Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was hot. So hot that the garbage surrounding Phinks in heaping mounds was notably more pungent than usual. Working in conditions like these was miserable. Miserable, but it would pay off if he succeeded in scavenging enough sellable materials. One day at a time. 

‘Damn, this sucks.’ Phinks thought as he used his forearm to wipe sweat out of his face. He had scored a small bit of copper wire and a few salvageable batteries, but it wasn’t quite enough to secure the day’s meal. He continued rooting through the trash with his boot as he strategically combed the area. Scrappers were everywhere in Meteor City; the competition was stiff. But he was experienced and knew the best strategies well. 

Phinks paused as he sensed a figure in his periphery. He turned to confront whoever had come to pester him, starting with a scowl but that expression soon morphed into curiosity when he saw the teen before him. The young man was lounging halfway between sitting and lying down on one of the nearby trash peaks. He looked far more comfortable than he should have been. He was dressed gothically in all-black clothes, from his pants to his fur-lined coat. A sliver of his rather muscular bare chest showed from underneath the coat. His skin was pale, his eyes and hair black. He had a strange, cross-like tattoo on the center of his forehead. He was looking into an open book he held. Somehow, even with that absurd fur coat, there didn’t appear to be a drop of sweat on him. A slight smile made its way to his face when he caught Phinks looking. It was as though he had been posing dramatically just for that moment. 

The man closed his book and looked back at Phinks. “Nice day for a walk, eh?” 

Phinks was dumbfounded by the comment. He honestly wasn’t sure how to respond. “Uh… no. Not at all. And in case you didn’t notice, I’m not exactly out on a leisurely stroll. So find your own patch and stay the hell out of my way.” 

The man grinned wider. He seemed to be enjoying himself. He hopped down from his perch and started pacing around Phinks. He strode with such grace that his footsteps didn’t make a sound on the normally clunky trash. “It’s not every day that I see a scrapper without a gas mask. You’re built differently, aren’t you? You seem quite strong.” He purred as he eyed him. 

Phinks froze completely. A slight blush crept to his cheeks. Why couldn’t he bring himself to properly intimidate this bizarre stranger? Everything about the man threw him off his rhythm. And it didn’t help that he was kind of cute. It was several moments before he was able to speak again. “I got strong because I had to. Was sick of getting robbed.” He held tighter onto his scrap bag, growing more suspicious. 

He clicked his tongue softly. “Now now, you don’t have to worry about me. I aim only to give, not to take.” He stopped his appraising pace in front of him, looking him in the eyes once more. “I’m Chrollo. Chrollo Lucilfer. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. And you are?” He offered him a hand. 

Against his better judgment, Phinks reached out and shook his hand. Perhaps this was his opportunity to show Chrollo he was not to be messed with. He gave a very tight squeeze but was surprised when Chrollo’s grip was just as strong. He caught another little grin from the man. Phinks scoffed and released his hand. Chrollo let him go, both of their hands falling back to their sides. “It’s Phinks. Just Phinks. You’ve got soft hands. Guess you’ve never known a hard day’s work.” 

Chrollo hummed amusedly. “Ah yes, I do have the hands of a writer. An artist, even.” That smile dropped, and a dark tone reached his voice. “But make no mistake, I have killed a great many with these hands. That is how I make my living.” 

There was a captivating intensity in Chrollo’s eyes that sent a shiver down Phinks’s spine in spite of the heat. He found himself drawn to the man for reasons unknown. He absolutely needed to know more about him… still, he refused to let that show. “Hm. Good for you, I guess. Obviously, you wouldn’t make much killing me, assuming you even could. So what do you want?” 

The cool brightness returned to Chrollo’s eyes just as quickly as it had disappeared. “Oh yes, I almost forgot. I want to present you with an opportunity. A way out of this life, and towards riches beyond your wildest dreams. I’m assembling the greatest troupe of thieves this world will ever know. I believe you would be quite an asset to our team.” 

Phinks furrowed his brows. “That’s some pretty big talk… you sound delusional, do you realize that?” 

Chrollo laughed. “Maybe so. If it sounds like all talk, I’ll prove it to you.” He produced a hefty pouch and scooped out a handful of gold coins. “Solid gold. This is what remains of my share, from the last heist alone. Once my troupe is fully assembled, we’re leaving Meteor City. There’s much more wealth out there, and I’d rather not steal from our own. So, are you interested?” 

Phinks stared at the coins. It was more money than he had seen in his entire life, all contained within that soft hand. The opportunity was too good to pass up. He looked back up. “I’m interested… but what’s a group of thieves want me for? I’m not stealthy, and I never will be.” 

There was an amused twinkle in his eyes. “Phinks, every proper ‘smash and grab’ needs both elements. We’ve got plenty of grab, we need more smash to even it out. Your strength will have its place in our group.” 

He gave a slow nod. “Alright… I’m in. You’d better make this worth my while.” 

Chrollo’s grin broadened like the cat that got the cream. “Wonderful. I look forward to doing business with you. Why don’t you take this as your first advance payment?” He offered forth the handful of coins. 

Phinks shook his head adamantly. “Not gonna happen, I don’t do freebies. I’ll earn it when we get started.” 

Chrollo nodded, tucking the gold back away in some hidden recess of his coat. “Suit yourself. I do admire that work ethic. Meet us at midnight tonight. I want to introduce you to the others. We’ll be at the abandoned warehouse by the old nuclear power plant.” 

“Yeah, I know the place. See you then.” 

“Indeed you will. So long, Phinks.” Chrollo turned with a wave and headed off. His paces remained silent as the grave. Phinks wondered just how much he would be able to learn about this enigma of a man. The first step to finding out would come at midnight. 

———-

Phinks strode into the old warehouse five minutes before midnight. There was barely any noise from within, most of it from the scurrying of rats. He was still wearing the dirty white tank top and camo print pants he had been in throughout the day. He continued in, trying to steady his nerves. He had heard from whisperings around the city that a rising band of thieves had recently stolen from the mafia. He had a feeling that this was the offending group. He was eager to find out what insane batch of freaks would dare try such a feat. 

At the center of the warehouse, seven people sat softly illuminated by the moonlight peeking through a gaping hole in the ceiling. They were seated on various heaps of rocks and rubble. He immediately recognized the one in the center as Chrollo. He gave a slight nod towards the group as he approached. All of them except for Chrollo were eyeing him. 

Chrollo looked up from his book and smiled. The large boulder he sat on brought him to eye level with Phinks. “Ah, Phinks. I’m glad you could make it. Welcome to the Phantom Troupe. Allow me to introduce you to the others.” He started gesturing towards the respective members as he listed out their names. “Meet Uvogin, Nobunaga, Shalnark, Pakunoda, Franklin, and Machi. Everyone, this is our latest prospective recruit, Phinks.” 

Aside from Chrollo, only Shalnark and Uvogin smiled at him. The remainder of the members were dead serious. Shalnark was the first to chime in. “It’s nice to meet you, Phinks!” He said cheerfully, seeming genuine. That had to be the friendliest face Phinks had seen in all of Meteor City. 

Uvogin spoke next. “Yeah, nice to meet ya! Glad to have another guy on the team whose ability breaks down to ‘punch hard good.’” He laughed boisterously. “You can call me Uvo.” The man was an absolutely mountainous wall of muscle, but his pleasant disposition was disarming. 

Phinks nodded to each of the two who had greeted him. “Nice to meet you too.” He looked back to Chrollo, curious about what was next. 

Chrollo gestured broadly to the area around Phinks. “Please, feel free to have a seat.” 

He nodded and picked a rock, which he hopped onto and sat on. He continued to watch Chrollo curiously. 

Chrollo continued. “Now, I’ll more thoroughly give you the rundown of this group. We are the Phantom Troupe, also known as the Spider. Individuals within our troupe are known as spiders. So, I do hope you like arachnids. They’re a personal favorite of mine. The goal is to reach a total of thirteen spiders. As you can see, should you join us we will arrive at eight. Ideally, I would like to recruit at least one additional member from Meteor City before we leave and find the rest elsewhere. Anyone is welcome to nominate a new member. 

