 

Illumi: I didn’t mean to upset you. …It just seemed like something you should know. 

(Kurapika took another shaky breath, swallowing. At a nearly glacial pace, they sat back down, shifting the weight balanced on the bed.) 

Kurapika: I don’t know what to do with myself. 

(Illumi nodded after a moment.) 

Illumi: …I think that’s normal. This is something you’re very passionate about. 

(Kurapika buried his face in his hands again, looking through the gaps in his fingers, eyes slightly wide.) 

Kurapika: …I want them dead. All of them. I- 

They don’t even know who I am. …And yet… And yet… 

Illumi: Kurapika? 

(Worried, the blonde looked back at him.) 

Illumi: What… What do you need? 

(Kurapika shook their head numbly.) 

Kurapika: …I don’t know. …I’m tired of this. Taking a single step towards my goal only to have the end result wave in my face like a dangling carrot. …It’s humiliating. (They closed their eyes. Things were quiet as Kurapika took several deep breaths. 

Slowly, the blonde’s breathing started to even out. He brought his feet up, cradling his chin with his knees.) 

I’m sorry for freaking out like that. …I just can’t believe my boss… No one told me. I had no idea. (He shrugged.) 

It happened too long ago at this point for me to do anything about it. …I’ll just have to sit and ponder. Like I always do. 

(Illumi nodded again. After a second, he flopped back onto his bed, hair fanning out around himself. Kurapika looked down at him.) 

Illumi: You know, I don’t know if this is any sort of help, but… (He rolled over onto his stomach, reaching an arm into the wall of plushies on the far side of his bed. He fished around for a moment before pulling out a stiff, faceless, brown doll. There were several needles in the doll at various points. Illumi pulled a couple of them out.) 

Hisoka always says you need some sort of an outlet for negative emotions. He said to think of someone I hate and ‘abuse the shit’ out of the doll. (He handed the dummy to Kurapika, who gingerly held it in his hands.) 

Although, to be honest, I don’t know if I really hate anyone. 

(Kurapika blinked a few times, curious.) 

Kurapika: Really? Wouldn’t you need to draw from somewhere when you fight? Or rather, assassinate? 

(Illumi shook his head.) 

Illumi: No. That’s just a job I need to do. I don’t really feel anything when taking care of that. 

Emotions are too muddled and tangled for me to say I outright hate anyone or anything. (He shrugged.) 

So, this thing really just became a pincushion for some of my more harmless needles. If you want, you could take it for yourself and ‘abuse the shit out of it’. 

(Kurapika stared down at the doll in his hand, unsure.) 

Kurapika: …I guess it can’t hurt to try. (He folded his legs, getting into a more comfortable position.) 

…Alright, from now on, this doll represents Chrollo Lucilfer; leader of the Phantom Troupe. (He threw the doll onto the ground. It landed with a pathetic ‘flop’. Kurapika and Illumi blinked. A moment of silence passed. 

A small, mischievous smirk crossed Kurapika’s face as he watched the doll. They giggled.) 

Kurapika: …Ha. He’s dead. 

(Illumi blinked. Before he could say anything, Kurapika snatched the doll off the ground and pulled one of the remaining needles out of it. He repeatedly stabbed the needle through the head of the doll, stuffing coming loose as he poked more and more holes and tears in it. 

After around fifteen seconds of the stabbing, Kurapika pushed the needle right in the middle of the dummy’s forehead, which was falling apart at this point.  They tossed it between the two of them.) 

Kurapika: …Yeah, I guess that felt pretty good. 

Illumi: R-Really? 

(Kurapika gave a nervous smile, nodding.) 

Kurapika: Yeah! …At least I feel better than I did. 

(Illumi smiled, holding his hands together in his sleeves.) 

Illumi: I’ll see if Hisoka doesn’t have any more you can use. 

(Kurapika went red as Illumi picked up the mutilated doll, setting it on the corner of the bed and taking out a few more needles.) 

Kurapika: Oh, that- that’s really- 

Uh, thank you. (He leaned back on his wrists.) 

…How are you and Hisoka? 

(Illumi began sorting the needles in his hands. He shrugged after a second.) 

Illumi: I think we’re alright. 

Kurapika: …You don't know where he is? 

(The assassin shook his head.) 

Illumi: No. I don’t. 

This isn’t the first time this has happened. …I’m starting to worry a bit. 

Kurapika: What? Not the first time he’s done a job by himself? 

Illumi: I’m probably overthinking. Why wouldn't that be what’s going on? 

But maybe it’s something else. He always brings a bag with him. …And leaves most of his cards here. 

Kurapika: Hmm. …I’m not sure I’m the best person to get advice from.

(Illumi shrugged, laying back again.) 

Illumi: It’s okay. Just as long as he’s safe. That’s all I should worry about. 

(Kurapika fell back next to him, turning to look over and blink at Illumi.) 

Kurapika: …We’ve been fixing your shower for quite a while. 

(Illumi smiled, pushing off the bed and getting up. Kurapika sprang up to follow him down the hall.) 

***

(Downtown Manhattan, Late Afternoon) 

Bisky: See that building up there? That’s our culprit. (She pointed to a tall, ornate marble building that stretched up above several of the surrounding structures, isolated with the amount of landscape surrounding it.) 

Gon: Wow… That’s really pretty. 

Bisky: You’re telling me. You want to get up close? 

Gon: Yeah! Let’s go! (He and Killua took off up the road in the direction of the building. Bisky blinked before following. Killua looked back at Bisky.) 

Killua: So, what’s the big deal exactly? These people get paid just to look rich and do illegal shit? 

Bisky: That’s a gross oversimplification, but yes. 

There’s a lot more to them below the surface. (They headed across the street they were on, now just a street up from the building.) 

Killua: So, how do we get over there? 

(Bisky smiled, leading them through a gap between two buildings and towards the capital estate. At the back of the alleyway, there was a long wall of tall, barbed wire over a chain fence that blocked their access.) 

Killua: What the shit? 

Bisky: Now, assuming we were able to get past that, that entire estate is crawling with cameras, alarm systems, heat sensors, anything you can think of. 

Those freaks would rather DIE than let their secrets be exposed to common thieves. You’d be arrested and put away before you got halfway to the doors.

Gon: Jesus. (He put his hands on the fence, looking through at the now far-off seeming building. It was surrounded by fresh green grass, fountains and beautifully paved walkways; in stark contrast to the fences that surrounded the capital.) 

But this place looks so nice. 

Bisky: Yeah, I know. (She squinted, spotting a sleek, black car heading from the building towards the exit of the estate.) 

See it a bit better now? These are no ordinary politicians… Who are unsavory enough as it is. 

(Killua folded his arms above his head, blinking.) 

Killua: Hm. Pretty sure I could clear all that pretty quickly. My house has a more intimidating entryway than this Disney-Junior shit. 

(Bisky shrugged.) 

Bisky: Well, maybe. But granted, they’re not expecting a Zoldyck to break into the place. They work with your dad, after all. 

(She looked back through the fence.) 

Which is just another reason why you can’t go in there. 

(Killua sighed, placing his hands on his hips.) 

Killua: Yeah. To be honest, I think I’ve dealt with enough people wanting to toss me around from unsavory person to unsavory person for a while. 

(Gon held onto one of Killua’s arms with both of his own protectively.) 

Gon: Yeah, I’m sick of that too.

(Bisky glanced from them to the gaps in the fence. She suddenly stuck herself to the side of one of the buildings, the other two following suit.) 

Gon: What is it? 

Bisky: I don’t know, but someone’s leaving the estate, and I’d rather NOT have us be seen snooping around the entrances. 

(Gon nodded, still holding Killua’s hand.) 

Gon: So, this is it? We’re not going to be able to talk to my dad? Or anyone else? 

(Bisky sighed, shaking her head.) 

Bisky: I’m sorry, Gon, but it’s just too dangerous. I know you really want to help your friend and all… (She looked up at the overcast sky.) 

But I can tell this is not a good way to go about it. 

(Gon and Killua shared a worried look.) 

Gon: Then… What should we do? 

(She watched him, thinking for a minute.)

Bisky: To be honest? I don’t know. But if you’re planning on ever talking to your dad again, you have to make sure he’s alone and far away from this place, that’s for sure. 

Gon: …Oh. 

(Bisky relaxed, pulling away from the side of the wall.) 

Bisky: If I may ask, 

(The two boys looked up) 

Bisky: Why do you care so much about finding this person? You only knew them for what? Two days? 

(Gon and Killua froze, trying not to look at one another. Gon swallowed.) 

Gon: …Killua and I ran into a bit of trouble after being at that auction. 

Bisky: You mean besides the wrath of Kurapika? 

Gon: …Yeah, they sort of saved us. 

(Bisky blinked.) 

Bisky: They what? 

(Killua shrugged, waving her off.) 

Killua: It’s a long story. 

Gon: Yeah, but… I guess that’s not really why I want to see them. 

(Bisky and Killua turned to look at him.) 

Gon: I mean, of course they were the one that offered to take me and meet my dad, and I wasn't exactly a super huge help along the way. (He shrugged.) 

And it’s not like they had any sort of reason to help me find my dad in the first place. …So I feel like I should thank them. It sort of took me until after the fact to realize how much simpler that all would have gone if they forgot about me and Killua. 

(Bisky nodded after a second.) 

Bisky: …I get it. I wish there was something more I could do for you boys, but… Sometimes, things just don’t work out the way we want them to. 

…You ready to head back? 

(Gon looked past her, wistfully watching the landscape beyond the fence.) 

Gon: …Yeah. We probably should. 

***

(The Apartment, Early Evening) 

Leorio: Want to help me heat something up, Alluka? (He shut the door to the fridge, looking over to the couch to see Alluka’s head pop up. She smiled.) 

Alluka: Yeah! Can we make pizza rolls? 

(Leorio blinked, his smile not dropping.) 

Leorio: Pizza rolls and something… Good for you? 

Alluka: Sure! 

Leorio: Sounds like a plan! (He headed over to one of the drawers to pull out a tray as Alluka opened the freezer.) 

…Illumi and Kurapika have been up there for a long time, haven’t they? 

(Alluka grinned smugly, nodding.) 

Alluka: I think they’re friends. Which is funny because Illu says he doesn’t have any friends. Which is really stupid because obviously we’re all his friends. Which is even MORE funny because obviously Kurapika likes him. 

(Leorio whipped around to look at her, panicked.) 

Leorio: What?! That’s not true! That’s not true at ALL. 

(Alluka shrugged, not seeming phased at all by his outburst.) 

Alluka: Sure it is! Have you seen the way they’re always bushing and doing the flirty hair-tuck thing with him? 

(Leorio looked exasperated.) 

Leorio: …What flirty hair-tuck thing? 

(Alluka shrugged again, putting the box of pizza rolls up on the counter.) 

Alluka: It’s obvious to me, at least. They’re fun to watch. Maybe Kurapika will- 

Leorio: KURAPIKA COULD YOU COME HELP ME WITH- (He gasped as Kurapika and Illumi headed down the stairs, freezing once Leorio started yelling. He swallowed.) 

Leorio: O-Oh. Hey, Kurapika! 

(Kurapika blinked.) 

Kurapika: …Did you need my help with… Putting those pizza rolls in the oven? 

(Leorio gave a forced laugh.) 

Leorio: You know! On second thought, maybe I don’t! 

Kurapika: …Okay. 

(Alluka looked back at them.) 

Alluka: How was fixing the shower? 

Kurapika: …Uh, it was good. We got it done, right? (He glanced up at Illumi, who nodded.) 

Illumi: Yes. Good as new. 

Leorio: …Great! (He finished putting the rolls out onto the tray.) 

You have any idea when the others will be back? From their… (He gestured at nothing.) 

To be honest, I have no idea what’s going on. 

(Kurapika gave a crooked smile.) 

Kurapika: Leorio, that’s completely normal. I’m glad you’re not so crazy involved in this sort of thing. 

(Leorio gave a half smile, moving to put their food in the oven.) 

Alluka: Well, I don’t! I don’t like not knowing what’s going on with all this crazy stuff! It makes me nervous. 

(Illumi raised a brow. Kurapika sighed, leaning down onto her level.) 

Kurapika: I’m sorry, Alluka. …Hopefully this’ll all blow over soon and this won’t be something you have to worry about anymore. 

(The door to their apartment suddenly opened, all of them looked over as Bisky, Gon, and Killua headed inside.) 

Bisky: What’s up, bitches? 

(Kurapika sighed, folding their arms.) 

Kurapika: How did it go? 

(Bisky and Gon shrugged.) 

Bisky: Fine. I just worked a few things out with these little shitbags. (She ruffled Gon and Killua’s hair. Killua pushed her off.) 

Gon: We got to see a cool building! 

Leorio: …Cool! 

Alluka: We’re making pizza rolls for dinner! 

Killua: Aw, sweet! (He headed over to meet his sister.

Bisky looked back at Gon and Killua.) 

Bisky: Hey, do me a favor and wash up before you go into that kitchen. We were on public transportation in New York City. 

Killua: Race you up the stairs, Gon! 

(Gon’s face lit up, and the two of them took off, trampling one another up the stairs. Bisky approached Kurapika.) 

Bisky: …I don’t think you have to worry too much about those two getting themselves into too deep of trouble for the time being. 

(Kurapika smiled.) 

Kurapika: That’s good. (He paused, folding his arm and avoiding eye contact slightly.) 

Bisky… Whatever it is you did… Thanks. …I don’t like worrying about those two. 

(Bisky grinned, putting her hands on her hips.) 

Bisky: Yeah, I know. 

Me neither. (She looked around after a moment.) 

Hisoka’s still not back yet, huh? 

Leorio: Apparently not. 

(Kurapika looked over at Illumi, who had his phone open.) 

Illumi: I’ll try and call him. One moment. (He stepped aside into the hallway, pressing to call Hisoka. The phone rang for a few seconds before going straight to voicemail. Illumi frowned, staring at the screen.) 

***

(Somewhere in Brooklyn, Evening) 

(Hisoka walked with hands in his pockets. New York was well into fall at this point, making for some chilly nights. The bag he had strapped to himself bounced against his ribcage. 

He moved with a destination, taking in his surroundings as he headed wherever he was going. He moved to a branching off street, making his way down towards the more populated side of the road. 

The crowds and voices up ahead promised he had made it. He came across the line to a packed looking club. Crowds of people waited to be let into the building, loud music boomed from the inside. 

Hisoka made his way around the side of the building, avoiding the crowds entirely. Instead, he opened up the dark, side entrance to the building, being let into a utility hallway far from the action. 