“Once all thirteen slots are filled, the only way someone else can get into the troupe is by killing one of us. There will be no more than thirteen, that is not negotiable. Should one of us be killed, the killer reserves the right to take that spider’s number. Everyone here has a number between zero and twelve. My number is zero, as I am the leader. Phinks, you are welcome to select any number in that range so long as it isn’t already claimed. Now, ideally, none of us will be getting killed anytime soon. As a precaution, I strongly advise you all to travel at a minimum in pairs. Through our training, every last one of you will become a force to be reckoned with. Even if an adversary has the power to kill one, there will be no way they will be able to kill two or more of us.

“We will take as we please, and kill as we please. All I ask is that you seek the aid of the troupe for high-stakes jobs, and do not kill any fellow spiders. You are welcome to do your own research and find jobs you find interesting. Present them to me, and I am rather likely to approve of them. However, at the end of the day, what I say goes. If it’s a no, you will have to accept that and move on. Additionally, you’ll need to accept that we don’t keep almost anything that we steal. We bask in the spoils for a while, then sell it for profit. So, try not to get too attached to any particular treasures. All members receive an equal share of the profits. No exceptions. 

“I will always respect your privacy. You have the right to your information, and who you tell or show what. I don’t need your secrets, only your loyalty. Once a spider, always a spider. There is no quitting. If you try to quit, I’ll kill you myself. Bearing all this in mind, do you agree to the conditions?” 

All eyes were on Phinks, he could feel it even as his gaze never left Chrollo. “Asking for a lifetime of loyalty when we barely know each other seems a bit extreme, doesn’t it?” He grinned. 

Chrollo clasped his hands together. “Correct you are. Everything about us is extreme, but I’ve already seen that you thrive in it. You may take up to twenty-four hours starting now to consider my offer.” 

He shook his head. “Don’t need it, I was just sayin.’ I accept.” 

The smile returned to his new boss’s face. “Wonderful. I officially welcome you to the troupe.” He looked around at the other spiders. “Now is where I’ll open up questions to the rest of you. Get to know each other a little better, however much you’re comfortable with.” 

“Ooh, I’ve got some questions!” Shalnark said enthusiastically. “How old are you? And what’s your favorite color?” 

Phinks couldn’t help but smile. The blonde’s bright energy was contagious. “I just turned seventeen. And my favorite color would probably have to be sarcophagus gold. Same questions right back at you.” 

Shalnark gave a thumbs up. “Good choice! That’s honestly not one I’ve heard before as a favorite color, so extra points for creativity. As for me, fifteen and rainbow.” 

Phinks chuckled. “Nice. I guess why pick one color when you could have all of them?”

Pakunoda spoke next. “Are you religious? Most of us here are Satanists, but not everyone.” 

He nodded. “Yeah, not strictly practicing or anything, but I follow ancient Egyptian religion.”

Pakunoda hummed. “Fascinating. May I ask why?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m Egyptian. So it just feels right.” 

Machi let out a short, loud laugh of disbelief. “You? Egyptian? You’re so Aryan you don’t even have eyebrows!” 

Uvo burst out in laughter. “She’s so right! Sorry, buddy!” 

Phinks lit up in a blush. “H-hey, nobody asked you! You can look like me and still be Egyptian! It’s something I can just feel inside!”

“It’s alright, Phinks. You can be Egyptian on the inside.” Chrollo tried sympathetically. 

“One of these days I’ll take a DNA test and prove all of you wrong.” Phinks grumped, still red. “Anyway, can we please move on past my heritage?” 

“Yeah, I’ve got a question that’s actually important.” Nobunaga started. “Are you worth a damn in a fight? You’re obviously an enhancer, simple-minded and determined. What can you do?” 

“Hey, I’m not simple-minded!” Phinks protested. 

Uvogin nudged him. “It’s okay, buddy. Just lean into it. I’m right there with you, and I’d personally rather be known for my strength than anything else. But yeah, what can you do?” 

Phinks sighed. “Okay… as of now I can pretty easily crush a skull like a grape. I’m working on building up my signature move. I don’t have a name for it yet, but pretty much when I wind back my arms, my hits get stronger. The more winds back, the stronger I get. Does slow me down a bit, but that’s just how it goes with conditions. I’m sure with more practice it’ll get nicely streamlined.” 

“Nice, I love crushing skulls!” Uvo shouted. “Next step is teaching you how to make meat-fetti!” 

“Meat-fetti… do I want to know?” Phinks asked, mildly concerned. 

“You definitely want to know! It’s when you punch someone SO HARD, that they vaporize into a spray of meat confetti! Meat-fetti! It’s AWESOME!” 

Phinks couldn’t help but laugh. “I think I’m about halfway there, but I’d appreciate some pointers!” 

The group continued their lighthearted conversation for a few more hours until Chrollo stood. All eyes turned to him as he did. “Well everyone, the time is nearing 3:33. If you’ll excuse me, I have some prayers to make to Lord Lucifer. Meeting adjourned. Come back tomorrow, same time and place. I’ll have another big announcement for you all then.” He turned and made his exit into one of the warehouse’s more secluded rooms. 

Phinks looked around at the others, most of whom were starting to go their own ways in small clusters. “Wait, uh… when do we actually start the jobs?” 

Shalnark paused and turned to answer. “We should have another one coming up in just a few days. That might be what the boss wants to talk to us about tomorrow.”

Phinks nodded, deflating slightly. “Got it, thanks. See you guys tomorrow.” He dispersed his own way, separating from the rest of the group. He had been looking forward to starting his new life as a thief, but he could wait. ‘Guess it’s back to scrapper work as usual tomorrow.’

———

The next day, Phinks was back in the main dumping ground. He was having dreadful luck in his scavenging efforts. Several hours in, and all he’d found of potential value was what appeared to be an antique button. Then again, it could also be completely worthless. Or worse yet, it might have come from some cursed doll. Even if he was able to get a sale on it, the buyers in the antiques market were such a pain to deal with. More and more frequently, he contemplated moving to the western outskirts. His instincts strongly told him to avoid the area, but he reasoned that it was likely his paranoia getting the better of him. Old stories of giant, man-eating spiders roaming the west through the subterranean Skull Cavern system kept most scrappers well at bay. But because of that scarcity of human life, there would surely be richer pickings out west. 

Phinks sighed, his eyes again drifting in that direction. He thought back to yesterday’s conversations with the Phantom Troupe. He was strong enough to have been chosen for a rising band of elite thieves. He was a spider now. He certainly had no reason to fear spiders that probably weren’t even real. He made up his mind and began the journey westbound. 

After a solid two-hour trek, he finally crossed the threshold into the outskirts. He stopped briefly in front of an old wooden sign propped up on a jagged metal beam. It read in blood-red paint: 

‘Abandon all hope, ye who dare enter Skull Cavern. Death awaits with venomous fangs agape.’

Phinks chuckled. “Well, that’s dramatic. Looks like someone wanted all the good stuff to themselves.” He moved right along past it. As he had hoped, his luck soon picked up. Valuable metals, scattered coins, and salvageable tech were filling up his bag nicely. At this rate, he would get all he needed for the next several days. It might be enough to keep him afloat until work with the Phantom Troupe began in earnest. ‘Just a little bit more, almost there.’ He continued to push deeper into the western territory. 

Between the complete lack of human civilization and the significantly less fragrant trash, he found it quite peaceful out here. It was quiet save for the soft breeze and the sounds of his rifling about. His peace was somewhat interrupted when he stepped on something squishy. He sighed loudly. He really hoped it wasn’t another baby’s diaper. He smeared his left foot along the ground in an attempt to dislodge the mystery substance, but when he went to take a step forward he found himself getting yanked right back. “What the…” He raised up his boot and looked behind himself at the bottom of the shoe. 

His eyes widened at the sight of a whitish, translucent rope about an inch thick that hung from his boot down into the trash. ‘What the hell is this?’ Before he had much time to contemplate, the rope yanked his foot out from underneath himself with a startling amount of force. He grunted as he was toppled into the trash. In a panic, he tried to struggle out of his captured boot. But with the tight laces and snug steel toe, that was easier said than done. Another powerful pull sent him rapidly dragging backward through the rubbish. 

Never before had he felt such a complete lack of control. He writhed and screamed, but couldn’t break free. In mere moments he was descending through a steep slope. He grasped for anything he could reach. Every rock he clung to was simply pulled out from the ground, forsaking his support. The next thing he knew, the world around him was turning dark. He watched desperately as the last traces of light were snatched away before his eyes. ‘Skull Cavern… That button was definitely cursed.’ The fleeting thought was wholesomely unhelpful in his situation. 

After what felt like ages, the aggressive drag finally came to an abrupt halt. He quickly sat up and tried again in a blind panic to take off his boot. His effort was interrupted by a chilling shriek, followed by fluctuating clicking sounds coming from every direction around him. Eight red orbs of varying sizes suddenly provided dim illumination in the cavern. And the thing they were attached to… was that the silhouette of a giant spider? A dozen smaller clusters of red eyes illuminated the walls and ceiling, slowly descending nearer to him. Completely gripped with the most terrifying fright of his life, all he could do was scream. 

Chapter Text

Phinks was screaming. He was in a nearly pitch-black cave, illuminated only by the glowing red eyes of the mammoth arachnids surrounding him. The spiders continued to approach with barely audible steps. All he could see was that those orbs were getting closer. Each spider had four large eyes in the center, and two smaller eyes traveling up each side of their heads. The largest of them was emitting eerie calls which combined a high-pitched undulation with rapid-fire clicks. 

The largest of the eyes were now the size of softballs. He could only imagine how big the beast itself was, but he wasn’t about to sit around and find out. He leaped up to his feet and aimed a punch directly at the face of the chatty mega spider. Much to his disbelief, he was yanked back down to the ground by the web before he could land the hit. Before he knew what was happening, the spider pounced on top of him and suspended him in the air with a few legs. Then he was rapidly spun like a rotisserie chicken and coated in thick strands of the elastic web. He tried to push past it, but his arms and legs were thoroughly pinned, and the web itself was tougher than any metal he’d encountered. 

“No no nooo! I can’t die like this!” He called out to gods who seemed to be presently ignoring his pleas. His limbs were thoroughly bundled, and the spider was starting to cover up his face. Suddenly, a new voice rang out. It was a low, calm voice speaking in some unfamiliar humanoid language. That voice had a slight hiss to it, in some jumbled hybrid tongue between human and spider. Eight new eyes emerged from the darkness; these eyes were significantly smaller and shone in bright red rings instead of solid orbs. Six in the center, and two off to the sides. This one both looked and sounded completely different. Phinks could only guess it was bad news, yet not long after the speaking started, the giant spider stopped wrapping him up. His mouth was covered, but his nose remained free allowing shaky breaths. 

The largest spider cooed and clicked at the different one. Several whining screeches echoed from the smaller spiders along the walls. Phinks was then dropped to the cave floor, grunting on impact. He could no longer feel the looming presence of the massive beast above him. The eyes backed up slightly but still ogled him hungrily. The newcomer was the only one to get closer now. Phinks felt himself yanked upright by one of the web strands around his shoulder, and just as rapidly he was flying towards the cavern mouth. The figure had grabbed him and was leaping away with him. Far more quickly than he had been reeled in, he was back out of that hell hole. He was dropped more gently onto the ground, but couldn’t see the spider. For all he knew, this one wanted to eat him alone. He writhed on the floor, still struggling and failing to break free. 

He heard a soft hum from behind him. It was followed by the loud snapping sounds of the web being cut away from behind. He felt himself being freed, starting at his mouth and rapidly working down. As soon as he could move his neck, he turned his head to look behind him. He was shocked to see not a spider, but a boy. A strikingly beautiful boy with shiny, mid-length black hair and two storm-grey eyes. His eyelashes were long, giving a distinct cat-eye look. His complexion was pale, though he could only see about half of the boy’s face. The lower half was covered by a silk scarf with a skull design in its center. The rest of his body that Phinks could see was clad in black. 

The boy paused his cutting and stared into Phinks’s eyes. Phinks couldn’t see what he was cutting his bindings with at this angle, but he didn’t care. He was clearly being freed, and this clearly was no spider. He must have imagined things down in that cavern due to his panicked state. “Uh… hey.” He mentally slapped himself. Was that really the best he could do right now?

The boy gave a slight smile that showed in his eyes. He nodded softly, then looked back down and resumed cutting. In a few more seconds, the last web was snipped from his feet. The web was surprisingly not sticky and thus fell easily off him when cut. He sat up and turned to face the kneeling stranger. The boy’s hands had disappeared into his pockets, so the upper part of his face remained the only skin within view. 

The boy tilted his head slightly, then spoke. “Irath la sydnaye?” It was the very same voice Phinks had heard down in the cave. 

Phinks grew slightly flustered, feeling a bit bad that he had no idea what he was saying. “Oh, uh… I’m really sorry, but I don’t know what any of that means.”

The boy furrowed his brows slightly. He briefly lowered his gaze with a pensive look. He seemed to have a lightbulb moment, then looked back into Phink’s eyes with renewed confidence. “A… A-are y-you okaaay?” He stuttered and stretched out the words unnaturally; this clearly was not his first language, but it was very cute. 

Phinks couldn’t help a bright smile. “Hey, I didn’t realize you spoke this language! You’re doing really great.” He said, trying to be encouraging. 

The boy gave a very quiet laugh and a soft incline of his head. He then gestured with both hands back at Phinks. 

“Oh, right! Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks to you. Those things were definitely about to eat me…” He rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. 

The boy nodded. “Y-yes. They were. Welcome.” 

The confirmation wasn’t exactly comforting, especially considering their current proximity to the cavern entrance, but he did feel a lot safer with his rescuer. “I’m Phinks, by the way. What’s your name?” 

“Feitan.” He spoke this word easily, clearly familiar. 

“Well, Feitan, I can honestly say I’ve never been happier to meet someone. Why’d you help me, anyway?”

He tilted his head again, seeming to think about it. “Your screams… they w-were… pathetic. F-felt pity, I guess.” 

Phinks felt a bit like a dumbbell had just been dropped on his head. That was quite the bruise to his ego. A blush rose to his face. “I’m just gonna hope that got lost in translation…” His attention was swiftly caught by the slightest visible pink in Feitan’s ears and upper cheeks. His embarrassment washed away in favor of a grin. “If you just saved me because you pitied me, then why are you blushing?”

Feitan let out a quiet squeak and pulled his scarf up more. “A-am not! Don’t push it… unless y-you do want eaten.” 

Phinks chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. You went through all that effort to get me out of there, I think I’m pretty safe. How’d you do that, anyway? I mean how’d you get them to let me go without being attacked yourself?” 

“Mm… mother’s favorite.” He gestured towards himself. “J-just asked nicely.” 

Phinks gawked. “Um… Feitan? Did you just call that thing your mother?” 

Feitan furrowed his brows slightly, attempting to understand the confusion. “She, not thing. Yes. A-dop-ted.” 

Phinks slowly nodded back. He supposed he would have to put up some better manners, lest he enrage the honorary spider. “Right… so I guess those other smaller spiders in there were your siblings?” 

Feitan nodded with a quiet hum. “Yes. They are… very little. Need mother’s protection.” 

“Okay, I think I’m still understanding this. But how does a normal kid like you end up in a giant spider den? Not to mention avoid being eaten?” 

“Skulltula.” Feitan corrected. 

“Huh? What’s that mean?” Phinks asked in confusion. 

“We are not just spiders. We are skulltula. Species.”

“Well it’s good to have a name for that, but you didn’t really answer my questions.” 

“R-right…” Feitan looked down pensively again. “I don’t know how I… got there. But she said she never thought about eating me. Said I was already a spider. Was kin. Also apparently cute, and squishy like fresh hatchlings. Was baby. Never had to try to not be eaten. Family.” 

Phinks had never had a family, being one of the many young orphans dumped in Meteor City, but he didn’t find himself envying this particular one. “So you’ve been in that cave your whole life?”

He tilted his head slowly from side to side. “Yes, and no. Vast tunnels. Many entrances. And sometimes travel above ground at night. Don’t like the light.” He glared up in the general direction of the slowly setting sun. 

“Got it… do you ever feel like you’re missing out?” He asked, honestly concerned for this boy’s mental state. 

Feitan shook his head. “Not much. Up here is dangerous. People hunt and kill us… just for being us.” 