Even so, Hisoka headed towards the dark magenta lights and sounds of the club, passing by one or two people drunkenly dragging one another off to a different part of the building. 

He made it to the main room of the club, looking annoyed at the amount of people taking up the space, dancing and drinking carelessly. The entry to the floor was large and arched. On either side of the hall the magician was in, hallways that led to rooms for rent, or private booths lined the sensually lit hall. The scents of perfume, cigarette smoke, and alcohol all clashed together.) 

???: Hisoka, that you? 

(Hisoka turned to see two people heading towards him. A man and a woman, both scantily clad in black leather unitards and fishnet tights. He blinked.) 

Hisoka: Oh… 

Hi. (He took a deep breath, clearly not happy to see the pair.) 

(The short woman piped up in a high-pitched voice.) 

Short Woman: I didn’t think you’d be coming around here anymore. We just got off our shift. 

Man: Whatever happened to you? I thought you ‘outgrew’ this shit? Couldn’t afford rent in that shithole of an apartment you have? 

(Hisoka folded his arms, rolling his eyes.) 

Hisoka: I moved out of that place fucking forever ago. Besides, whatever I’m doing is none of your business. 

Short Woman: Oh ho ho! Someone’s got an attitude to him! Don’t act like you’re above us if you’re back HERE, pretty boy. 

(Hisoka blinked.) 

Hisoka: If you’re done with your shift, the exit’s in the other direction. I think you’re late for your weekly STD check anyways. 

(The man stepped forwards, gritting his teeth.) 

Man: Don’t get smart with me, Morow. Or her. 

Should I tell the manager you’re back for you? Maybe I’ll let him know that- 

???: Hey, man, just the person I was looking for! Can’t believe you’re here! 

(Hisoka’s arm was suddenly grabbed by someone. Someone hooded who passed right in between the parties, knocking the man Hisoka was next to off balance- pulling him along with themself.) 

Hisoka; Who the- (He was about to wrench himself out of the grip he was in as the person shoved him and themself into the first curtained off booth to their right, quickly pulling off their hood. Long, silvery-white hair fell loose.) 

Just who the shit do you think- (He froze, staring at Kite, who blinked. A second of silence passed as Kite gave an experimental smile.) 

Oh my fucking god! (He grabbed onto Kite’s shoulders, pulling them into a hug. The pair held onto one another for several moments.) 

…Oh my god, you’re okay. 

(Kite pulled back to look Hisoka in the eyes, nodding.) 

Kite: …Figured it was only a matter of time before I ran into you. 

(Hisoka blinked.) 

Hisoka: Kite, you just- 

(Kite grinned, waving him off. They turned around, peeking their head into the hallway to make sure no one was still out there.) 

Kite: Okay, okay. No, I- I totally followed you. (They pulled their blue cap out of the pocket of the trench coat they were wearing, snapping it on.) 

Hisoka: I-I don’t- 

I should sit down. (Without another word, he sat back on the half chair, half bed behind them. Kite sat next to him.) 

Kite: Take all the time you need. …It has been a long time. 

Hisoka: Too long. 

(Kite nodded, looking down at their feet.) 

Kite: …Never thought you’d be back in a place like this. 

(Hisoka shook his head, sighing.) 

Hisoka: It’s not what it… It’s different from before. …I’m doing better now. 

(Kite blinked over at him.) 

Hisoka: It is! I just- 

A lot’s happened. …Obviously. 

(Kite nodded. Hisoka finally took in the space, swallowing hard. Kite held onto his hand.) 

Kite: Yeah, I’m sure. (They smiled. Hisoka looked back at them.) 

Should I buy us some drinks? 

*****

Chapter Text

S2 EP3: Night

(A Motel in Versailles, Evening, Fourteen Years Ago) 

(Inside the main hallway of what looked like an empty lobby of a hotel, two kids sat on a bench by the doors, looking to be around eleven or twelve. Hisoka, hair bright red, frizzy, and pulled back halfway out of his face sat with Kite; whose hair fell down past their shoulders, red and covered by their blue hat. 

Kite kicked their legs, wearing a pair of baggy pants and a loose, grey shirt. They had no scar over their left eye or nose.) 

Kite: Aw,, dammit. How long you think we’ll be scrubbing the side of the building this time? 

(Hisoka snickered.) 

Hisoka: I wonder what they did with that shopping cart. 

(Kite smiled.) 

Kite: Maybe they’ll make us give it back to the grocery store people. (They shook their head, still grinning.) 

That’d be embarrassing. 

(Hisoka hit their arm.) 

Hisoka: Shut up! 

How were we supposed to know they weren’t complimentary? 

(Kite smiled up at Hisoka’s hair.) 

Kite: The important thing is that now you look way cooler than that stupid fucking blue. 

(Hisoka reached up a hand to feel his head, nodding.) 

Hisoka: Yeah, I definitely feel better. (He kicked his legs back and forth nervously.)

Or at least I did until all this happened. (He frowned.) 

Kite: Don’t worry. I’ll tell Bara that it was my fault. It was my idea after all. 

(Hisoka shook his head.) 

Hisoka: No, you don’t have to. He’s not really who I’m worried about right now. 

(Kite blinked, waiting for him to go on.) 

Hisoka: …Isn’t Mr. Neutral coming today? 

(Kite froze, swallowing after a second.) 

Kite: …Oh yeah. I think you’re probably right. 

Maybe we still have time to- (Both of them gasped once the door to the hallway they were sitting in opened. They clasped hands as a tall, wiry man with black, messy hair going past his chin entered. He had a strange, three-pronged tattoo on his forehead, and sullen looking, small eyes. He looked over at them, clearly in distaste.) 

Tattooed Man: Well, my, my. Look what we have here. 

(Kite and Hisoka glared as he approached, holding tight onto one another.) 

Tattooed Man: I was told all about your little excursion yesterday. 

You know, you’d think by now, it’d be common logic that we don’t want the police scampering around here. 

(The two on the bench were quiet. Their boss, Bara, took a step forward.) 

Bara: So WHAT goes through your numb skulls to think that STEALING A FUCKING SHOPPING CART is a good fucking idea?! 

(They flinched back instinctively. Bara braced his hands on the wall above them, slamming the drywall.) 

Bara: HUH?! 

(Kite lashed out.) 

Kite: Maybe if you taught us anything about how the average person’s day out here worked, we wouldn’t have had the problem- (They were cut off as Bara roughly backhanded them. Kite flinched back, momentarily letting go of Hisoka.) 

Hisoka: Kite! 

(Bara used both hands to grab onto their scalps, pulling their hair as he held them in place.) 

Hisoka: Ow, fuck! 

Bara: You know what could have helped you avoid the situation in the first place?! 

Staying here and doing your fucking JOBS. (He roughly pushed them back, letting go of them in the process. Hisoka turned Kite to look at the mark left on their cheek. Kite looked down, avoiding eye contact.) 

???: That will be all now, Bara. There’s no need to be so harsh with them at the moment. 

(All three of them looked over as four more men stepped into the room. 

The man who spoke had slightly greying black hair, a navy suit, and a tight lipped smile. There were a few others with him; A taller, thinner man with black hair and glasses, a suited man with close cropped, brown hair, and the tallest; with shoulder length brown hair and a white hat. Hisoka’s grip on Kite tightened upon seeing them. 

Bara took a step back, clearing his throat.) 

Bara: Right, o-of course Mr. Neutral. 

(Teradein nodded, giving a nod and a smile to Bara as he approached.) 

Bara: I wasn’t aware you’d be here so soon. I’ll have to get the staff to help me round up some of the others if you’d like to speak with or borrow someone. 

(Teradein held up a hand.) 

Teradein: All in due time. What did I interrupt? (He looked over to Hisoka and Kite. Hisoka’s hands shook.) 

Bara: Setting a pair of good-for-nothings straight. 

(Teradein chuckled, taking a few steps towards them.) 

Teradein: Is that so? 

Bara: These two often seem to think the rules can be changed as they please. 

Teradein: Hmm. Well, there’s certainly no room for that here. (His eyes caught on Hisoka, whose breath hitched.) 

Ah… I remember this one. 

(Kite narrowed their eyes, shifting to be in front of Hisoka slightly.) 

Teradein: Surely you recall me. Hisoka was it? 

(Hisoka swallowed, unable to make a sound. Bara jerked his head over to yell.) 

Bara: He asked you a question, runt! 

(Hisoka flinched as if he’d been struck, eyes squeezing shut.) 

Hisoka: Y-Yes, that’s me! 

(Teradein smiled.) 

Teradein: You were just one of the boys we’re looking for. What a nice coincidence that we ran into you so early. (He leaned back just far enough to glance back at Bara, who had his arms folded.)
You don’t mind, do you? 

(Bara shook his head, unmoving.) 

Bara: Not at all. 

(Teradein nodded, reaching forwards to take hold of one of Hisoka’s wrists. He gasped.) 

Teradein: Come on now. There’s no need to be shy. This way you won’t have to deal with whatever punishment your old boss here’s set up for you. Perhaps you can help my friends and I talk to a few of the other boys and girls. 

(Bara rolled his eyes slightly. Teradein moved away from the bench, inadvertently pulling Hisoka with him. Kite was still holding onto his other hand, not letting go. They moved to stand up.) 

Bara: Not you. Sit back down, NOW. 

(Hisoka gave a panicked look to Kite, who didn’t let go of him.)

Kite: No. You’re not separating me and Hisoka. 

(Teradein and Bara met eyes, Teradein’s narrowing just slightly. 

Bara stalked over to Kite, grabbing them by the hair and yanking them away from Hisoka. They yelped, being torn apart from each other.) 

Hisoka: Kite! 

(Bara set a quick pace towards the door, Kite digging their feet in, clawing, and batting in a vain attempt to get away from the man that easily overpowered them.) 

Kite: Let go of me!! STOP! 

(Teradein and the other three started heading down the hall with Hisoka, who was dragged along with them, trying to pull free as well.) 

Hisoka: N-No, I don’t want to go! Kite!

(Bara opened the door, yanking Kite along with himself as he stormed outside. Kite pulled at their own hair, trying to yank it free, looking back at Hisoka.)

Hisoka: Kite! Kite, wait- 

(Bara slammed the door behind himself, darkening the hall and leaving Hisoka alone with the other four. He stared at the closed doors, eyes wide, a hand still being held out, as if to reach out to something.) 

Teradein: Hisoka. 

There’s no need to be difficult. (His grip on the child’s wrist tightened. They continued moving. Hisoka had stopped fighting.) 

There’s some friends I want you to meet. 

***

(Kite paced, holding a quickly melting piece of ice just below their jawline, where several red, brazen marks were showing. They smoothed their hair, scalp sensitive and throbbing from how much their hair had been pulled. 

They walked around a completely empty circus tent. No one else was inside, and little equipment had been left out. It was well into night by now, and Hisoka still hadn’t returned. The sick feeling pit in their stomach had only grown the more the day had gone on. Kite had been looking everywhere. 

On one side of the tent, a curtain opened. Kite gasped, quickly ruching behind a stack of wooden boards to conceal themself, discarding their ice. By the sounds of it, two men were talking. Kite recognized Bara, but not the second voice.) 

Bara: Oh, no. They’ll do just fine for the time being. Neutral wants us to move around? 

Voice Two: Yes. That would be preferable. Depending on how quickly you can pick all this up, it would work best to be down in the heart of Paris in a few weeks. 

Bara: Ah, Christ. Man’s really got that many people to please, eh? 

Voice 2: More like that much money to collect. 

You can use the less desirable ones to help with substance transportation, I’m sure. 

(Bara gave a bitter laugh.) 

Bara: At least the ones I can trust not to fuck it up, sure. 

(Kite slowly started moving, decently close to one of the other exits. 

As quietly as they could, they peeked their head up to see where the two men were. They had their back turned, not looking over. 

While they had their chance, they quickly sprang off towards the exit, taking one last look behind themself before jumping outside. By the sound of everything, they had cleared it. Silence. 

It was a calm night. Kite made their way around the perimeter of the tent, taking in the surroundings on the outside. The back of the motel was silhouetted against the moonlight, cold looking. They made their way to the back entrance of the building, pushing open the squeaky door. By the looks of things, no one was inside, at least in this hall. 

They headed across the beat up carpet up until the end of the hallway, swinging themself up onto the back staircase and quietly padding up. The only sounds were the steady breeze from the outside and the occasional creak of a step. 

  Kite stopped on the third floor of the motel, heading down the hall, counting off doors as they went. Around three-fourths of the way down the hall, they stopped in front of the door numbered ‘fourty-four’, swallowing. 

Before knocking, they paused, listening for any sort of noise. Once they were sure it was silent, they knocked on the door a few times. Several seconds of silence followed. Kite tried the knob, opening the door slowly to see the darkness inside. 

Hisoka’s room was mostly empty, just the standard issued furniture in each single-person room, along with a few nic nacs strewn across the floor. An empty pack of gum, several different cards, and a half-empty bottle of red hair-dye propped up against the nightstand. 

Curled up in a pile of tattered blankets and quilts, Hisoka laid on his side, facing the wall. Kite saw his shoulders shake once they opened the door.) 

Hisoka: P-Please go away. 

Kite: Hisoka? It’s me. 

(Hisoka gasped, turning to look over. His hair was messy, curls hanging down past his forehead over his dark, freckled skin. Kite shut the door behind themself, running over to hop up onto the bed with Hisoka. 

The redhead threw his arms around Kite, who pulled him up against themself.) 

Hisoka: Are- are you- 

Kite: I’m okay, I’m fine. 

(Hisoka cried into Kite’s shirt, who held onto him, adjusting his position to sit more comfortably. They ran a hand over the too-big shirt Hisoka was wearing, trying to soothe him.

Kite looked misty eyed as well, lip quivering. They stayed like that for several minutes. Eventually, Kite used one of their arms to reach over and re-adjust Hisoka’s blankets instead of leaving them a crumpled mess. 

After a while, Hisoka started to calm down, wiping tears off his face and sliding down onto the mattress next to Kite. They reached up to grab the pillow at the top of the bed, letting Hisoka adjust himself against it before pulling a few of the blankets up over his shoulders. 

The magician took a shaky breath, reaching over to pull the blankets over Kite as well, who smiled. They grabbed onto each other’s hands, snuggling closer together.) 

Kite: I’m sorry I couldn’t do more. 

(Hisoka shook his head, looking at the marks where Kite’s jaw met their neck.) 

Hisoka: You would have gotten more hurt. 

Kite: I don’t care. I want you to be safe. 

(Hisoka sniffed.) 

Hisoka: Well, I want you to be safe too. 

(Kite was quiet, eyes fluttering shut for a moment.) 

Kite: …One of these times… 

You and I are getting out of this shithole. We’ll go start our own lives. 

I know we can do it. Once we’re strong enough. 

(Hisoka smiled at the glimmer in their eyes, nodding.) 

Hisoka: Yeah. (He closed his eyes, finding a way to be comfortable.) 

One of these times. 

***

(A Club, Brooklyn, Present Day) 

(Kite topped off Hisoka’s drink with the bottle he had. Hisoka stirred the amber liquid in his short glass before taking another sip, the two of them still sitting in their curtained off portion of the club. Hisoka’s bag lay abandoned at the edge of the space, sitting with his legs crossed. 

Kite sat criss crossed on the bed,watching Hisoka as he spoke.) 

Hisoka: …I’ve haven’t been living here that long, actually. 

Kite: When’d you move in? 

(Hisoka took a sip, thinking.) 

Hisoka: It would have been at the start of September. …About two months now. 

(Kite nodded.) 

Kite: …It is Halloween, you know. 

(Hisoka blinked.) 

Hisoka: …I’d completely forgotten. (He shrugged.) 

Not really a priority in our household. 

Kite: And you’re seeing someone? 

(Hisoka nodded, the corners of his mouth tilting up.) 

Hisoka: Yeah. For a while now, actually. 

(Kite raised a brow.) 

Kite: Is this another someone I need to be worried about? 

(Hisoka chuckled, shaking his head.) 

Hisoka: If anything, you need to worry about him. 

(Kite blinked, waiting for him to go on.) 

Kite: He’s a Zoldyck. 

(Kite nearly spit out the drink they were sipping out of, whipping around to glare at the other.) 

Kite: What?! The fuck do you MEAN- you can’t be dating someone like that?! Are you kidding? (They put their hands on his shoulders, shaking him. Hisoka smiled.) 

Hisoka: Well, I’ve never been one for following the rules. 

Kite: Are you insane?! I can tell you one fucking thing, Hisoka, which is that you’re about to wake up with a knife in the fucking back! (They gripped harder, trying to ground him back to reality. Hisoka looked completely unfazed.) 

Hisoka: Trust me, I gave him a run for his money before. (He blinked.) 

…We’ve been dating for almost a year. We live together. 

(Kite gaped at them, dumbfounded.) 

Kite: Who- who is this? 

Hisoka: Their eldest son. Illumi. 

(Kite’s brow furrowed, trying to put the name to a face.) 

Kite: …I tried not to pay much attention to those seminars when they came about. (They scoffed.) 

Nothing like betting on child abuse. 

(Hisoka nodded.) 

Hisoka: Yeah, I try not to think about it. 

(Kite shook their head.) 

Kite: But Hisoka, nonetheless… (They shook their head.) 

You… You’re going to get yourself killed. 

Hisoka: Believe me, I’m well aware. (He chuckled.) 

But you know me, I’ve always kind of liked it that way.

Kite: No, Hisoka. This is different. 

Hisoka: Kite. (They squeezed their hand.) 

Trust me on this one. We’ve been together over a year, I think your hypothetical knife would already be in my back by now, don’t you? 

(Kite was quiet. They grumbled something Hisoka couldn’t quite make out, rubbing their forehead.) 

Kite: You’re a piece of work, you know that? What kind of hell-beast d’you get in contact with to score THAT one? Isn’t he emotionally stunted?

(Hisoka blinked.) 

Hisoka: Very much so. (He couldn’t help but smile, blushing slightly.) 

He’s a sweetheart. 

(Kite spoke around their drink.) 

Kite: Yeah? I bet. (They rolled their eyes.) 

(Hisoka adjusted his position.) 

Hisoka: What about you, then? Where’ve you been around to? 

(Kite blinked.) 

Kite: …I don’t know just how willing I am to move on from this part of the conversation just yet. 

Hisoka: Kiteeee…. (He sighed in warning. They shook their head.) 

Kite: …Honestly? I’ve just really been trying not to stay in one place too long. I don’t like the idea of getting caught back up in a routine. 

(Hisoka nodded.) 

Hisoka: …That so? 

I trust you’re better off away from the capital? 

(Kite rolled their eyes.) 

Kite: Don’t even get me started. 

(Hisoka chuckled again, blinking down at the ground after a second.) 

Hisoka: …Speaking of which… 

There are a couple other roommates of mine that I think you know. 

***

(The Apartment, Kurapika’s Room, Late Night) 

(Kurapika flipped over their pillow, readjusting their position to be more comfortable. He cringed every time he did so, worried he might wake up Leorio on the other side of the bed, but he never moved around.

Kurapika rolled over to face him, realizing he was facing away from the blonde instead of on his back like he usually was. They blinked.) 

Kurapika: …Leorio? 

(Leorio took a deep breath, moving slightly, but he didn’t turn around.) 

Leorio: …I’m not kidding, Kurapika. 

I really don’t want there to be any more secrets in this household. 

(Kurapika blinked again, sitting up to put a hand on his shoulder. Leorio looked over, sitting up as well.) 

Kurapika: …Are you okay? 

(Leorio nodded quickly, Kurapika drew their knees in.) 

Leorio: Yeah, I’m okay. I just… 

(Kurapika sighed as he trailed off.) 

Kurapika: …I’m sorry, Leorio. I wish I could have explained everything better for you. These are all just things you haven’t been immersed into, and I can see why it would be difficult to understand- 

Leorio: Kurapika, Kurapika, that’s not it. 

(Kurapika blinked, nodding after a second.) 

Leorio: …I don’t…. I don’t care about knowing everything about how this all works. 

…I just want to know that I can at least be trusted with what’s going on. 

Just because I’m not a part of all this craziness directly doesn’t mean I don’t care about all of you, who are. 

(Kurapika watched him quietly. Leorio held his hands up, unsure of what to do with them.) 

Leorio: I just… (He looked over at Kurapika.)

W-When all that craziness with Chicago and the auction happened, I was going in completely blind. …I couldn’t really help in any way at all. 

Listen, I don’t care about knowing it all. …I just don’t want you, or anyone here to see me as some sort of a liability. …I want to help you guys. 

(Kurapika smiled sweetly. They suddenly leaned forwards to hug Leorio, who blinked before hugging back.) 

Kurapika: I would never think of you as a liability, Leorio. None of us here would. (He pulled back, looking down at his hands.) 

…I’m sorry for what happened in Chicago. …You’re right. I should have told you what was happening. Trust me, I don’t want anything like that to happen again, either. 

(Leorio nodded, smiling. His eyes were still slightly unfocused. He took a deep breath.) 

Leorio: …I really do appreciate that, Kurapika. 

…Hey, listen. I’m worried about you too, you know. 

(Kurapika blinked in surprise, taken aback. They chuckled nervously.) 

Kurapika: I- Now, why on earth would you be worried about me? 

(Leorio smiled, eyelids fluttering blankly like it was perfectly obvious.) 

Leorio: This, uh… 

This- well, this isn’t exactly a very nice phrase for it, but this ‘obsession’ that you still have frankly worries me a lot, Kurapika. …With the Phantom Troupe and whatnot. 

…Are you still… Are you still dead set on- 

Kurapika: Yes. (Their expression was serious. Leorio swallowed.) 

Leorio, a-as much as I would like to comfort you with this, I-I- There’s no way I’m going to be able to let this go. The Phantom Troupe will pay for what they’ve taken from me.

(Leorio swallowed, uncomfoartable.)  

Leorio: …I-I just don’t want you to get yourself hurt- 

Kurapika: I know my limits. …I’m not planning on doing anything I’m not capable of. 

(Leorio met their eyes again, unsure.) 

Leorio: …Do you really think you’ll feel better afterwards? Honestly? 

(Kurapika blinked.) 

Kurapika: …Yes. I do. 

(Leorio nodded again, moving back down under the covers.) 

Leorio: …Okay. 

(Kurapika watched him for several long moments, slowly laying back down as well.) 

Kurapika: …Was that all you wanted to talk about? 

(Leorio blinked, running his fingers over the back of his other hand, still facing Kurapika.) 

Leorio: …Yeah, I think so. 

Kurapika: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up or anything. 

(Leorio shook his head, waving him off.) 

Leorio: You didn’t. 

We should both probably try and get some sleep, huh? 

(Kurapika nodded.) 

Kurapika: Yes. 

Yes, I think that’s a good idea. 

(Leorio smiled, closing his eyes.) 

Leorio: You should listen to me more often. 

***

(Gon and Killua’s Room, Late Night) 

(Killua sighed, walking over to collapse on the bed next to Gon, who was holding his phone and surrounded by a few bags of chips. He stuck his free hand in one, munching on a mouthful.) 

Killua: God, I can’t believe it’s fucking Halloween and all we did was pirate that stupid Texas-Massacre movie on Leorio’s computer. 

(Gon didn’t look too bothered. He wiped a hand on his shorts.) 

Gon: Remember how tight money is, though? I’d feel bad making everyone spend money on costumes and stuff for us. 

(Killua leaned back, nodding after a moment.) 

Killua: Yeah… I guess that’s true. 

One of these times I’m gonna celebrate a real halloween. 

Gon: Yeah! You and me and Alluka! 

(Killua nodded, smiling. Gon finished chewing another mouthful of chips.) 

Gon: Besides, we’ve got other holidays to look forward to now! (His eyes glimmered. Killua blinked.) 

You know, like Thanksgiving and Christmas! Which is the best holiday EVER! We can actually have a real Christmas with our friends this year, won’t that be so awesome? 

(Killua sat back up, turning away and chewing his gum. He rubbed his hands together nervously. Gon turned to look at him after a moment.) 

Gon: …Did your family not celebrate Christmas either? 

(Killua swallowed dryly, freezing up for a second. He turned back to Gon.) 

Killua: Well- you know, obviously it’s not a very ‘festive’ time of year at any point in our household. 

(Gon chuckled.) 

Gon: Right, right. Which only means I’ll make sure this Christmas is EXTRA special for you, and Alluka, and Illumi! We’ll all pitch in. 

(Killua crawled over to his side of the bed.) 

Killua: W-Well don’t go too crazy, obviously. 

Gon: Well, duh. That’s still almost two months away, after all. (He blinked at where Killua was getting under the covers.) 

You tired? 

Killua: Uh… Yeah, a little. You wanna watch another movie in the morning if we can? 

Gon: Yeah! Totally! (He tossed the bag of chips off the bed, pulling one of his blankets over himself.) 

Night, Killua! 

(Killua smiled at him, turning to face the ceiling and folding his arms up behind his head.) 

Killua: Night, Gon… (He stared at the ceiling, completely awake in the darkness of their room. 

Gon fell asleep quickly. Killua stared upwards, looking more and more worried and sick to his stomach as time went on. He rolled onto his side, curling his knees up towards himself in the fetal position, watching the walls for several more minutes. 

Killua waited until Gon’s breathing had evened out next to him before he quietly slipped out of bed, heading for the door and out into the hallway. He swallowed again, looking both ways before heading down the hall and very slowly turning the knob to Hisoka and Illumi’s room. 

The albino peeked inside, brow furrowing as he entered to see nobody inside. His brother’s bed was made, but no one was there. The bathroom was empty as well. Killua pursed his lips, turning to leave. 

Instead, he made his way over to Alluka’s room, gently knocking and waiting several seconds before hearing no one on the other side. He opened her room as well only to see that it was also empty.) 

Killua: *whispering* What the fuck. (He stalked up to Bisky’s door, rapping on it. 

After just a couple of seconds, his sister opened it. He breathed out a sigh of relief.) 

Oh, thank god. 

Alluka: Hi, Killua! Bisky’s teaching me how to avoid ‘fentanyl laced candy’ on Halloween and any other occasion. Want to join? 

(Killua blinked.) 

Killua: I already know about that stuff. 

(Bisky glared over at him from the rocking chair she was in, wearing reading glasses and a pink nightgown.) 

Alluka: What’cha doin’? 

(Killua blinked, seeming to forget what he was doing for a second.)

Killua: What- I was just- …Do either of you know where Illumi is? 

(Bisky raised a brow, shaking her head after a second.) 

Alluka: He’s not here? 

Killua: No. He and Hisoka both. 

Alluka: Did you try calling him? 

Killua: I’m about to. (He glanced back at her worried face.) 

I’m sure it’s fine. I just need to talk to him about something. 

Alluka: About what? 

Killua: …Shampoo? 

(Bisky stared at him.) 

Bisky: …Right. 

Alluka: Want to join us until he gets back? 

Killua: Y-Yeah, that’d probably be okay. (He tapped his pocket, making sure his phone was there before following Alluka into Bisky’s room, shutting the door behind himself.) 

***

(Somewhere in Brooklyn, Night) 

(Illumi walked quickly, arms folded over his chest as he headed through the city streets. By this time, nearly everywhere he turned, he was faced with drunk teenagers and adults yelling loudly over one another as they did… Whatever it was they were doing. 

He had his phone in hand, calling Hisoka for what seemed like the hundredth time that night, only to be sent right back to voicemail.) 

Illumi: *muttering* Fucking hell… (The constant lights, movement and noise weren’t helping his search efforts at all either. He had to push his way past several groups of people, most of them yelling for him to either fuck off or come back. 

Just as he was about to turn the corner onto a different street, someone grabbed his arm, whipping him around to face them. A young man, dressed as some sort of macabre looking zombie, along with what must have been his girlfriend dressed as a blood-stained doll stood in his path. They looked to be around 18 or 19 in age.) 

Man: Oh my god, I fucking know who you are! 

(Illumi stared at him, ripping his arm from his iron grip.) 

Illumi: No, you- 

Girl: Yeah! You’re Trisha’s ex boyfriend! THe one that apparently ate babies! (She turned to yell over her shoulder.) 

TRISHA, GET OVER HERE AND BRING THOSE KIDS WE STOLE FROM! 

(Illumi turned to see two other drunks pulling two kids dressed as Daphne and Shaggy over from by one of the buildings they were near. They kicked and pulled against who was with them. 

Illumi recognized Zushi almost immediately, but not the other girl, who had blonde curls going down her back and bright blue eyes.) 

Girl: Kids, this is a lesson in payback. And as our designated punching bags for the night, you’re going to see how a real ass-kicking gets- 

(Trisha dove forwards, missing Illumi entirely and letting go of Zushi.) 