Phinks hummed slightly. To him, as someone who had almost just been eaten, it felt like those roles were reversed. But he did see the spider-boy’s point. “You’re right… people will always find excuses to kill creatures they’re afraid of. Anything that’s stronger than they are. But it doesn’t have to be dangerous up here. You know… you don’t look like a spider— I mean, a skulltula, on the outside. You would be pretty safe up here. Especially with someone who knows this place, like me.” 

Feitan gave a skeptical look, but he was clearly listening. 

Phinks wiggled slightly, getting a bit bashful again. “What I’m getting at is that if you want to come with me, you’re more than welcome to. I’m about to leave this city. We could see the world together, and I’d keep you safe.”

Feitan raised a brow with a sassy look. “Seems to me like you’re the one who needs saving.” 

Phinks pinched the bridge of his nose. “Not always, today was just a weird scenario… look, my point is I know you’re curious. And you do have a chance to see the rest of the world, and learn more about the people you’re physically more like. The only catch is you’ve got to be willing to steal some stuff. And get approved by the boss.” 

The boy hummed quietly. “I steal lives daily. Can’t be that hard. I… will think about it.” 

Phinks nodded. “Alright, I’m taking that as a solid maybe. While you’re thinking I’ve got a few more questions. I’m really curious about you.” 

Feitan gave a slight nod and gestured with a hand for him to proceed. 

“Why do you wear clothes like ours? Were you maybe trying to look more human?”

Feitan shook his head. “Opposite. Trying to look more like skulltula, see? He gestured towards the skull on his scarf, then stood and turned around to show a larger skull and crossbones design over his back. 

Phinks tried to look at what the boy meant to show him, rather than staring at his rear. “Oh, okay. Guess that would explain the name skulltula. It was way too dark in there for me to see them. So that’s the color patterning they have? Black with white skulls?” He stood up next. 

Feitan nodded with a quiet hum. He looked up at Phinks, then started eking closer. 

Phinks watched him closely. Now that he was back on his feet, he could tell just how much of a height difference there was between them. The boy was at least a foot and a half shorter than him. Maybe Feitan hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet, or maybe his growth had been stunted by living in a cave and only eating raw meat. He wondered if the boy was going to touch him. He found himself greatly desiring that outcome. 

Feitan slowly withdrew a small, pale hand out from his pocket. He reached out with just his index finger and rapidly gave a poke to Phink’s arm. He took a small step back and looked up at him as though assessing his reaction. 

Phinks grinned. He couldn’t help but feel triumphant about the initiation of contact. “That’s okay. I don’t mind touch.” 

Feitan gave a slight nod, then continued with a quick series of firm pokes to his arms and mid-abdominal region. At the last poke to the arm, the boy sharpened his fingernail into a talon and jabbed him lightly. 

Phinks jumped slightly, having not been expecting the sudden pang of pain. “What was that for?” 

Feitan held his talon up close to his face, observing the drop of blood on it. He seemed intrigued by the substance. “Hm? Oh, nothing. Just wanted to see what you taste like.” He pulled down his scarf just enough to reveal his mouth and licked the blood off his nail. He let out a pleased little hum before looking back up at Phinks. 

Phinks felt a soft shiver move through his body. Feitan was even more gorgeous with the rest of his face visible. And for some reason, the sight of him licking up his blood was incredibly alluring. He would have to unpack that feeling later. Without thinking much, he reached toward Feitan’s cheek. He felt compelled to touch him there. 

Feitan watched Phinks’s hand closely and smacked it away with a quick, hard hit when he got too close. He hissed softly, baring his teeth. They looked sharper than his own. 

Phinks yanked his hand back rapidly, rubbing where it had been smacked. Feitan was unreasonably quick, and he had hit hard enough to bruise. It was a bit jarring, especially since he had been so captivated looking at him. “Sorry! I, uh… probably should have asked.” The boy’s initiation of touch had seemed like permission to him, but it was clear he had misjudged. 

Feitan watched him suspiciously and pulled his scarf back up to nose level. He seemed to have been mostly appeased by the apology, as his eyes soon returned to his previously calm state. 

“Are we cool?” Phinks asked cautiously. 

Feitan merely nodded as though nothing had happened. 

“Okay, good. Anyway, how’d you learn to talk human?” 

A soft contemplative hum preceded his response. “Just… knew. Not really sure. Have watched and heard many people before killing them. Still need practice. Isn’t very easy.” 

“That’s alright, you really are doing great. I can help you work on some basic word stuff if you’re interested. Not particularly well-read myself, honestly I can barely write, but I can at least speak pretty fluently. I’m curious about your language too. Think we might be able to swap lessons?” 

Feitan gave a soft incline of his head. “Would like that.” 

Phinks smiled. “Cool. I’ve still got a few hours of free time.” 

Feitan looked off eastward into the distance. “Not yet. I let you go. Now I have to catch new prey. The spiderlings hunger.” 

Phinks looked the way Feitan was staring. He didn’t see any animals or humans that way, but he wondered if the experienced hunter could. “Oh, uh… okay. Want some help?” 

He shook his head. “I hunt alone. No offense, but you would likely slow me down. Stay here.” With that, he took off in a full sprint, leaving Phinks in the dust. 

“Got it… I’ll be here.” He looked around, not sure whether or not he would be able to avoid any other webs without Feitan. Would the spiders let him go on their own if they caught him again? Better not risk it. He sat down with a heavy sigh. He idly sifted through the trash in his immediate vicinity and waited for the spider-boy’s return. 

About an hour later, long after the sun had fully set, he saw Feitan running back in his direction. The smaller boy had what looked like a person strewn over his shoulder. As Feitan neared, he gave a slight nod to Phinks and slowed down. He was carrying the so-called prey by the back of the neck and had the body part way over his narrow shoulder. The man let out a quiet groan, barely conscious. He continued to carry the poor soul towards the cavern entrance that Phinks himself had been pulled into not so long ago. 

Phinks nodded back at Feitan. He felt conflicted but wasn’t sure what to say to him. He wondered again why exactly he had been spared. More than anything, he was grateful to be alive. And to be on this spider’s good side. So he said nothing as the boy carried the other scrapper down into the cave. He tried his best not to focus on the high-pitched squeaks and clicks that barely echoed from the cavern mouth as Feitan disappeared from view. 

The echoing sounds soon faded into silence. Phinks continued to stare at the cavern entrance expectantly. Eventually, it became clear that Feitan was taking his time down there. He began to mentally plan out his route back. He still had about two hours of leeway time to arrive at the Phantom Troupe meeting by midnight. Surely the boy would be out of the cave by then. 

Finally, another whole hour later, Feitan started to emerge. He was not alone, however. On his heels, a spider about the size of an elephant walked while chittering. The spider was black and shiny with only sparse hairs and a white skull-like pattern on her back. Beneath her glowing red eyes was a partial pattern in white, akin to the upper mandible of a corpse. He couldn’t see the spider’s fangs; they must have been somewhere on the underside. Chrollo had imparted a long, enthusiastic ramble on spider anatomy the night before. From what Phinks could recall, the fangs should be tucked under the visible part of the chelicerae, the large bumps on the spider’s lower face which were in this case patterned with skeletal teeth. Feitan and the spider both paused at the cavern entrance. The spider was out just enough for him to see her front half and a bit of her plump abdomen. The rest was concealed in shadow by the downward slope. The skulltula matriarch’s form was something between that of a tarantula and a black widow. 

Feitan looked to Phinks. “I will go with you.” He stated decisively. 

Phinks perked up. “Really? That’s great! I kind of thought you’d want to stay here with your family.” 

“All spiderlings leave the nest eventually. I am an independent age. Want to see more.” 

“I promise you’ll see plenty more. Are you good to head out now? We don’t have too much time left.” 

“One moment.” He turned to face his mother. He spoke a few words to her in his language and then leaned his forehead against her face right between the eyes. The spider started tapping and petting his head and back with the smaller leg-like appendages, mouthparts called pedipalps, which lay next to the chelicerae on either side. Feitan placed his hands on the sides of her face just behind the smallest eyes, and he started to gently stroke in similar motions. Both softly trilled to each other through the tender process. 