Young man: Trisha! You can’t drink an entire bottle of Fireball and then try and beat up your ex with nothing but your bare hands! Here. (He grabbed her collar and handed her the ax prop he was using as part of his costume.) 

Trisha: Oh, thanks. (She took another step towards Illumi, who grabbed the ax from her hands, shoving it back towards her and kicking her to the curb. She tried to stagger upwards before vomiting promptly. Her other friends gasped, laughing.

Illumi flicked his wrist as a small needle appeared between his fingers. In less time that it would take to blink, the costumed pair in front of him froze, a small hole in each of their throats. 

Illumi threw the needle at the man holding the girl, it lodged into his forehead. He gave a choked sound before falling backwards, letting go of the Daphne cosplayer. She and Zushi stared at him. 

Illumi moved past him to grab his needle from the man before turning to head back the way he was going, immediately hearing two pairs of footsteps behind himself.) 

Zushi: Hey, I actually know you! You were there for that soccer game that Gon, Killua, and Alluka were in! 

(Illumi continued walking.) 

Illumi: You shouldn’t be out here. Plenty more people like that are out here waiting to… (He turned to look back at them.) 

…What did those four want with you, exactly? 

(The blonde girl spoke up.) 

Blonde Girl: They’re friends with the Amori brothers. Have you heard of them? They’re super big bullies in this neighborhood. 

(Illumi nodded.) 

Zushi: But they’re scared to come back around here for some reason. So, they just have their friends terrorize us whenever they can. 

Me and Retz were just trick or treating and they grabbed us out of nowhere and stole our candy! 

(Retz nodded quickly. Illumi blinked.)

Illumi: That’s unfortunate. However, you’ll have to stop following me and go back home. 

Retz: But I’m scared to go anywhere alone now! What if more people show up to kidnap us again like you said? 

(Illumi stopped walking to whip around and face them, raking his hands through his hair.) 

Illumi: Then FIND a police officer or something! I have my own bullshit to deal with. 

Fucking- Here. (He grabbed onto a teenage passer-by, pulling the sack of sweets out of his hands and pushing him to the ground. He tossed the bag at Zushi and Retz’ feet. He then pulled a switchblade from his pocket, tossing that to them as well.) 

Now find a way home. 

(Zushi and Retz blinked as he turned away from them to keep walking. Retz grabbed the bag of candy as Zushi picked up the knife before continuing to follow Illumi.) 

***

(A Club in Brooklyn, Night) 

Kite: Dude, I had no fucking idea! ((They paced around the small room. Hisoka watched them, smiling with a drink in hand.) 

I guess we were so caught up with finding Ging and everything that we completely forgot to ask pretty much anything about one another… (They turned to look at Hisoka.) 

You live with them? 

(Hisoka nodded.) 

Hisoka: Yep. ‘Met them in the cage fights around here like a year ago. (He shrugged.) 

Small world, right? 

Kite: I fucking guess. Jesus Christ. (They collapsed back on the seat next to Hisoka. He traced a finger around the rim of his glass, thinking.) 

Hisoka: …They’ve been looking for you, by the way. ‘Want to make sure you’re okay. 

(Kite blinked before their mouth tilted up in a smile.) 

Kite: They are? 

(Hisoka nodded.) 

Kite: Give me an address. I’ll make sure to find them before I leave town again. 

(Hisoka smiled.) 

Hisoka: Yeah. That’d probably be good. 

Kite: Plan on it. I’ll try not to scare the shit out of everyone else that lives with you. (They looked down at Hisoka’s bag, which had been left by the curtain.) 

…I didn’t mean to interrupt your shit by the way. 

(Hisoka shook his head.) 

Hisoka: By the way things are sounding at this point, it’s probably a good thing I didn’t work at fucking 10:30 pm on Halloween. (They were both quiet, listening to the loud booming music and yelling cheers from the main floor of the club.) 

Kite: …Right. (They stood back up, setting their empty glass upside down on the small side table near where they were sitting. Hisoka finished the last of his own drink before following suit.) 

Kite: You wanna walk with me? 

Hisoka: Yeah. (He reached down over his bag to pull his jacket on before swinging the bag over himself. Kite opened the curtain to their room, looking both ways to make sure no one else was out there before heading down the hall towards the exit with Hisoka. 

Something glass broke on the inside of one of the booths by them followed by two voices of cackling laughter. Kite turned to look back at Hisoka.) 

Kite: I see you’ve chosen a super positive working environment, too. 

(Hisoka frowned.)

Hisoka: The door is that way. 

(Kite skipped around, pulling open the employee’s only door on the side of the building open for the two of them. They stepped out into the now very cold night air. 

A few drunk people were now in the alley by the building, either passed out or probably trying to fuck in the terrible lighting and disgusting conditions. Hisoka and Kite headed out together.) 

Hisoka: Where've you been staying? 

(Kite shrugged.) 

Kite: Anywhere, really. Hotels, motels, there was one time where I got this lady to buy me a room and stole her pillows and blankets before leaving while she was in the shower. 

Hisoka: Haha, nice. (They turned on the main road in front of the club, the street unusually full thanks to the holiday.) 

Damn, this city’s a fucking mess. 

Kite: Yep. ‘Sure am proud of our chairman. (They cleared their throat, glancing around.) 

So, where we headed? 

(Hisoka sighed.) 

Hisoka: I’ll probably have to see myself home soon. You wanna walk back there with me? 

Kite: Sure thing. (They tried to stay a safe distance away from most of the people that were outside. Someone threw a syringe in their direction.) 

…Cool.  

***

(Somewhere in Brooklyn, Night) 

(Illumi scanned every street he turned on, looking through the throngs of costumed people for any sort of sign of his boyfriend. Every few minutes he called Hisoka again, receiving no response, and getting more and more worried by the second. 

The assassin tried to ignore the two kids that were still following him through the city, showing no signs of leaving his trail. After a few more minutes of picking up his pace in an attempt to lose them, it became clear that wasn’t going to happen. 

He spun around on his heel, turning around to glare at Retz and Zushi.) 

Illumi: Listen, if you kids know what’s good for you, you’ll go home. Where the hell are you even coming from, anyways? 

Zushi: I live on a different floor of Heaven’s Apartments, and Retz lives in a complex nearby! That’s where you live, right? With Alluka, Gon, and Killua? 

Illumi: By Heaven’s apart- we’re heading away from that side of town! 

Retz: We’re pretty sure the closer we get to being back there, the more likely more of the Amori brothers’ friends might find us. (She held a finger up.) 

I’d feel okay going back if someone super strong like you was with us, though. You really showed it to those jerks from before. …Are they alive, by the way? 

(Illumi blinked.) 

Illumi: …No. 

(Retz swallowed. Zushi perked up.) 

Zushi: See? Super safe! (He shrugged.) 

Besides, You have to go back home at some point too, right? Can we just follow you around until then? We live really close by. 

(Illumi rubbed his temples, suppressing a groan.) 

Illumi: Alright, fine. 

I have my own problem to deal with beforehand, though. And I don’t know how long it’s going to be. 

(Retz put her hands on her hips confidently.) 

Retz: We can help! What are you trying to do? 

Illumi: No, you c- 

Zushi: At least give us a chance. What’s your name? 

(Illumi folded his arms.) 

Illumi: …Illumi. 

Zushi: OH! You’re Killua’s brother, that’s right! 

(Retz blinked blankly as Illumi shushed the other.) 

Retz: What are you trying to do, Mr. Illumi? 

Illumi: I’m trying to locate someone. 

He disappeared from our household earlier today and I haven’t heard from him since. He could be anywhere, really. …Probably somewhere populated. 

Retz: Like a club or something? 

(Illumi blinked, surprised by her forwardness.) 

Illumi: …I suppose that could be an option. But there’s- 

Retz: Those things are always packed. Especially on a big night like this. I know how to get to a few close by ones. My mom and I have to find my dad in one of them all the time. (She shrugged. Illumi stared at her.) 

Want me to show you? 

(Zushi looked up to Illumi for confirmation. He ran a few fingers through a piece of his hair.) 

Illumi: …I suppose it doesn’t hurt to try. (He stepped aside so Retz could lead the way. Zushi hopped up to hand Illumi’s pocket knife back to him.) 

Zushi: Here you go. 

(Illumi looked tired.) 

***

(The Apartment, Bisky’s Room, Late Night) 

Bisky: Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA- remember those words. Those are very important words that you have to avoid unless you want to end up like me. 

(Killua blinked from the floor next to Alluka as she giggled up at Bisky.) 

Alluka: Why wouldn’t I want to be like you, Bisky? 

(Bisky laughed, looking up as if to pull the information from her brain.) 

Bisky: Oh, Alluka, I am… I am… 

Anyways. 

(Killua’s phone buzzed again, he looked back down at the chat before typing out a reply to whatever it was as quickly as he could. Several more messages came through that he tried his best to respond to at lightning speed. After a couple more minutes, he shut off the phone when the messaging started to die down, turning to his sister.) 

Killua: Alluka, do you want to run and grab some snacks from the kitchen with me? 

(She looked over from Bisky nodding after a second.) 

Alluka: Sure! We’ll be right back, Bisky! 

(Bisky nodded, pulling out her phone and crossing her legs. 

Killua helped his sister up before pulling her to the door, shutting it behind themselves.) 

Alluka: Are we actually getting snacks or did you want to talk about something? 

(Killua blinked.) 

Killua: Yeah, we need to talk about something, but first we have to find Illumi. 

I haven’t been able to reach him all night. (They headed down the stairs.) 

…We can also still get snacks. 

(Alluka clapped.) 

Alluka: I thought you said you weren’t worried about Illumi, though. (She reached into one of the cupboards as they headed into the kitchen, pulling out a pack of fruit snacks for each of them.) 

Killua: Yeah, I know. 

Alluka: What do you want to talk to him about? 

(Killua sighed, his hands tapping the package in his hands nervously.) 

Killua: I-I’m starting to get worried about… 

About this December. 

(Alluka blinked at him, trying to read into Killua’s face. After a second or two, the realization dawned on her.) 

Alluka: O-Oh. …I can’t believe I forgot about that. (She looked a bit sick to her stomach. Killua reassured her.) 

Killua: Hey, hey, it’s okay. 

That’s why I want to find him. I’m sure all of us are going to want to get some sort of plan in place for this year. …Whatever that’s going to be. 

(Alluka was still looking down.) 

Alluka: …Killua, I don’t think this is something we can avoid. 

(Killua blinked, unsure of how to respond. The ticking of the clock in the kitchen seemed louder than before.) 

Killua: …Well, whatever it is we do, I’m sure I speak for everyone in saying we all need to be on the same page. …Right? 

(Alluka shook herself, looking back at him again.) 

Alluka: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. 

(Killua nodded, heading over to grab his shoes from by the door.) 

Killua: Are you gonna help me find this son of a bitch? 

Alluka: Not if you say that again! (She folded her arms. 

Killua ran back over, carrying her shoes for her.) 

Killua: Okay, yeah, fine. Our brother. 

(Alluka sat down to pull on her velcro shoes as Killua made another trip to the door to grab the two closest coats for them.) 

Killua: Here, take this. It’s gonna be cold. 

(Alluka nodded, pulling on the puffy jacket that belonged to Bisky as Killua zipped up a light jacket for himself. He pulled out a keycard, turning to the door.) 

Killua: Let’s go. If we’re smart about this, we’ll be back before anyone even realizes we’re gone. (He looked back to Alluka, doing a double take when he saw she was smiling. She looked over.) 

Alluka: Sorry. This is just reminding me of when you, me, and Hisoka went out looking for Illumi. 

(Killua blinked, the two of them stepping inside the elevator.) 

Alluka: Hopefully this search is for an equally adorable reason. (She shrugged.) 

I wish I could have talked to Bee a bit more when we were in Chicago… Too bad I was, like, more tired than I’ve ever been in my life. 

(Killua chuckled, putting his hands in his pockets.) 

Killua: Heh. …Yeah, sorry about that. 

***

(Somewhere in Brooklyn, Night) 

(Retz seemed almost unfazed by the chaos the city was in as she led Illumi and Zushi through the blockish streets of Brooklyn. Illumi tried to make a mental note of every landmark around them, still not entirely set on trusting the sense of direction a ten-year-old had. 

Zushi blinked a few times after a crowd to their left yelled a heinous combination of profanity after one of their friends vomited all over them.) 

Zushi: Retz, are you sure you know where we’re going? Are we almost there? 

(Retz nodded, turning to look at him, annoyed by his lack of faith.) 

Retz: Of course I do. And we’re almost there, you just have to trust me. (They headed over a crosswalk, hearing the bass of music and loud voices from far up ahead. 

Illumi looked both ways, across either side of the road. His eyes suddenly caught on a pair heading up from an adjoining alley. He stopped walking, eyes widening for a better look. 

The styled fiery hair was unmistakable. Illumi’s fists clenched.) 

Illumi: That’s him. 

(Zushi and Retz whipped around to look with him.) 

Zushi: Hey, good call, Retz! (He glanced up at Illumi.) 

You sure that’s- 

Illumi: Yes, now wait here. I’ll be back in a moment. (Before either Zushi or Retz could respond, Illumi took off, running towards Hisoka and Kite, who were just meandering down the road across from them.) 

Kite: So, just as a guess, how long will it take us to get to- 

Illumi: Hisoka! 

(Hisoka and Kite froze as Hisoka turned to run towards the voice.) 

Hisoka: Illumi? 

(The assassin crashed into him, Hisoka immediately wrapping his arms around his back. Kite jumped back, panicked. They reached for something on their wrist.) 

Hisoka: Oh, my god, what are you doing here? You’re freezing! (He clasped Illumi’s ice cold hands with his own, trying to warm them up.) 

Illumi: I was looking for you! I’ve been calling you all night! 

Hisoka: You’ve- shit! (He reached into his bag to pull out his silenced cell phone, seeing the 17 missed calls from Illumi.) 

Fuck, Illumi, I’m so sorry, I didn’t even… (He did a double take to see Illumi staring at Kite, who swallowed.) 

Kite: Uh… 

(Hisoka put his hand back on Illumi’s shoulder.) 

Hisoka: I’m sorry. Illumi, this is Kite. My friend that I’ve been mentioning? I-I happened to run into them out here and- I was so distracted I completely forgot to tell you where I was. 

(Illumi blinked at Kite, who clasped their hands together, unsure of what to do with themself.) 

Illumi: This… This is your friend? The one that helped Gon and Killua? 

(Kite gave a sideways smile, holding out a hand for Illumi to shake.) 