To Phinks this display was strange, but it was also oddly cute. The skulltula did have endearing characteristics when she showed her soft side, much like Feitan. After a minute or so, the farewell ‘hug’ concluded. Feitan turned to Phinks again and began to calmly stride his way. He looked over his shoulder and wiggled his fingers at his mother in a final goodbye gesture. 

The spider trilled and cooed some more, before turning her body more in Phinks’s direction and letting out a long hiss-like series of vocalizations. He had no idea what it meant, but it struck him as somewhat hostile in comparison to the soft sounds she had made for Feitan. 

Feitan giggled quietly in response to the sounds. He stood in front of Phinks and gave him a small nod. 

Phinks looked back and forth between Feitan and the giant spider. “Hey, uh, did she just say something to me?” 

“Don’t worry about it, just mom stuff. She says, quote: ‘keep my baby safe, or I’ll paralyze you and slowly suck out your insides, and keep you alive for as long as possible until you die slowly and painfully.’” He let out another quiet giggle. “Classic mom.”

Phinks laughed nervously. “Yeah… classic…” He looked over to see the spider retreating back into her den. “We should probably go. Don’t want to be late for this meeting.” 

Feitan nodded, following Phinks by his side. His hands were back in his pockets. He seemed quite comfortable moving about in the darkness of night. Much like Chrollo, his footsteps were light and silent. “You were right.” 

Phinks was caught between watching Feitan and watching his step to try to avoid hidden webs. “About what?” 

“I have been… curious. I watch people often. Copy their walk. Their fighting styles. The look of clothes. Keep their things and learn to use them. Kept these because they fit.” He gestured down to his black boots. “Kept this because it was shiny.” He pulled a sword from seemingly nowhere. “Fun to play with. Want to find more playthings. Learn more.” 

Phinks smiled. “You’ll learn a ton. And like I said, I’ll keep you safe.” He was forced to a stop when he stepped on another sticky glob of web. “Oh come on, not again!” 

Feitan swiftly sliced the web with the sword he conveniently had out, freeing him. There was amusement in his eyes. “Guess I’ll keep you safe too. You are pretty pathetic.” 

Phinks blushed and peeled the remaining web off his boot. “I’m a lot stronger than I look.” He mumbled. 

Feitan exhaled a quiet laugh. He tucked his sword back underneath his coat and resumed walking eastward. 

Phinks fell back by his side. “Anyway, it’s a long walk back. Probably around three hours from here. Want to get started on those language lessons?” 

Feitan nodded with a soft hum. “Let’s.” 

The remainder of their trip was primarily occupied by mutual linguistic lessons. Phinks had a very hard time pronouncing words in Feitan’s language. It was clear that he needed more help than the other boy. He got the impression that both the practice and seeing how hard Phinks was failing himself were making Feitan more confident. That made it all worth it. 

“This is the place.” He gestured to the warehouse as they got close. “Before we go in, I wanted to talk to you real quick. I don’t actually know these people very well at all. They can be a bit harsh and abrasive. So, try not to be offended by it. And I would personally keep where you came from as a secret. If they knew about your family, I have no idea how they would react. They might treat you differently. I’d wait until you trust them well before saying anything about that. It’s just advice, what you do is up to you.” 

Feitan gave a slow nod up at him. He seemed thoughtful as he absorbed the words. 

“Alright, here we go.” Phinks pushed open the rusty, creaky door and held it open for Feitan. He followed him once inside and fell back by his side. “You ready for this?” 

Feitan tilted his head slightly at him. “Why wouldn’t I be?” 

Phinks smiled. “Guess you’ve got every reason to be confident. Good point.” He led the way into the center of the warehouse, where the troupe had assembled the previous night. As before, everyone was lounged in the area. This time, only around half of them were perched on rocks and rubble. Shalnark, Pakunoda, and Uvogin were seated on the floor playing a card game. 

Shalnark waved as they got closer to the group. “Hey, Phinks! Looks like the rest of us beat you again.” He teased lightly. 

“He is still on time.” Chrollo added with a little grin. He was studying Feitan. 

Phinks waved back at Shalnark. “Hey, good to see you guys again.” He sat down on the same rock he had occupied last night. 

Feitan quietly hopped up and sat next to him, only about a foot away. 

Franklin sighed. “This isn’t some book club, rookie. You can’t just bring your friends here.” 

“He’s not just a friend. He’s my nominee for the Phantom Troupe.” Phinks stated confidently. 

“I’m with Franklin on this one.” Nobunaga griped. “You only just joined yesterday. What makes you think you’d know how to pick a good nominee?” 

Phinks glared lightly at the swordsman. “The boss specifically stated that any one of us has the right to nominate someone for the troupe. It’s his call, not yours.”

“That is true, Nobu.” Chrollo stated calmly. “Phinks, I will hear your case.” 

Phinks directed a nod to Chrollo. “Thanks, boss. This is Feitan. He’s wicked fast, strong enough to punch through my nen shield, and he’s a seasoned killer. He’s also very stealthy. He’d be a great addition to the troupe.” 

Chrollo hummed softly. He looked pleased. “I see. Feitan, would you tell me why you’d like to join?” 

Feitan seemed caught off guard from being directly referred to. “I…” His voice trailed off as his words failed him. 

Phinks reached out to give a comforting touch but pulled his hand back before making contact. He remembered that the last attempt had not been appreciated. 

Chrollo’s brows furrowed. “Feitan? Is everything alright?” 

Nobunaga shook his head. “He can’t even talk right. How’s he supposed to work with us if he can’t talk?” 

“He can damn well talk, just give him a minute.” Phinks snapped back. 

Nobunaga crossed his arms in disapproval but didn’t push the matter further for now. 

Chrollo spoke in a soothing voice. “It’s alright, Feitan. I’m listening.” 

Feitan seemed to relax at that tone. “I want… to see. To learn. And… killing is nice, too.” 

Chrollo smiled again. “Sounds like you’ve got the right mentality for the position. Tell me, what is your nen type?” 

Feitan furrowed his brows. “Nen…?” He looked to Phinks for an explanation. 

Phinks quickly whispered. “It’s basically concentrated life energy that can give you special abilities.”

Feitan hummed. “Don’t think I have that…” 

Nobunaga shook his head. “Geez, he doesn’t even know nen. It’s not looking good so far.” 

Chrollo seemed undeterred by Nobu’s little interruption. “That’s alright. We all start somewhere. If you’re that strong without controlling nen, I would love to see what you could do with proper training. What’s your fighting style?”

Feitan considered for a few more moments before responding. “Improvise. Mostly use this.” He drew his sword. 

Nobunaga stood and jumped down onto the floor. “No no no, that’s not gonna work. We’ve already got a sword guy. And in case you didn’t know, that would be me.” He drew his own sword. “Improvise yourself a new battle tactic.”

Feitan looked down at him, unimpressed. “No.” He stated flatly. 

Nobunaga pointed the sword at Feitan. “You’ve got some nerve, little punk. If you think you’re so good, fight me. Winner keeps his sword. I’ll beat you hands down, I’ll stake my life on it.” 

Feitan chuckled. It was quiet at first, but he suddenly burst into hyena-like cackles. It was the most noise Phinks had ever heard out of him, and it was highly unsettling. Feitan’s eyes held an unhinged look. “Ohh, it thinks it’s so strong. How cute.” His voice dripped with venom at that last word. 

Phinks looked down at the man, concerned. “Nobu, don’t do this. Trust me, this is one itsy bitsy spider you don’t want to mess with.”

Nobunaga gritted his teeth. He completely ignored Phinks’s warning. “Why, you little… I’ll kill you right here and now!” 

Phinks panicked. “Fei, you don’t have to-“ Before he could finish his sentence, Feitan had slid down the boulder. Phinks slid down after him, following close behind. “Seriously Feitan, don’t do this.”

Feitan strode up to Nobunaga, still occasionally letting out a manic cackle. Raw bloodlust oozed palpably from him. 

Nobunaga looked at Chrollo. “Since he’s not one of us yet, I can kill him. Isn’t that right?” 

“In theory, yes.” Chrollo answered. He had his hands clasped together as he watched. “I’m curious to see how this plays out. Phinks, please step back. There’s no use in you getting hurt.” 

Phinks reluctantly stepped back. He imagined Nobunaga had a lot more experience, and was very worried for the boy he had promised to keep safe. 

Feitan extended his sword towards Nobunaga threateningly. “Ready?” His laughter had died down. Now, he looked cold and calculating. The whole troupe watched on with bated breath. 

Nobunaga entered an attack stance. “Ready when you-“ His sentence was abruptly cut off by a slice through his arm. Feitan had rushed him with blinding speed and was preparing for a second attack. Nobu had clearly been caught off guard but was trying to recover. Their blades clashed multiple times as they went back and forth between dodging and attacking. Nobunaga had experience, but Feitan had a completely unique style and was hard to predict. 

As soon as he could put enough distance between them, Nobunaga fired up one of his signature moves: a rapid barrage of slashes in every direction around himself. Phinks recognized it as a dual offense and defense technique. No part of Feitan’s body would be able to make it past that. He hoped Fei wouldn’t try. 

Feitan made a few slashes into the dome but was easily deflected every time. He slowed down and prowled in a circle around the protective zone. He looked and felt like an apex predator. To everyone’s surprise, he crouched down and pushed his sword into a rapid slide toward the dome. Nobunaga’s sword was not cutting close enough to the ground, allowing Feitan’s weapon to slide past the defensive zone and stab into the bottom of his shoe. He was knocked off his feet with a cry of surprise. 

As his opponent was falling, Feitan pounced and recaptured his blade. In the same fluid motion, he leaned back and slashed the backs of the man’s knees. Just as Nobunaga’s back hit the ground hard, he leaped on top of him and straddled him. He grasped the hilt with both hands and raised his sword up high in a stabbing position. It was aimed straight for Nobunaga’s heart. His scarf had come down just enough that they were able to see him lick his lips while he steadied the blade. 

Nobunaga had a hand raised in an attempt at self-defense. “H-hey, you’re taking this too far!” There was panic in his voice like Phinks had never heard from him before. 

Before Feitan could plunge the sword into Nobunaga’s chest, Uvogin scooped Feitan up with a single massive hand around his waist like a claw machine arm. “Sorry buddy, but I can’t let you kill my best friend.”

Feitan squeaked at the sensation of being grabbed and lifted. He immediately started writhing and hissing. “Release, releeeease!” He tried to cut Uvo with the sword, but it seemed the enhancer’s defenses were too tough. 

Uvo looked down at his friend. “You alright, Nobu?” 

“Yeah, I’m fine…” His voice was slightly strained. “Damn… I can’t get up.” He looked down at his butchered legs. He looked over to Machi irritably. “What the hell are you waiting for? Fix me up!” 

Machi shrugged. “I dunno, you did kind of earn that.” 

Chrollo’s voice came through somewhat sternly. “Machi.” 

She sighed. All the boss had to say was her name. She knew what he wanted. “Alright, fine.” She knelt down beside Nobunaga and produced her nen stitches. She swiftly began to sew him up, starting with his torn leg ligaments. 

Feitan’s words broke down into his original tongue. From his tone, it sounded like he was cursing Uvogin out. Eventually, his English returned to him. “He staked his life! Let me claim it!” 

Chrollo spoke up. “Technically, Nobu’s life belongs to me. He didn’t get my permission to offer it in trade, therefore I must revoke his promise. Sorry for the inconvenience.” He sounded surprisingly calm. 

Feitan stopped speaking, but he continued to hiss and try to cut Uvogin. 

Uvo sighed loudly. “Little buddy, I can’t put you down until you calm down and stop going after him.” 

Phinks trotted over to Uvogin. He paced around him anxiously, watching the elevated little spider as he flailed and fought. “Uvo, put him down. He doesn’t like touch.” 

Uvogin looked down at Phinks. “Alright. Can you keep him under control?”

“Yes.” The word escaped his mouth before he had the time to think about it. Dread washed through him as he realized he entirely lacked the power to contain this boy. 

Uvogin nodded. “Great. He’s all yours.” He plopped Feitan into the arms of a very surprised Phinks. 

Phinks instinctively wrapped his arms around the boy, not wanting to let him fall. He tried not to panic, unsure of how he would react. 

Feitan had frozen his motions. He stared intensely into Phinks’s eyes for a solid three seconds. He then re-sheathed his sword and tucked himself up against Phinks’s chest. He seemed calm and content. 

Phinks let out a quiet exhale of relief. It felt great to not only be touching the pint-sized pain packer, but serving as his safe place. 

Chrollo broke the silence in the room with a soft, slow clap. “Well done, Feitan. I’m very impressed.” He grinned. He looked to the giant who had interrupted the fight. “And thank you, Uvogin.”

Uvo nodded. “Sure thing, boss.” 

Chrollo returned his attention to Feitan. “I believe we’ve all come to the same conclusion. You are well worthy of a place here. Welcome to the Phantom Troupe.” 

Feitan emitted a happy little hum. His eyes squeezed shut in an adorable way. He looked like a sleepy cat, Phinks mused. 

Phinks grinned at his new friend. “Great job!” He whispered. 

Chrollo continued. “Ah, I almost forgot. I have a few conditions I need to go through before you officially make your decision.” He gave a similar rules and conditions spiel to the one Phinks had been given the night before, but this one was a bit more condensed. At the end of it, he asked once more. “Bearing all this in mind, do you agree to the conditions?”

Feitan considered for a moment. He looked up at Phinks, then back to Chrollo. “Yes.” 

Chrollo smiled. “Excellent. I’m very pleased to hear that.” He looked around to address the entirety of the group. “Now, before we welcome our newest member, I am adding a new rule that you all must obey. Absolutely no infighting. Henceforth, disagreements will be settled with a coin toss. For instance, if both Feitan and Nobu had agreed that only one of them could use a sword in combat, the victor of the coin toss would keep his sword. Any disagreements not able to be settled by coin toss or discussion should be brought to me instead. Is that clear?” 

Feitan pouted visibly. He must have been looking forward to a rematch with Nobunaga. 

“Clear as day.” Shalnark spoke up. 

Uvo and Franklin seemed displeased, but both nodded along with the rest of the group. 

“Alright, that’s settled.” Chrollo said. “Now let’s all give our official welcome to Feitan, our newest spider.” 

“I still don’t like you.” Nobunaga grumbled. “But I do respect you.” He spoke that last part much more quietly. With Machi’s nen stitches in effect, he was healing quickly and had been able to stand up. 

Shalnark waved. “Welcome to the troupe, Feitan! I’m Shalnark. I can already tell that you and I will get along great.” 

“Good to have you.” Their resident mind-reader spoke next. “My name is Pakunoda. I look forward to watching you grow as a fighter and thief. You have our support.” 

“I hope you can get used to me being a bit touchy.” Uvo stated with a grin. “Because that’s not gonna change. I think you’ll grow to like it. Manhandling is how I show affection.” 

Machi grinned. “Yeah, Uvo doesn’t get any better than this. I’m Machi, as you heard. Nice to have you onboard, short-stuff. Anyone who can kick Nobu’s ass is welcome on my team.” 

Feitan looked around as each spider spoke, giving each a soft incline of his head as they greeted him in their own ways. “It is… nice to be here. My greetings to you too.” 

Chrollo spoke next. “Feitan, is there anything you’d like to share about yourself with the group? Likes, dislikes? Completely optional, of course.”

Feitan took a moment to think. “Hm… I like nighttime, and stars. Long walks. The feeling of silk. My favorite sounds are shrieks of terror. Favorite animal is skulltula.” 

“That’s beautiful...” Chrollo said with genuine admiration. He looked about ready to tear up. 

Shalnark raised his hand. “I’ve got a few questions for you!” 

Phinks interrupted. “Let me guess, what’s his favorite color and age?”

Shalnark laughed. “Yeah, you got me!” 

“Blood.” Feitan spoke the single word in a deep, eerie voice. By the time he continued, his voice was back to normal. “And age is thirteen.” 

Franklin laughed. “Hear that, Nobu? You got your ass handed to you by a thirteen-year-old! That just made my day.”

“Oh, shut up!” Nobunaga snapped back at him. 

Uvo also burst out in a thunderous laugh. “Oh man, I’m never gonna let you live this down!” He said to Nobunaga, who griped out another ‘shut up’ before growing quiet himself. 