Kite: …Nice to meet you! …I guess I’ve already met one of your brothers. 

(Illumi grabbed their hand, looking it over between his own, eyes narrowing.) 

Illumi: You’re so thin. 

(Kite and Hisoka blinked.) 

Illumi: Hisoka, are you sure this is the same person? 

(Hisoka blinked.) 

Hisoka: Pretty sure, yeah. 

(Illumi grip on Kite’s hand tightened, his even larger than usual eyes peering up at the silveret.) 

Illumi: You have my sincerest thanks for helping my brother. 

(Kite grinned.) 

Kite: Thanks! I mean- you’re welcome? 

Illumi: Hisoka. (He let go of Kite to turn back to his boyfriend.) 

Hisoka: Hm? 

(Illumi frowned.)

Illumi: …I was worried. 

(Hisoka nodded, pulling him into himself and stroking his hair. Illumi’s arms reached up to curl around Hisoka’s neck, eyes closing.) 

Hisoka: I’m sorry, baby. I know, and I promise you it won’t happen again. I didn’t mean to scare you like that. (He kissed the top of Illumi’s head, pulling him back to look him in the eyes.) 

Come on. Let’s walk back home. Take this. (He removed his jacket, placing it around Illumi’s shoulders.) 

Illumi: Oh, it’s okay. I’m really not cold. 

Hisoka: It'd make me feel better if you had it, Lulu. Is that okay? 

(Illumi experimentally pulled the jacket on fully, nodding after a second.) 

Illumi: Promise to take it back if you get cold. 

(Hisoka nodded.) 

Hisoka: Mm hmm. 

(Illumi turned to start walking back the way they came. Hisoka did a double take upon seeing Kite’s shit eating smirk.) 

Hisoka: Come on. 

Kite: I see you, Hisoka Morow. 

(Hisoka rolled his eyes.) 

Hisoka: Weren’t you the one shit-talking him and warning me about him an hour and a half ago? 

(Kite gave a half-warning glance.) 

Kite: Let’s get you home. (They slapped Hisoka’s shoulder, who caught up with Illumi, taking his hand. Illumi smiled warmly before looking past him at Kite.) 

Illumi: Do you mind if I ask you more questions about yourself? Particularly in regards to my boyfriend and brother? 

(Kite swallowed.) 

Kite: I-I guess we can-

Illumi: Oh, and I also came here with two children. They’ll be accompanying us back to the building. 

Hisoka: What- 

Zushi: Hey, Illumi! (He and Retz ran up, smiling and panting loudly from running.) 

Hisoka: Who the fuck- 

Zushi: I’m Gon, Killua, and Alluka’s friend, Zushi. This is my friend Retz! 

Retz: We helped Mr. Illumi find you, whoever you are. 

(Illumi blinked at them.) 

Illumi: This is Hisoka, and his friend, Kite. 

Zushi: Hello Kite! 

(Kite smiled.) 

Kite: I’m meeting all sorts of new people today. 

(Hisoka chuckled.) 

Hisoka: Yeah, you and me both. 

(Retz looked back up at Illumi.) 

Retz: Don’t worry. We’ll be out of your very long hair once we’re away from the Amori brothers’ stupid friends that they paid off to jump us. 

(Hisoka looked at Illumi, who shook his head.) 

Hisoka: Alright, kids, keep moving. 

***

(Heaven’s Apartments Parking Lot, Late Night) 

Alluka: Okay, before we do anything crazy, try calling Illu one more time. We’re searching blind out here. (She looked up at Killua from where she was sitting on the curb, coat pulled around herself tightly. 

Killua sighed, but pulled out his phone and called his brother. Like before, Illumi didn’t answer.) 

Killua: See? What if the guy’s off having a fucking breakdown somewhere? 

Alluka: I’m sure he’s fine, Killua. 

Killua: One of us should go up and check on Bisky or something. She’s probably looking for us at this point. It won’t be long before- 

Illumi: Killua? 

(Killua and Alluka whipped around to look at the edge of the parking lot to see Illumi and Hisoka heading in towards them. Shortly behind them was Kite, Zushi, and Retz.) 

Killua: Illumi?! I’ve been trying to- (He froze, seeing Kite.) 

…Kite? 

Kite: Killua! 

(Killua shot forwards as fast as he possibly could, practically dive-tackling Kite in a hug.) 

Killua: ME AND GON WERE SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU! HOW DID YOU EVEN GET HERE?! 

(Kite laughed, holding onto him.) 

Kite: Okay, okay, calm down. It’s okay. (They kneeled down closer to Killua’s level.) 

Illumi: Were you looking for… (He trailed off when realizing Killua wasn’t paying him any attention. 

Alluka headed up to him and Hisoka.) 

Alluka: You haven’t been answering your phone! Killua was worried! 

(Illumi blinked a few times.) 

Illumi: H-He was? 

Alluka: Yeah! We’ve been trying to reach you to talk about something. It’s really- 

(Zushi awkwardly passed by Killua and Kite, who were still talking a mile a minute.) 

Zushi: U-Um, thanks for walking us back here, Mister Illumi. We can get back to our houses on our own from here. Right Retz? 

(Retz nodded, Illumi looking down at them. 

Alluka looked past him to wave at Zushi.) 

Alluka: Hi, Zushi! 

(Zushi smiled, waving.) 

Zushi: Hi, Alluka, good to see you. 

Alluka: Yeah, you t- (She stopped looking over at Retz, who flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder, the action almost went in slow motion.) 

Zushi: …Uh, well, we should be getting back before our parents start to worry. Thanks again, you guys! (He and Retz turned to head out of the parking lot. Illumi turned to watch them go for a moment. 

Hisoka looked at Alluka, who was still staring after Retz.) 

Hisoka: …You okay? 

Alluka: …Illumi… 

Did you help those two back into our neighborhood? 

(Illumi folded his arms.) 

Illumi: …I suppose so. 

(Alluka clenched her fists, suddenly whipping around to stare up at her older brother, enamored.) 

Alluka: Who was she? 

(Illumi’s brow furrowed slightly.) 

Illumi: Just a neighborhood kid. Her name is ‘Retz’, apparently. 

Alluka: ‘Retz’. (She repeated the name a few times.) 

That’s beautiful. 

She was really pretty, don’t you think, Illu? 

Illumi: I don’t know, Alluka. 

Alluka: What’s she like? Where does she live? Is she friends with Zushi? 

Illumi: I MET HER TWO HOURS AGO. 

Alluka: Tell me EVERYTHING. 

(Hisoka held a hand out, stopping the two of them.) 

Hisoka: A-Alluka, do you think this is perhaps a conversation that can wait for tomorrow, possibly? 

(Alluka blinked a few times, seemingly brought back into reality.) 

Alluka: Oh, that’s right. (She turned to run over to where Killua and Kite were.) 

Killua, let me meet the fancy person! 

(Killua’s face lit up, gesturing to Alluka for Kite.) 

Killua: Kite, this is my sister, Alluka. She’s super cool. 

(Kite smiled at her as she reached out to shake their hand.) 

Alluka: Hi! Thank you for making sure my brother and his best friend didn’t die in Chicago. I really appreciate it. 

(Kite laughed.) 

Kite: Trust me, no problem. 

(Killua put a hand on their shoulder.) 

Killua: Speaking of Gon, let me go get him. He definitely wants to talk to you. 

Kite: Oh, Killua. (They put a hand up before Killua could make a beeline for the building.) 

Let Gon sleep for now. I plan on talking to him before I leave anyways. …I’m sure he’d like quite a bit of closure with his father and everything. 

(Killua paused, watching Kite for a moment before nodding, standing still.) 

Killua: …You sure? 

(Kite nodded.) 

Kite: I’d like to have all the time I can get… Preferably when he’s not sleep deprived and it’s midnight. 

(Killua chuckled.) 

Killua: …Alright, then. You want me to leave it up to you? 

(Kite nodded.) 

Kite: You can count on me. 

(Killua smiled.) 

Illumi: Killua? 

(Killua turned to look over at him.) 

Illumi: My apologies for not being online. You wanted to have something discussed? 

(Killua opened his mouth to say something, eyes flickering to Hisoka for a second.) 

Killua: Yeah, don’t worry about it. We can all talk tomorrow morning. Otherwise people are going to start freaking out and looking for us. 

(Illumi paused before nodding.) 

Illumi: Are you sure it’s no problem? 

(Killua nodded.) 

Killua: Yeah, it’ll be fine. (He glanced back at Kite.) 

…We should head in. (He reached out for Alluka to take her hand, waving to Kite with his other.) 

Promise to be back soon. 

(Kite nodded.) 

Kite: Of course. 

(Hisoka squeezed Illumi's hand, the raven looking at him.) 

Hisoka: You go with your siblings, dear. I’ll be just a moment. 

(Illumi nodded after a second, pulling off his jacket and giving it back to Hisoka before following Alluka and Killua. He looked back over his shoulder at Kite.) 

Illumi: I enjoyed meeting you. It would be nice to talk again in the future. 

(Kite smiled, raising a brow.) 

Kite: Yeah, you too, ‘Lumi. 

(Hisoka headed over to stand next to him, readjusting his hoodie.) 

Hisoka: Do you know how long you’ll be in the area for? 

(Kite shrugged.) 

Kite: It’s up in the air, really. Probably not a while. 

Hisoka: …You know, you could stay with us for a bit, you know. 

(They shook their head.) 

Kite: No, it’s really okay. I’m never in New York for long. 

(Hisoka nodded after a moment, reaching out to clasp Kite’s hands with his own.) 

Hisoka: Call. And text. I’m not gonna lose touch with you like before. 

(Kite nodded.) 

Kite: I will. …’Be back before you know it. 

(Hisoka looked down, not sure if he really believed them or not.) 

Kite: …They seem good, Hisoka. Everyone you’re with. 

Stay here. That’s my advice. 

(Hisoka’s smile returned.) 

Hisoka: …I plan on it. 

(Kite pulled him into a hug.) 

Kite: Stay safe. 

Hisoka: You’re telling me? 

(Kite snickered, letting go.) 

Kite: I’ll see you around, Morow. I’ve got a shitty motel three blocks down calling my name. 

(Hisoka gave out the ghost of a laugh.) 

Hisoka: Stay safe, Kite. 

Bye. 

(Kite smiled, waving to him as they turned to head out of the parking lot. Hisoka watched until they turned out of sight just down the road.) 

***

(Hisoka and Illumi’s room, Late Night) 

(Hisoka bounced as he hopped onto his and Illumi’s bed, running a hand through slightly damp hair from the shower. 

The sound of the hairdryer in their bathroom turned off after a moment, silence filling the space. 

Hisoka’s phone buzzed. He looked down to see the first message from Kite, reading ‘two stars was a grossly optimistic rating’. He chuckled. 

The door to the bathroom opened and Illumi stepped out, pausing to leave his phone on the counter before heading out to join him, wearing sweats.) 

Illumi: Mmm. 

(Hisoka smiled.) 

Hisoka: You tired? 

(Illumi nodded, rubbing his face before all but collapsing onto the bed with Hisoka. 

The redhead pulled the covers back, taking Illumi with him as he adjusted the two of them underneath several of the blankets. Hisoka ran a hand through Illumi’s hair, smelling the coconut shampoo and admiring the silky soft texture.) 

Illumi: …I like them, Hisoka. …I think. 

(Hisoka blinked, unsure of what he meant for a second.) 

Hisoka: Kite? 

(His boyfriend nodded again.) 

Illumi: They seem nice. 

(Hisoka chuckled, Illumi leaning up to wrap his arms around his neck and closing his eyes.) 

Hisoka: …I think so too. (He cleared his throat slightly.) 

Good luck with your siblings tomorrow. 

(Illumi smiled, eyes still closed.) 

Illumi: …You’ll tell me, won’t you? 

Hisoka: …Tell you what? 

Illumi: You’ll tell me what… Mmm. 

(Hisoka waited several seconds in case Illumi finished. The steady rise and fall of his chest indicated he had fallen asleep already. 

The magician did not pry. He pulled Illumi’s head to cradle it under his chin, arms around him.) 

Hisoka: …Goodnight, Illumi. 

*****

Chapter Text

S2 EP4: The Recap

(A Snowy Mountain, Late Night, One Year Ago) 

(The wind howled, snow swirling towards the ground as clouds moved in over the top of the mountain. 

The only source of light in the otherwise frigid landscape was a single lantern burning against the whiteness. 

Five pairs of footsteps trodded against the snow, heading downhill. Dressed in grey winter coats that came down almost to their ankles, the five Zoldyck siblings made their way down the mountain. 

Illumi led the other four behind himself, holding onto the lantern in an attempt to see anything where they were going. He and Killua, who was holding hands with Alluka, were the only ones not wearing their hoods. 

Behind Killua and Alluka, Milluki held his mitten-covered hand to Kalluto’s, who was shivering violently, shaking every time he took a step.) 

Kalluto: D-Do you th-think we’re almost there? 

(Alluka cast a worried look back at him, looking at Killua for an answer. The albino clenched his jaw.) 

Killua: …How long have we been out here? (He blinked at Milluki.) 

Milluki: …Only around twenty minutes. I’d say we’ve only gone a half mile at the most. 

(Killua cursed under his breath, craning to look up ahead where Illumi was.) 

Milluki: You see anything out there? 

(As Illumi scanned the wintry landscape, an especially sharp gust of wind made all five siblings cringe, Illumi’s hair blowing past his ears, which were bright red. He pulled his hood up, eyes squinting open.) 

Illumi: …I don’t see any signs of the bottom. Our best move is to just keep heading downhill. 

(Milluki sighed, adjusting one of the straps of the pack he was carrying over his shoulders. He was the only one carrying something, a heavy, long bag that took up most of his back. 

Illumi stopped, turning around to look at his other four siblings. His eyes fell on Kalluto, who hadn’t even noticed their stop in pace, starting to curl in on himself.) 

Killua: What’s the holdup? 

(Illumi moved past him and Alluka towards the other two.) 

Illumi: Take the lead for a minute, Killua. (He handed the lantern off to him, Killua blinked before picking up the pace.) 

Killua: Come on, Alluka. 

(Milluki raised a brow at his older brother, who turned to walk much closer to him.) 

Milluki: What’s going on? Did you see something? 

(Illumi shook his head.) 

Illumi: No. That’s the problem. (He glanced past Milluki at Kalluto. The tiny child’s eyes had started to lose light, unfocused. He had stopped shivering.) 

…Kalluto’s going to die if we don’t get down this thing faster. 