The next few hours elapsed in casual conversation. Phinks was quite relaxed as he got to know his fellow spiders better, and Fei seemed rather calm too. The others seemed to be more receptive to the moderately murderous new spider than they had been to him, but Phinks was too caught up feeling relief to feel any jealousy. Frankly, he was more than happy to simply keep holding his favorite spider. 

At a slow point in the conversation, Chrollo stood. “As many of you recall, during last night’s meeting I hinted at big news coming up. Allow me to reveal it.” 

Phinks perked up, hoping to hear of an upcoming heist. He certainly wasn’t expecting the boss to start undressing, but that was exactly what he did. Phinks tried not to stare or look dumbfounded as Chrollo slipped out of his coat and let it fall to the rock behind him. 

“My dear spiders, I am proud to announce that the design for our Phantom Troupe symbol has been completed at last.” He turned around so that his back was facing the group. Imprinted on his upper back between his shoulder blades was a massive black spider tattoo. The arachnid had twelve legs, was positioned upside down as though hanging from a web, and had the number zero on the center of its abdomen. 

Enthusiastic chatter picked up among the other troupe members. Many of them huddled closer to get a better look. Phinks also stepped closer, carrying Feitan along with him. He looked down at the little spider in his arms. “I didn’t actually know we’d be getting tattoos.” He whispered.

Feitan seemed intrigued at the prospect. “You’ll have to explain to me what a tattoo is. But I do like the spider’s look. Even though she has too many legs.” He responded back in a whisper. 

Uvo was grinning. “This is epic! I can’t wait to get one just like it!” 

Chrollo turned around to face them again. He wore a soft smile. “I’m glad you like it. But I was hoping our tattoos could have a unique touch. In addition to having your chosen number on your spider, each of us should have a unique placement. How large or small you make it is up to you.”

Uvo thought for a moment before enthusiastically continuing. “I’ve got just the place! Lower back, would that be far enough from yours to count as unique?” 

Chrollo nodded. “That’s perfectly acceptable.”

Uvogin did a fist pump. “Hell yeah! I’m getting me a sexy spider tramp stamp! That’s even better. I called it first, no one else can have it!” 

Shalnark laughed. “It’s all yours, Uvo.” 

Chrollo looked at Phinks and Feitan. “That reminds me, have either of you decided which number you would like?”

Phinks nodded. “Yeah, I think so. Is number eleven free?” 

“Nope! That’s me.” Uvo responded for Chrollo. 

Phinks hummed. “Alright, first backup option is number one. Is that one open?”

“Already taken.” Nobunaga said. 

“Okay… this is trickier than I thought. I definitely want an odd number. How about five?” 

Chrollo nodded. “Number five is available.” 

Phinks let out a sigh of relief. “Great, I’m glad that’s over. Five sounds perfect.”

Chrollo looked to Feitan. “And how about you?”

Feitan held up two fingers. 

Chrollo gave another nod. “Number two is also available.” 

Phinks looked down at Fei. “Hey, how’d you pick one that was free so fast?” 

Feitan shrugged. “Just wanted that one.” 

Machi grinned over at Phinks. “Looks like Fei’s just better than you at everything.” 

Phinks huffed but chose not to retort. 

“Number two, hell yeah!” Uvogin exclaimed. “You know what that means, you’re the shit!” 

Feitan looked at Uvogin like he’d grown an extra head. “What… does that mean?”

Uvo deflated slightly. “Aw man, you didn’t get it? Don’t worry about it. It’s a compliment.” 

“In any way,” Chrollo started. “You will all be receiving your tattoos tomorrow. I’ve found a skilled nen tattoo artist. Uvo, she should be able to get through your skin rather easily, so long as you lower your aura. She got mine done very quickly, in just about an hour. So, there will be time for all eight of you to have them done on the same day. Try to have your desired locations for these tattoos picked out before you arrive. Remember, no two in the exact same spot. The artist will verify with you on your turn whether or not the placement has been taken, it will be a case of first come, first served. We will meet here at 10 am tomorrow and travel to the studio together. I’ll bring lunch. Does anyone have questions?” 

Nobunaga spoke. “Yeah, just one. Who’s paying for this?” 

“It is only fair that since I’m the one mandating this, I will be paying for it.” Chrollo answered. 

Nobunaga seemed satisfied. 

Phinks was glad Nobu had asked. It was a relief knowing that he wouldn’t have to out himself and Feitan as broke to the entire group. 

Chrollo looked around to the others again. “Nobody else? Very well. Our meeting is adjourned. I wish you all a restful night. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He hopped down to the floor and made his exit. A few of the spiders stuck around in the warehouse, but most dispersed. 

Feitan started squirming in Phinks’s grasp. Phinks recognized the request and gently set him down on his feet. It had been very nice while it lasted. Feitan gave a slight nod and started to walk off. 

Phinks felt a sense of loss at the thought of being apart, even for a night. “Fei? Where are you going?” 

Feitan paused and looked back at him over his shoulder. “Wherever you are. Hurry up.” 

Phinks couldn’t help but smile. It was nice not to leave alone for once. “Right, I’m coming.” He trotted to catch up, then fell into a more comfortable stride next to him, leading the way. “Do you know where you’re gonna get your tattoo?”

Feitan nodded. 

Phinks stared expectantly for several seconds before it became clear that the boy wouldn’t answer unprompted. “Well? Where’d you pick?”

“Secret.” He answered cryptically. 

Phinks sighed. “Fine… guess I can wait for now. I’m still deciding for myself. Hey, I just remembered, you asked earlier what exactly a tattoo is. It’s a design that gets permanently printed into your skin by a color-dipped needle that stabs into you thousands of times. I’ve heard they’re pretty painful, so you should probably brace yourself for the worst.”

Fei gave an intrigued hum. “Sounds delightful.” 

“Are you… being sarcastic?” He asked deadpan. 

The boy shook his head. “No. I really do think it sounds like fun.”

Feitan never failed to surprise and confuse him. How could anyone look forward to pain? He really was a strange little spider. “I… don’t know what to say to that. But I’m glad you’re looking forward to it.” 

Feitan chuckled quietly. “When you’ve been nipped dozens of times by playful skulltula spiderlings, a tiny needle is nothing. I look forward to learning a new feeling.” 

Phinks gave a lopsided smile. “I guess that makes sense. You did say you came here to learn. By the way, you were amazing back there. Seriously. I’ve never seen a more skilled fighter in all my life. The boss seemed really impressed by you too.”

Feitan giggled, quiet as usual. “Thank you. Always nice to have my violence appreciated.” The contrast between his angelic giggle and the dark words only served to make him more alluring. Phinks knew then that no matter what happened, he would follow him to the ends of the earth. 

He led the way back to a small structure built from trash. It was isolated, far from the main residential areas in Meteor City. It was about the size of a small bedroom in its entirety, but it was nicely weatherproofed through months of trial and error. Phinks was a bit nervous that when Fei saw the place, he might be displeased. But there was no use dwelling on a worry. He gestured towards his makeshift house. “This is my place. What’s mine is yours.” He opened the door for him. 

Feitan gave a soft nod. “Don’t mind if I do.” He seemed completely undeterred by the small trash building. 

Phinks smiled, relieved. He followed his friend into the home. “Not much of a tour to give, but you can sorta tell where the comfy places are.”

Feitan did a quick lap around the house, then crashed down into a kneel on the pile of soft clothing that Phinks had assembled into a makeshift bed. He started kneading the fabric beneath his hands, seeming to be getting comfortable. He then plopped down to lie on his back. He hummed contentedly. “Soft, kind of like web. Soft is nice.” 

Phinks slowly sat next to him. The soft pile was scarcely large enough for himself, he wasn’t sure if it would fit them both. He also imagined Feitan would be reluctant to share his personal space. Still, it was worth the shot. He slowly laid down beside him, occupying the very edge of the bed. 

Feitan watched him calculatingly, then scooted to the far side, making more room. 

Phinks smiled at the subtle act of kindness. “I’m glad you like it. Goodnight, Fei.” 

Feitan gave a slow blink. “Night.” 

The day had felt so long. It didn’t take much time before both spiders drifted off to sleep, filled with hopeful dreams. 