(What little color was left in Milluki’s face drained. He glanced at Kalluto, who didn’t seem to hear them.) 

Milluki: …Fuck. 

What kind of sick shit were mom and dad thinking up to have us do this his first year? 

Illumi: Take off your supplies. We have to get them down. 

Milluki: What do you mean? (He began to remove the pack nonetheless, letting go of Kalluto. Before the boy could collapse, Illumi picked him up, holding him against himself. 

Milluki finished pulling the bag off, looking to Illumi. His older brother glanced down the hill, eyes flickering back to Kalluto for a second. Milluki’s face seemed to dawn with realization. He gave a silent ‘oh’. 

Milluki tossed the sleek, waterproof bag down into the snow, facing down the hill. Upon hearing the noise, Killua and Alluka turned around.) 

Killua: What are you doing?! Don’t we need that stuff? 

(Milluki walked up to them as Illumi set Kalluto down on the back of the pack, heading up to Killua. 

Illumi grabbed Killua’s arm while Milluki grabbed Alluka. Killua immediately tried to yank his arm away.) 

Killua: Hey! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?! 

(Illumi dragged his kicking and clawing brother with ease, tossing him on the pack just as Milluki set down a confused Alluka.) 

Alluka: What are you- 

(Milluki grabbed their lantern from the snow at the same time he shoved the makeshift sleigh as hard as he could. Killua and Alluka’s eyes widened as it immediately picked up speed, starting to shoot down the hill.) 

Killua: What are you- NO! Fucking stop, you can’t just- (He tried to desperately hold onto his siblings and stop the sleight at the same time, quickly shooting down the mountain out of sight. 

Milluki and Illumi stared at the trail in the snow that was left. Milluki swallowed.) 

Milluki: …You think they’ll find their way to the goal? 

Illumi: …They’ll have to. And if they don’t, they’ll be close enough that our parents can send for Kalluto before something happens. 

(Milluki nodded after a second, rolling his shoulders with the shift in weight.) 

Milluki: …I’m not sure the same can be said for us. (He handed the lantern back to Illumi, who picked up the pace.) 

We’re stranded up here without any food or water. 

Illumi: Then we’ll have to make good time. (He and his brother continued down the mountain.) 

***

(At least an hour had passed. Illumi and Milluki were still en route down the mountain in the freezing conditions. 

A similar picture was laid out in front of them, neither being able to see far in the falling snow. Night had completely fallen.) 

Milluki: Well… We can probably at least count on one thing. 

I doubt an event like this will be something that’s repeated with mom and dad. 

Illumi: …I doubt the sponsors are very invested at this point. Although you have to give them credit, this event is a good way to gauge our navigational skills and stamina. 

Milluki: Yeah, maybe at the expense of our youngest brother’s fucking life. (He huffed, trying to keep up with his brother, teeth chattering slightly.) 

Illumi: Kalluto will be fine. Mother and Father will take care of him, and he’s strong enough to make a decent recovery quickly. Hopefully he’ll be able to participate in the rest of the events. 

Milluki: Will you stop it with that?! 

(Illumi looked over, surprised by his brother’s sudden sharpness.) 

Milluki: We’re fucking freezing to death in the middle of a blizzard on a fucking mountain! Who even knows if Kalluto and the others made it down! 

(Illumi looked back at the path ahead, refusing to slow his pace.) 

Illumi: Worrying and fretting won’t do us any good, Milluki. You should know this. 

Milluki: I’m just saying that I have the right to be upset! What happens if Kalluto isn’t fine?! If the rest of them have hypothermia at this point!?

Illumi: You have to trust the process, Milluki. Our family’s capable enough that our younger siblings’ lives aren’t in any more danger. You really believe our family would let us freeze out here by ourselves if we’ve lost our way to the goal? 

(Milluki blinked at him, as if trying to piece him together in his mind.) 

Milluki: …Is that all that’s keeping you going? 

Illumi: I don’t know what you mean. (He sounded dismissive, turning to look back ahead. Milluki’s voice had lowered.) 

Milluki: The idea that somewhere, deep down, our family has all of our best interests in mind? 

(Illumi stared blankly at the path in front of them. He stopped walking.) 

Milluki: …Do you really believe that? 

(Illumi swallowed, a gust of wind making him squeeze his eyes shut. Oddly enough, the snowfall seemed to slow.) 

Illumi: …How else are we supposed to improve? 

Milluki: Like everyone else does?! By giving ourselves time to rest and recharge instead of breaking us down to nothing only to piece us back together in some perfect image that’s never quite right? This doesn’t work. 

(Illumi looked like a child being scolded, his slightly pouted and eyes heavy.) 

Illumi: No one else is as strong as us- 

Milluki: Our parents are NOT flawless. No matter how much they try to hide it. 

…I don’t know how far each of us can be bent before we reach a breaking point, but I’m getting really fucking tired of waiting around to find out. (He scanned the other’s expression, waiting for him to say something.) 

You’re not a happy person, Illumi. 

(The wind died down enough for his older brother to be heard.) 

Illumi: …I don’t need to be. 

(Milluki’s shoulders lost some of their tension, eyes looking tired and upset.) 

Milluki: Do you think you deserve to be? 

(Illumi was silent. He closed his eyes to avoid looking at the other. Milluki took a shaky deep breath.) 

Illumi: …Do you think we deserve to be? (He rubbed his sleeve.

The clouds covering the moon lifted slightly, illuminating part of the snowbank the brothers were standing in.

Milluki reached a hand forwards to clasp the one of Illumi’s that wasn’t holding the lantern, jostling him back to reality.

Unspokenly, he began to lead the other back on their steady pace down the hill. 

The snow was lighter now, allowing their footsteps to remain visible in the moonlight.) 

***

(Heaven’s Apartments, Lobby, Late Morning) 

(Illumi, dressed and ready for the day, emerged from the elevator on the bottom floor of their apartment building. He immediately scanned the tables set up near the cafe. Most of them were unoccupied, but he spotted Alluka sitting in a cushy green chair by the windows, kicking her feet. 

Tentatively, Illumi headed towards her, glancing around as he made his way. Alluka turned to spot him, grinning.) 

Alluka: Morning, Illu!!

(Illumi glanced behind himself, picking up his pace so she wouldn't have to yell.) 

Illumi: Isn’t this where Killua told us to meet? 

Alluka: Yep! (She giggled, rolling her eyes.) 

Stupid, right? He’s the one that makes plans for us and then shows up late to them?

Illumi: Did something come up? (He folded his arms. Alluka shrugged.) 

Alluka: I’m not sure. 

But while we have some time to kill, you should tell me more about yesterday. How’d you meet Retz? That girl? (She bounced in her seat excitedly.) 

Illumi: Alluka, she was just some girl who happened to be friends with Zushi. We were not making small talk on our excursion. It’s not important. 

Alluka: it’s important to me! 

(Illumi made a slightly sour face, sliding down in a chair across from her.) 

Illumi: Why? 

Alluka: because she’s so pretty! (She gushed.) 

Gon, Killua, and sometimes Kalluto and Zushi are the only other people my age I really get to hang out with. And they’re all boys. 

Illumi: …You want to be friends with her? 

(Alluka blinked, a red blush sitting over her cheeks after a second. She melted into a dreamy smile.) 

Alluka: Wow… Can you imagine? 

(Illumi blinked.) 

Illumi: No. Are you sure that’s a sustainable decision? 

Alluka: Why wouldn’t it be? 

Illumi: Because you- (He held up his hands, unsure.) 

Never mind. 

(Alluka suddenly gasped, startling her brother, holding up a finger.) 

Alluka: Hey! I know! You should tell me about- 

Killua: Hey, guys. 

(Both Alluka and Illumi turned as Killua appeared at the tableside, wearing a jacket, sweatpants, and sneakers.) 

Killua: Sorry that took so long. I had to district Gon by coming up with a terrible scavenger hunt that’ll eventually lead him to Kite, but it might be borderline impossible to read or follow. 

(His siblings blinked in unison.) 

Killua: Were you guys updated on the group chat? 

(Alluka nodded.) 

Alluka: Yeah. Milluki sent us a place where we’re all supposed to meet around noon. 

Illumi: Is it in Brooklyn? 

(Killua nodded.) 

Killua: Unfortunately we didn’t think finding some sort of abandoned warehouse-hanger was a very sustainable option, so we have to meet somewhere where there’s other people. 

(Illumi’s eyes narrowed slightly.) 

Illumi: That’s not good either. We can’t be overheard. 

Killua: Yeah, I know. I figured you’d be able to scare most people out of there. It’s some crazy intense biker joint, so I don’t think you have to worry about anyone calling the cops. 

(Illumi blinked, putting a hand on his satchel.) 

Illumi: Oh, yes, I can do that. 

Alluka: Whoa, whoa, whoa. (She folded her arms.) 

The only way I’ll agree to do this is if we don’t KILL anyone. Shouldn’t that be easy?! 

(Killua frowned, put out.) 

Killua: Well, how else are we going to get everyone to leave without causing a scene? 

(Alluka blinked.) 

Alluka: Literally any other way? 

(Killua sighed.) 

Killua: Fine, we’ll figure it out on our way there. 

Illumi: Speaking of which, do Milluki and Kalluto have a specific way they’re able to join us here in the city? 

Killua: Amane and Canary are driving them, so we don’t have to worry.

(Illumi nodded.) 

Killua: Now, let’s get going. 

(Alluka hopped off her chair, full of excitement.) 

Alluka: To the salon! 

Illumi: …It’s a biker joint. 

***

(The Apartment, Main Living Area, Late Morning) 

(Hisoka rounded the corner on his way down the stairs, dressed and ready to leave for the day. He glanced over at Gon, who was marching around the couch in the living room, holding up a piece of scribbled on paper.) 

Hisoka: Um… Whatcha looking at? 

(Gon glanced up for a second to look at him before burying his nose back in the Sharpie covered printer paper.) 

Gon: A treasure map Killua gave me. He said it’s super important! 

(Hisoka blinked.) 

Hisoka: …Can I see it? 

Gon: Sure! (He held out the paper as Hisoka walked over. 

The lines just showed different objects with arrows being pointed to them in a sequential order. A box with doors pointed to a poorly drawn staircase, which pointed to another pair of doors, which pointed to the sun, which pointed to 2 smiley faces. Hisoka glanced up at nothing in particular for a second. 

From the kitchen, Kurapika looked over, raising a brow.) 

Hisoka: Oh, I see! (He held the map closer to himself, pretending to be analyzing it very carefully. Gon looked absolutely enamored.) 

Yes, yes, it’s clear to me now. 

You’re going to have to go downstairs, leave the building and look around VERY CLOSELY. Then, I think the next clue will be revealed to you. (He handed the ‘map’ back to Gon.) 

Gon: Are you sure? Positive? 

Hisoka: Yep. Guarantee it. 

(Gon was halfway to the door before he could say another word.) 

Gon: Thanks, Hisoka, bye you guys!!! 

Kurapika: Gon, wait! Aren’t you- 

(The door shut behind Gon as he speeded out. Kurapika sighed mightily, looking back at the french toast they were making.) 

Kurapika: …Will you eat anything, Hisoka? 

(Hisoka gave a meek smile.) 

Hisoka: Sorry, Kurapika, but I’ve got to get out of here, too. I should probably- 

Kurapika: Another extra job? (He flipped a piece of toast in the pan as Hisoka blinked.) 

Hisoka: Uh… Yeah, I’ve been- 

Kurapika: Just out of curiosity, how do those work, exactly? Are you even still on the market for criminals to borrow the services of? How do people even get in contact with you at this point? 

(Hisoka swallowed dryly, caught off-guard by Kurapika’s almost passive-aggressive forwardness.) 

Hisoka: It’s sort of, uh- It- I should really go, we can talk more later, Kurapika. (He turned around to quickly speed out the door of the apartment as well. Kurapika watched him go, raising a brow.) 

Bisky: You not going into work today or something? (She headed into the main space from the laundry room, her hair up in a braided crown over her head.) 

Kurapika: Not today. (He paused.)

With Leorio at school, and the others doing… Whatever it is they’re doing, it looks like it’s just you and me for the time being. 

(Bisky folded her arms, chuckling.)  

Bisky: Yikes, that’s dangerous. (She headed over to slide up onto the counter, taking a seat and leaning back on her palms.) 

You gonna eat all that, by the way? 

(Kurapika immediately shook their head, grabbing a few plates from one of the cupboards.) 

Kurapika: No, please. 

(Bisky chuckled, examining her nails.) 

Bisky: By the way, where are the Zoldycks this time? 

(Kurapika blinked.) 

Kurapika: What do you mean ‘this time’? 

Bisky: Well, Killua and Alluka disappeared for a bit last night before coming back with Hisoka and Illumi. (She shrugged.) 

I don’t know what was going on. 

(Kurapika’s brow furrowed.) 

Kurapika: …Strange. Did they seem alright? 

Bisky: I didn’t listen in to them too much, they seemed fine. I just thought it was weird. 

(Kurapika nodded, plating the french toast and handing one to Bisky with a small cup of maple syrup.)

Kurapika: I don’t know. They’re a weird family. 

Bisky: Pssh, yeah. (She twirled a piece of toast on her fork before popping it in her mouth.) 

Back before I met Killua and Alluka, my only exposure to the family had been through the Twelve Zodiacs, when all of them would bet on this seminar that took place every year. …Besides hiring them out, of course. 

(Kurapika looked up.) 

Kurapika: What? 

(Bisky blinked, head empty.) 

Bisky: Huh? 

Kurapika: What seminar? 

(Bisky stared at him.)

Bisky: You work for Nostrade, don’t you? How do you not know what this is? 

Kurapika: What are you talking about? 

(She gaped.) 

Bisky: The Zoldyck tactical seminars? No one’s told you about them? 

(Kurapika shook their head frantically, at a loss. 

Bisky sucked in a breath through her teeth, clasping her hands together and looking around.) 

Bisky: Oh… Oh boy. 

You might want to sit down. 

***

(Somewhere in Brooklyn, Midday) 

Alluka: *Rapping poorly* Well, I turn ten in April, but that’s not for a while, so right now I'm nine, and still very cape-ble! 

(Killua clapped along to the beat of her flow as they walked, beatboxing poorly.) 

Killua: Ay! Ay! 

Alluka: Now I’d like to introduce, someone real cool, his name’s Killua, and he sits on a stool! (She took over the beatboxing as Killua picked up the rhythm.) 

Killua: My name’s Killua, I’m twelve years old, my mom really wishes, I wasn’t this bold! 

Alluka: EYYY! 

(Illumi glanced around nervously at the people that were starting to stare.) 

Killua: I’ve got four siblings, most of them suck, they probably can’t rap, but I don’t give a- 

Alluka: TAKE IT AWAY, ILLUMI! (She continued the beat, walking backwards as she peered up at her oldest brother. He blinked.) 

TAKE IT AWAY, ILLUMI! 

Illumi: I think that’s their car. 

Killua: That’s okay, keep going. 

Illumi: Over there. 

Alluka: Okay, now find something that rhymes with ‘there’. 

Illumi: Over there. (he pointed up ahead.) 

Alluka: No, something else. 

Illumi: No, that’s their car over there! 

Killua: God, you’re really bad at this. (He did a double take, looking ahead.) 

I mean, it’s not like you- oh wait- OH. 

(Illumi folded his arms as they stopped walking and looked at the limo pulling up along the street in front of them.) 

Alluka: They’re here!!! (She took off with Killua shortly behind her as they ran up to the car.

Right as they approached, Canary stepped out from the side door, doing a double take when she saw them.) 

Canary! 

(Canary’s face lit up as she headed over, kneeling down slightly so Alluka could hug her.) 

Canary: Mistress Alluka! 

(Milluki opened the car door for himself, stepping out with Kalluto shortly behind himself. 

In stark contrast to his usual kimono, Kalluto was dressed in a long sleeved black shirt with fingerless gloves and baggy, grey pants. He dusted himself off upon exiting, taking in their surroundings. 

Amane stepped out as well, smiling at Killua, who meekly returned the gesture.) 

Amane: Glad we could see you guys before heading out. 

Alluka: Yeah, you too! (She hopped over to hug Amane as well.

Illumi bowed to Milluki upon approaching him, who blinked.) 

Illumi: Milluki, Kalluto, it’s good to see you again. 

(Kalluto mimicked the gesture unsurely.) 

Milluki: You really don’t have to do that. 

(Alluka moved from Amane to hug Kalluto, who smiled.

Milluki looked up ahead at the doors of the sketchy joint they had all agreed to meet at, blinking.) 

Milluki: So, this is the place, huh? 

Illumi: …Yes. 

We may have to… Improvise in order to clear the place out. 

Milluki: Sounds good to me. 

(Killua chimed in, arms folded as he approached the others.) 

Killua: We heading in? People are starting to stare. 

(Illumi muttered.) 

Illumi: *to himself* Like they weren’t before? 

Canary: We’ll get out of your guys’ hair. 

(Alluka looked over.) 

Alluka: We’ll see you when you come to pick up Milluki and Kalluto, right? 

(Canary smiled, nodding.) 

Canary: Of course. Until then. (She waved and bowed to Alluka, who returned the gesture. Amane turned to Milluki.) 

Amane: What time should we plan on? 

Milluki: Well, to be honest, this is the first time I’ve left home in… (He looked up, almost seeming to malfunction.) 

…A while, so I don’t think our parents would start to worry until, like, tomorrow. Anytime tonight works. 

(Amane nodded.) 

Amane: Sure. Just keep me updated. (She and Canary waved, turning to head back into the car.) 

Alluka: Bye, Amane! Bye, Canary! 

(As the butlers headed out, the five siblings turned in on one another.) 

Killua: Okay, so how are we gonna play this? 

(Kalluto folded his arms.) 

Kalluto: ….Work together? Isn’t teamwork, like, half the point of this meetup? 

(Milluki blinked.) 

Illumi: Excellent point, Kalluto! 

Milluki: Who wants to take the lead?

Illumi: Well, since Killua is the heir to- 

Killua: A twelve-year-old kid isn’t going to make an initial impression, Illumi. You go first. 

(Illumi frowned, drawing back and folding his arms.) 

Illumi: …Fine. 

I don’t exactly like drawing attention to myself in public places. 

(Most of the others blinked.) 

Milluki: You’re gonna be fine, dude. 

Alluka: You can do it, Illu! 

(Illumi sighed, turning to head towards the entrance to the building.) 

Illumi: Figure something out for the rest of yourselves. 

(Milluki and Kalluto nodded as Illumi stopped in front of the shoddy doors to the building. He cleared his throat.) 

Illumi: Excuse me. (Without another word, he kicked open the doors as hard as he could. They slammed forwards, damaging the drywall where they hit with an incredibly loud noise. 

All the sounds in the bar slowly drowned out as everyone turned to look towards the entrance. People drinking, tousling, throwing darts, and chatting all looked over, most of them being burly looking men with sunglasses. Someone hit a stray pool ball. 

Illumi blinked, surveying the area.) 

Illumi: I will be taking over this establishment for the time being. You may all leave. 

(The bikers stared at him, a few of them started chuckling.)

 Man 1: What’s this? You off your rocker, little girlie? 

(Illumi turned to look at who spoke; a bearded man standing around six-four with a tall glass of beer in hand.) 

Man Two: Is someone lost? (He slurred his words, hands full of darts that he kept missing the board with. Illumi’s eyes narrowed slightly.)

Illumi: No.

(The drunkard threw a dart at Illumi. It went far over his head, bouncing off the wall and tapping onto the floor. The assassin turned to stare at the man. 

He flicked his hand, a needle appearing between his fingers before he threw it towards the man. It whizzed past him, barely an inch from his face before lodging itself right in the center of the bullseye on the dart board. A few people blinked in surprise.) 

Man Two: What, you think a couple of cards tricks are gonna scare- 

(Illumi held up the hand that had thrown the needles, nails sharpening themselves, veins twitching as he flexed it. A few people whispered to themselves.) 

Bartender: Alright, freakshow, that’s enough. You better- (Everyone gasped, a sound like nails on a chalkboard cutting through the air, everyone except for Illumi cringing. Everyone looked over as Killua stepped inside, dragging his sharpened nails against the tables he passed, leaving deep gashes in the material. 

People started to move out of the way as Illumi started walking slowly towards the bar at the end of them room. 

Kalluto entered next, pulling out 4 throwing stars from his belt. He threw one at a man’s bottle as he was about to take a sip, shattering the whole thing.) 

Man 3: What the- HEY, GET THEM THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! 

(Milluki cracked his knuckles, heading inside with Alluka, who blinked at the scene.) 

Milluki: Let's make this simple, okay? 

(Killua huffed at a man that growled at him, raising his claws, to which he drew back slightly.) 

Illumi: Yes, let’s. (He approached the counter, making eye contact with the now shaking bartender. Claws still out, he reached forwards to cup the man’s face, who made a small, choked sound.) 

Are you who was formerly in charge here?

(The man couldn’t make a sound, instead just nodding.) 

Illumi: Oh, wonderful. 

Here’s what we’re going to do. You are going to tell these patrons that this establishment is now closed, and they must leave. And then YOU will leave. And you will not tell a single soul what happened here today. (His eyes bore into’s the man’s own, dark and inky pools of blackness. A bead of sweat dripped down the back of the barkeep’s neck.) 

Is that clear? (The muscles in Illumi’s hand tightened, nails barely cutting into the man’s cheek. The bartender swallowed, making a small, slightly choked noise. 

Milluki hit the bottle out of a man’s hand who attempted to take a sip from his drink.) 

Milluki: *Muttering* Really?! Right now? 

Bartender: The- the bar’s closed. (He swallowed again, eyes locked with Illumi’s.) 

Please don’t hurt me. 

(Illumi smiled.) 

Illumi: Oh, I certainly don’t want to. 

(There was a moment of silence.) 

Killua: Well?! You heard him! Unless you want us to shred all you good-for-nothings into ribbons, you’ll get the fuck out! 

(Patrons scrambled to the door before he barely even finished the sentence, tripping over themselves to flee the scene. The bartender wasn’t far behind them. 

In no time at all, the sounds or revving motorcycle engines and panicked voices were muffled from the outside. The five siblings watched the doors until the sounds all but faded into the buzz of the city.) 

Milluki: Eyyyyyy!!! (He clapped his hands together as Alluka giggled nervously.) 

Alluka: W-We did it! And no one died! (She spun around, making sure to look at all of her brothers.) 

You guys were so scary and intimidating, that was awesome! 

(Illumi hopped over from where he was bent on the counter slightly, dusting himself off.) 

Milluki: Yep. As extra as that all was. 

Kalluto: Is there any way we can get some more light in here? (He hopped over the bar, looking around for a lightswitch. He found one by where the bottles were kept, lighting up the space a bit more, even though it was still fairly dim.) 

Good enough for me. 

Milluki: Alright, well, make yourselves comfortable, everyone. (he glanced over at where Kalluto was pulling up chairs, and then at Illumi, who was pulling an easel holding a chalkboard out from by the wall, erasing the specials that were on it.) 

We have a lot to talk about. 

***

(Outside Heaven’s Apartments, Midday) 

(Gon squinted, pushing open the doors to the apartment building before marching out, map in hand. He stopped a few paces in front of the doors, putting a hand on his chin.) 

Gon: *repeating* Step outside and look around. Look around carefully. (His head jerked upwards and he scanned his surroundings several times. A few people entered and exited the building or crossed the street in front of him. After several seconds of intense staring, Gon’s eyes landed on a bench several yards away along the sidewalk. 

Someone sat across it, a blue hat peeking up from the newspaper that blocked most of their top half from view. Gon blinked, staring for several seconds. 

He disregarded the map in his hand completely as he started to approach.

Just as he was a few paces away from the bench, Kite peeked out from behind the newspaper, beaming in recognition.) 

Kite: You just gonna stand there, kid? 

(Gon cried out what was a mixture of a sob and a laugh, diving towards Kite and latching onto them in a hug.) 

Gon: *sobbing* KIIIIIIIIITEEEEEEE. 

(Kite laughed, paying no attention to the people that started to stare as they held onto Gon.) 

Gon: weweresoworriedaboutyouyouhavenoideawetalkedtoeveryoneinourhouseandHisokawashelpingusandyouguysarefreindsandKilluaandIwouldn’tstoptryingtofindyou- 

Kite: Hey, hey, it’s okay. I know, I know. 

(Gon wiped his face on his sleeve, sitting back on his heels on the other half of the bench.) 

Gon: *sniff* You do? 

(Kite nodded, shrugging.) 

Kite: I mean, how do you think I was able to position myself in such a cool, casual way while expecting you. 

I already spoke with Killua and Hisoka. I wanted to have time to speak with just you as well, so I had to arrange something. 

Gon: Wh-what happened? How were you even able to get here? 

(Kite blinked.) 

Kite: You want me to start from when I arrived here in the city or after you and Killua left in Chicago? 

Gon: The beginning of TIME. 

(Kite smiled, sitting up and tipping themself upwards onto their feet. They extended a hand forwards to help Gon.) 

Kite: You want to walk with me? 

(Gon clasped onto their hand, hopping up alongside them.) 

Gon: What did my dad do? Or- what did you- what happened, exactly? 

Kite: Well… (They squinted, unsure. The two of them started walking across from the apartment. Kite spoke rather quietly to not be overheard.) 

Your dad certainly didn’t want me there with one of the Ten Dons present for what was happening, so he told Zepile to beat it. And he did. I don’t know if they met back up after the fact or not. 

(Gon nodded, eyes wide.) 

Kite: And at that point, I’d calmed down enough to the point where I wasn’t about to hurt him. …So I just asked to talk. 

Gon: Did you? 

(Kite shook their head.) 

Kite: Ging was pissed that I interrupted something so important, and almost looked ready to hurt me . 

(Gon was quiet, leaning forwards in anticipation so far that he nearly toppled forwards.) 

Gon: …And?! 

Kite: Well, the bastard pulled brass knuckles from their pocket and threw them right at my head. (They clicked their tongue.) 

I was out like a light. 

(Gon stared at them.) 

Kite: It was very underwhelming, actually. (They pulled off their hat momentarily and held their bangs back with a hand so Gon could see the barely-healed gash on thief forehead.)

So then I woke up when whoever owned the building showed up to try and call the police. Now I’m banned in the state of Illinois, so that’ll be fun. 

Gon: …You- you- 

My dad hit you with brass knuckles so he could get out of there without having to talk to you?

(Kite looked unsure.)  

Kite: ‘Fraid so. 

(Gon stared at the ground as they walked, starting to spiral into a fit of muttering. Kite put a hand on one of his shoulders, jostling him back to reality.) 

Kite: Listen. My intention here isn’t to drag you into some sort of deep, dark depression. 

(Gon shook his head.) 

Gon: Oh, no, don’t worry! I already went through that when I sort of thought confronting my dad might have gotten you killed. 

(Kite blinked.) 

Kite: Oh, good. Glad I didn’t come find you sooner. 

(Gon shook his head, laughing.) 

Gon: No, it’s really okay! It all ended up working out because me and all my friends got to go to my island together! Killua got really sunburnt cause he’s albino. 

Kite: …Good. 

Gon: Kite. (He grabbed onto their hand, looking up at them with wide, hopeful eyes.) 

You should stay with us. We can make room in the apartment, and all my friends would really like you! I promise. 

(Kite looked squeamish, smiling sadly. They shook their head and tipped their hat down slightly.) 

Kite: I’m sorry, Gon. It’s just not a good fit for me. There’s a reason I’m always hopping around from place to place.

(Gon looked down, disappointed.) 

Gon: …I guess. I just don’t want you to have to do that anymore. 

(Kite squeezed his hand reassuringly.) 

Kite: I’m pretty much accustomed to it at this point. 

Besides, the last thing I want to do is possibly get you and Killua and all your friends in even more trouble. Because fuck knows it follows me everywhere. (They paused, watching Gon’s unsure face.) 

…But I’ll tell you one thing.

(Gon looked up.) 

Kite: I’ll be here in the city for a bit more time before finding a different place to move onto. If you ever want to see me again before I leave, I’ll give you my number and I’ll come find you anytime. ‘That sound okay? 

(Gon thought for a moment. Kite could tell it wasn't exactly what he was hoping for at the moment.) 

Gon: Mm hmm. (He nodded his head, meeting their eyes.) 

Anytime, right? 

(Kite smiled, pulling out their phone.) 

Kite: Anytime at all. 

***

(A Biker Joint in Brooklyn, Early Afternoon) 

(Killua marched back and forth in front of his siblings, who were each perched in a chair or on a table. The albino held up the piece of chalk he was holding, speaking importantly.) 

Killua: The annual Zoldyck Tactical Seminar, or as I like to shorten it; ZTS. Or ‘zerts’. 

Milluki: We’re not doing that. 

Killua: Well, anyways, (He pointed the chalk at Milluki and Kalluto.) 

You two still live at home. What have you heard about this year? 

Milluki: Virtually nothing. (He held up a hand from the back of the chair he was leaning on.) 

Remember? Mom and Dad like to keep us as in the dark as possible to make things more interesting for gamblers. 

Kalluto: Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down. 

I haven’t heard anything either and I’m practically attached to our mother’s hip any given day. (He tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, crossing his ankles.) 

I-I mean, I wish I had a bit more information given the, uh, the circumstances from- 

(Alluka gasped loudly, startling Illumi.) 

Alluka: THAT’S RIGHT! (She looked at the others, who were now staring at her.) 

You guys, Kalluto couldn’t even finish the games last year, remember? 

(Milluki nodded.) 

Illumi: I remember. 

Milluki: Still not sure what mom and dad were thinking putting an 8 year old on the top of a freezing Canadian mountain during his first year. (He rolled his eyes. 

Killua put a hand on his hip, looking up.) 

Killua: That’s right. It would have been Kalluto’s first year. 

Milluki: Luckily, I don’t think we’ll have to worry about something like that happening again. (He shrugged.) 

I guess watching five kids almost freeze to death wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of entertainment to them. 

(Kalluto and Alluka blinked in unison.) 

Kalluto/Alluka: …Huh? 

(Illumi turned from them to look from Killua to Milluki.) 

Illumi: I believe a bit of an explanation is in order. 

Given their circumstances, Alluka and Kalluto know next to nothing about the science behind the seminars. 

(Kalluto rolled his eyes. Killua nodded.) 

Killua: That’s true. (He looked at his younger siblings.) 

You guys don’t know piss-shit about how horribly these are put together. You want a bit of an explanation? 

(Kalluto adjusted how he was sitting.) 

Kalluto: I’m not as in the dark as Alluka-

Alluka: Yeah! Tell us! 

Illumi: Oh! I’ll go first!~ (He leapt off of the table he was sitting on, brushing his hair back. Killua handed him his piece of chalk before going to stand next to Milluki, arms folded. Illumi cleared his throat.) 

The Tactical Seminar is a series of events with two sole purposes. 

1. To gauge our performative abilities in different environments and scenarios specifically designed to challenge certain parts of our skill sets in order to determine what we excel in and what we need to improve upon. 
2. To demonstrate and showcase our abilities to a pool of possible clientele that will gather information on us, which will in turn give them an opportunity to decide who is best equipped to possibly handle challenging requests they may have upon hiring us. (He paused.) 

Are you following so far? 

(Kalluto and Alluka stared at him, wide-eyed. Kalluto placed a finger over his lips.) 

Milluki: I think we’re approaching this the wrong way. (He stood up, taking Illumi’s chalk.) 

Killua, get up here. 

(As Killua walked up, Milluki started hurriedly scribbling on their chalkboard, talking as he did so.) 

Milluki: There’s usually three-to-five events in any given seminar, and they usually get more difficult as we progress. 

Last year, there were four events; an escape room, one-on-one combat trials, an endurance test down a mountain, and an event where we had to hunt down as many bystanders as we could find in a given environment. 

I won the escape room, Illumi won the combat event, Killua got down the mountain first, and Illumi also won the final event, making him the crowned winner of the seminar overall. 

(Kalluto nodded slowly, the events seeming to come back to him.) 

Milluki: As of right now, there have been nine seminars in total over the past nine years. 

Illumi holds well onto the first place spot with seven wins, and Killua and I each have one. 

(Kalluto sighed, folding his arms. Alluka looked over.) 

Alluka: It’s okay, Kalluto. I don’t have any wins either. 

(Kalluto gave her a half smile.) 

Killua: Strangely enough, the only time our parents ever brought Alluka out into the basement was during the seminars, even though she’s not an eligible assassin. (His voice dripped with venom, eyes narrowing.) 

Milluki: Yes, Killua, it’s dumb. 

Alluka: Oh, I didn’t mind! It was the only time I ever got to see any of you besides Killua. 

(Kalluto put a hand on her shoulder.) 

Kalluto: I’m so sorry. 

(His sister blinked, confused.) 

Milluki: Anyways, with the current standings, Illumi and Killua have the most amount of sponsors each year by a long shot. (He paused.) 

“Sponsers” as in people who are willing to bet money on them winning. It becomes a whole novelty for them. 

Even though Killua and I are tied in terms of winning, our father can usually hype up almost as many sponsors for him as Illumi. 

(Killua sighed, nodding.) 

Killua: Yep. Which was really the only reason I won my second year. 

Since dad and our grandfathers are in charge of what happens during the events, if anything’s micromanaged, it’s almost always to make me look better, or one of the others look worse. 

Illumi: Killua, I don’t think that’s entirely- 

Milluki: It is. 

(Killua nodded. Illumi was quiet.) 

Kalluto: Well, that certainly doesn’t help me or Alluka much. She’s never had combat training and I was humiliated beyond belief last year. I’m guessing no one wants to bet on me. 

(Milluki shrugged, making a face.) 

Milluki: For the most part, probably not. 

You might get a few pity sponsors this year from Mom. We all know she’s partial to you and Killua. 

Killua: But Alluka will certainly not get any, as fucking rigged as that is. 

(Alluka smiled.) 

Alluka: It's okay, Killua. I don’t care about winning. It’s just a title, right? 

Illumi: Well, whoever wins is widely recognized in our largest and most important pool of clients, so you certainly gain more prestige as an assassin for winning. (He paused.) 

But since you’re not an assassin, there really isn’t much or a point. 

(Killua interjected.) 

Killua: Well, people better start learning to bet because she’s gonna be teamed up with me the whole time. 

(Illumi blinked.) 

Kalluto: Do we know any names? Any specific things that would be particularly helpful to know about our audience? 

(Milluki nodded, glancing over at Illumi.) 

Milluki: Once we turn twelve, we can start negotiating with our own potential sponsors. That means this will be Killua’s first year. 

(Killua rolled his eyes, leaning his weight on his right foot.) 

Milluki: But I’ve done research on pretty much everyone that’s gonna be there this year, so it certainly helps to know your audience. (He cleared his throat importantly.) 

Killua, Illumi, you can sit down.

(Killua marched indignantly back to sit in the empty chair between Kalluto and Alluka. Illumi sat perched on Alluka’s other side.) 

Milluki: Alright, first up; the Ten Dons. They’ve bet on us every year without fail. (He drew rapidfire caricatures on the chalkboard, naming them off.) 

1. Teradein Neutral
2. Bushidora Ambitious
3. …Genthru ‘Bomber’
4. Knov Siberia
5. Palm Siberia
6. Satotz Zaban
7. Bara Masadora
8. Sube Masadora
9. Morel Mackernasey
10. Menchi Visca… (The third caricature he had drawn; a skinny man with stupid looking glasses looked to be much more poorly drawn than the others.) 

They’re a mixed bag. Most of them bet on Illumi. (He paused, eyes narrowing slightly.) 

…Last year, one of them bet a startling amount on Kalluto. 

(Killua’s brow furrowed.) 

Milluki: Then there’s a few of the Twelve Zodiacs. Here’s what you need to know. (He began to draw more. 

From her spot, Alluka leaned over to Illumi, trying to get his attention.) 

Alluka: How are we supposed to keep all of this straight, Illu? There’s so many of them. 

(Illumi looked over, annoyed.) 

Illumi: Well, if you want any hope of remembering them, you should pay more attention. 

Alluka: But you said it yourself! None of these guys are gonna bet on me for any reason. I don’t even know if they can. 

(Illumi opened his mouth to respond, but caught himself.) 

Illumi: What do you want? 

(Alluka grinned smugly.) 

Alluka: You know what I want. (She kicked her ankles giddily. Illumi sighed.) 

Illumi: I do not have any more information on Retz. All I know is that she lives in the area and is rather prone to trouble. If you wish to find her, you’ll just have to wait and see if you run into her outside, but I would advise against it. 

Alluka: That’s not the problem! The problem is that I wouldn’t even know how to talk to her! 

Illumi: Why would you need to talk with her? 

Alluka: Because she’s amazing. I just know it. Please, Illu? You’re so experienced. 

(Illumi glared at her quizzically.) 

Alluka: Tell me ONE thing about how you and Hisoka started talking. How did you know what to say? 

Illumi: Alluka, I don’t see- 

Alluka: I won’t bother you for the rest of the WHOLE day. Unless I have to. 

(Illumi sighed, shifting his position.) 

Alluka: Tell me. (She grinned.) 

Illumi: You’re incredibly strange. 

I didn’t speak to Hisoka, he spoke to me. And I wanted nothing to do with him, but for some reason he kept following me around until I inevitably tried to kill him. 

(Alluka blinked, her brow furrowing.) 

Alluka: …Well, I don’t want to do something like that. That’s mean. 

Illumi: I’m not a nice person, Alluka. 

Alluka: *loudly* Yeah, you are! 

Milluki: Are you two even paying attention? (He raised a brow, annoyed as he stared them down with the other two. Illumi and Alluka froze, blinking in unison.) 

I’m trying to explain how to not want to rip out Genthru’s throat if you should ever negotiate a hands-free assassination with him! 

Illumi: …Milluki, that does not sound relevant. 

Milluki: IT IS TOO. 

Now, shut up and pay attention. 

***

(The Apartment, Living Area, Late Afternoon) 

Kurapika: FUCK! FUCKING CHRIST MY LIFE IS FALLING APART BEFORE MY EYES! (They threw the magazines sitting on the coffee table against the wall, one by one. Bisky watched him, blinking each time one landed. 

Once Kurapika ran out of magazines, he stared at the coffee table, a ring of red around his eyes as he panted.) 

Bisky: You done? 

Kurapika: Yes, I’m done. (They ran a hand through their hair.) 

It’s ridiculous, Bisky. How little we all really know about one another. I mean, I- I just had a conversation with Leorio about this sort of thing. 

Leorio: Had a conversation with me about what? 

(Bisky and Kurapika froze, slowly turning to stare at the door Leorio had just walked in through.) 

Bisky: Oh… 

Leorio: What’s going on? (He took off his messenger bag, hanging it up by the door.) 

Kurapika: Le-Leorio- 

Bisky: Oh Jesus . Am I gonna have to explain all this again? 

Leorio: Explain all what- Kurapika, what’s going on? 

(Kurapika took a very deep breath, turning to face him fully.) 

Leorio: And why are all these magazines on the floor? 

(Bisky and Kurapika glanced at one another. A moment of silence passed before Kurapika ran a hand through their hair.) 

Kurapika: …Leorio, I’m about to explain something very carefully to you, but you have to promise not to freak out. 

Bisky: Like how you ‘promised not to freak out’, Kurapika? 

Kurapika: SHUT UP, BISKY. 

Leorio: …You guys are scaring me. 

(Kurapika went over to grab his wrist, leading him to sit down on the couch.) 

Kurapika: You’re definitely going to want to sit down for this. 

***

(Somewhere in Brooklyn, Early Evening) 

Gon: Does this mean you have to leave now? 

(Kite glanced over at him, the two of them walking through a small park within the bustling city. A tree lined path paved the way in front of them, leaves now starting to fall at this point in the year.) 

Kite: Do you have to go home at this time or something? 

(Gon shook his head.) 

Gon: Oh, I was just wondering since we talked about my dad and stuff. 

(Kite chuckled.) 

Kite: So? I like just talking to you in general. 

(Gon beamed.) 

Kite: Do you want to grab food or something? 

Gon: Yeah! Like popcorn! 

(Kite blinked.) 

Kite: …You want… Popcorn. 

Gon: Yeah! 

Kite: …Then I will get us some popcorn.

Gon: Hey, Kite? (He looked up at them, picking up the pace.) 

Kite: Yeah? 

Gon: You’ll come back, right? To the city? After you leave, I mean. 

(Kite blinked, nodding after a second.) 

Kite: I mean… Yeah. I’m not going to disappear forever if that’s what you’re asking. I’ll be back to New York at some point. 

(Gon smiled.) 

Kite: And I’ll come and visit you when I do. And you can call me whenever you need to. 

(Gon put a hand on his chin, looking up.) 

Gon: Hmm. Say you’re in Germany, and my house is on fire. And you’re the only one who can stop it before it burns down. Will you? 

…

Kite: Yes. 

Gon: Really? That’s awesome! (They reached up to suddenly take Kite’s hand, starting to run out of the park. Kite stumbled before managing to keep up.) 

To the convenience store! (He slowed down once they re-entered the evening air of the city, looking around.) 

Hey… Now that we’re not chasing my dad down in Chicago. I wanted to ask. How come you and Hisoka were friends? 

(Kite blinked.) 

Gon: Like, I know you two were in the circus together. He told me. 

Kite: Oh. Right. (They paused, brow furrowing slightly.) 

Well… I mean, there’s not really much to tell, I suppose. We just sort of made friends with one another because we had each other’s backs. 

Gon: Oh, right. Because that place was like a drug ring or something.

(Kite swallowed, glancing around. They were luckily in a peacefully quiet part of the city with not too many other people around.) 

Kite: …Yeah. 

Gon: That’s cool. What did you two do in the circus? Were you in any of the actual events? 

(Kite raised a brow, smiling down at him.) 

Kite: Well… Yes, you could say that. 

Hisoka was of course very sleight of hand, but he was also quite the acrobat, so he did several aerial stunts as well. 

Gon: *to himself* So the story about him hanging someone in the circus was true. 

Kite: Oh yeah, that was terrifying. But that guy was a fucking bitch-ass bottom, so… 

Gon: What about you, then? What’d you do? 

Kite: Well, let’s see… I was also a bit of a trapeze artist, a contortionist, and a sword swallower. 

Gon: WHAT?! NO WAY. 

(Kite pursed their lips, resisting the urge to shush him.) 

Kite: Y e p . 

Gon: Show me! 

Kite: …Gon, I don’t have a sword right now. 

(Gon blinked, turning to stare at their bracelet. Kite followed his eyes.) 

Kite: Gon, that is a six-foot long, curved blade that would impale me from throat to appendix if I tried to swallow it. 

Gon: Aw, man! 

(Kite laughed, holding out a hand.) 

Kite: Tell you what; if I find something usable, I’ll send you a weird fucking video of it. Okay? 

Gon: Deal! (He grinned. The two of them walked in silence for a few paces.) 

…Do you have anywhere where we’re going? 

Kite: No. 

(Gon laughed, holding onto their hand again.) 

Gon: Hehe. 

Me neither. 

***