Chapter Text

The next morning, Phinks and Feitan made their way together back to the warehouse. Phinks was more than happy to chat Fei’s ear off the whole way. It still felt incredible to him that someone like Feitan wanted to spend so much time with him. Between his own rambles and Fei’s concise responses, the journey elapsed quickly. 

The pair arrived nice and early. Chrollo directed a soft nod and smile their way. For the first time, Phinks had arrived before the whole troupe was assembled. It looked like they were missing Uvogin, Shalnark, and Franklin. 

Machi looked over as the two made their way in. “Well, look what the cat dragged in. About time you weren’t dead last, Phinks.” 

Phinks waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. I doubt you got here much earlier than we did.” 

She sighed. “No comment… Morning meetings suck.” 

Chrollo looked at the pink-haired spider with a slight grin. “It means a lot that you would endure such depths of suffering for our cause. Truly a martyr.” 

Machi pointed a thumb over at Chrollo while looking at Phinks. “See what I mean about mornings being weird? Even the boss is being sassy.” 

Pakunoda laid out a deck of cards on the floor. “Now that we have a few more people, is anyone in for a game of Cheat?” 

Machi yawned. “Sure. Might help wake me up.” 

Nobunaga walked closer. “Why not? I’m bored.” 

Phinks nodded. “If you’ve got the patience to teach me, I’m in.” In the back of his mind, he was glad to see that there was no apparent ill will between Fei and Nobu.

“Same.” Feitan answered. 

Pakunoda nodded. “Certainly. Teaching you to be skilled players will only take a few seconds.” She pulled out a gun and loaded it with two bullets. The energy around her spiked, revealing the use of nen. 

Phinks furrowed his brows. “Paku, what are you doing…?” 

“Teaching you the easy way. You could call it cheating.” She half-explained as she pointed the gun at Phinks’s head. “Do you agree to this?” 

Phinks exchanged a look with Feitan. His friend seemed intrigued, but Phinks wasn’t so sure about this. “Might just want to learn the old-fashioned way. Thanks anyway.” 

“I’ll try.” Feitan spoke up. 

Pakunoda nodded. She removed one of the nen bullets from the chamber and pointed the gun instead at Feitan’s head. 

Phinks was uneasy. He didn’t know Pakunoda’s ability and felt protective over Feitan. Still, he did have a degree of trust for her. She was always impartial and level-headed. Additionally, there were strict rules against infighting and killing other spiders. It was a challenge to be okay with a gun to Fei’s head, but logically he knew that it would be alright. 

There was a loud bang as the weapon fired. Feitan’s head was jolted back slightly from the force, but he was clearly alright. No mark was left on him after the projectile disappeared through his skull. He hummed and gave a nod. “Got it.” He looked at Phinks. “You’ll definitely lose if you don’t accept the memories.” 

“So that’s what it was… I’d still rather learn while we play.” 

Pakunoda nodded. “I understand. Boss, are you playing?”

Chrollo shook his head. “I prefer to watch, but thank you for the invitation.”

She gave a slight nod. “Alright. Let’s begin.” She started shuffling and dealing the cards. 

The five played for around half an hour. Phinks struggled at first, but with Pakunoda’s helpful pointers, he quickly started to improve. He still lost every round. Surprising no one, Feitan was a natural. He won two rounds. The last match ended when the three remaining spiders walked in. Shalnark walked in the middle with Uvogin and Franklin on either side of him. 

Shalnark waved. He looked apologetic. “Sorry we took so long. Uvo and Franklin were discussing some ‘big feelings’ about the new ‘no infighting’ policy.” 

Chrollo let out a quiet hum. “You're right on time. What matters is that we’re all here now.” He rose to his feet and jumped down to the floor. “Shall we be on our way?” 

Pakunoda quickly collected the remaining cards and stood. “Ready.” 

Uvo picked up the dozens of bags that lay near Chrollo. “Since most of this lunch is for me, it’s only fair that I carry it.” 

Chrollo nodded with a smile. “Thank you, Uvo. Come along.” He led the way out of the warehouse. 

The others followed their leader. They traveled together through the city until they reached the primary inhabited part of the district. Hundreds of shabby houses clustered into this small clearing within the city to avoid the methane gas and other toxicants that steamed more heavily out from the dump heaps elsewhere. They moved past the houses, receiving many strange looks from residents as they passed by. Phinks wasn’t used to getting this many looks. He supposed they were quite a strange group. When he studied where people stared the most, he realized that Uvogin and Franklin were receiving the brunt of the suspicion. He started to wonder if the reason Chrollo picked him was that he blended in more easily than the other heavy hitters. 

Past the housing district were the shops. Most vendors participated in open markets for canned foods, tools, and tradable goods like the ones Phinks scavenged for. He knew this place well. He herded Feitan to the inside of the group, using himself as a shield between him and the hundreds of people around them. He imagined it must be overwhelming for the misanthropic introvert. Uvogin was on Feitan’s other side. Between Uvo and himself, he was sure that nobody would address Fei. 

Feitan was looking around at absolutely everything. He seemed fascinated by the changes in scenery but certainly wasn’t rushing to get closer to the humans around them. 

Only a few vendors heckled the group as they passed through. Chrollo simply ignored them, and the others followed suit. 

Finally, they started to enter the wealthier part of the city. This section was by no means the richest, but it was a step above what most Meteor City inhabitants could afford. These shops were enclosed in sturdy buildings, granting more privacy than the open market experience. Chrollo led the way to a particular shop. On the outside, a hanging wooden sign in neat black ink read “Trash Whore Tattoos.”

Uvogin laughed upon reading the shop name. “Classy, I love it!” The tall man ducked to avoid hitting the sign with his head. 

Machi nodded. “Yeah. I also like this place already.” 

Chrollo rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. “She really does great work, that’s what’s most important.”

They entered the shop. Inside, the place was well-decorated with beautiful prints of the artist’s previous works. The building wasn’t particularly huge and only had one person inside. The woman was seated at a desk, busily working away on a sketch. She wore a dark blue crop top and short jean shorts. Her long, braided hair was a teal color, her eyes bright orange. Her face was made all the more memorable by the series of piercings and tattoos that decorated most of her skin. Tattoos covered over half of her visible skin throughout her body. She appeared to be somewhere in her late twenties. She paused the sketch and looked up at Chrollo with a grin. “You’re always on time. I don’t get it.”

Chrollo greeted her with a nod. “Good morning, Jezebel. We’re ready to get started when you are.”

She stood up and looked over the group. She seemed intrigued. “Well, ain’t you a fine fuckin’ batch of freaks?” Her eyes met with Machi’s. “Love the hair, babe.” She winked. 

Machi grinned back. “Thanks. I like yours too. This is a pretty cool place.” 

The woman held a hand dramatically over her heart. “How very kind. I’m Jezebel, by the way. Feel free to call me Jezi if you’re into nicknames. Chrollo here already briefed me on the tats. So, who’s first?” 

Uvo quickly set the food bags down and jumped forward enthusiastically. “Ooh, pick me! I’m gonna get me a sexy tramp stamp!”

Jezi laughed. “Sold! Get your thick ass over here.” She gestured with a hand before leading the thrilled Uvo off to an isolated room in the back. 

Chrollo looked to the others. “I’ll be supervising the process for each of you. If for whatever reason you’re uncomfortable with me being there, just say the word. Oh, and feel free to eat whenever you get hungry.” He gave a little wave before joining the two in the closed room. 

“Cards?” Pakunoda offered again. “Winner of each round gets to choose the order they get tattooed in.” The touch of competition was effective at luring the others into play. 

Pakunoda won the first match. She chose to go next after Uvo. Shalnark won next and claimed the third slot. When Feitan won, he chose to go last. Phinks was still learning and ended up being the grand loser. He was slotted into the only remaining spot, somewhere in the middle of the order. That was fine by him. 

About an hour after Uvogin had disappeared into the back room, he burst out and ran over to the others. He was still shirtless. 

Jezi shouted after him. “Oi, don’t bust my fucking door!” 

“Sorry, I’m just excited!” Uvo shouted back with a laugh. “Hey guys, check this out!” He turned around and showed them the huge spider tattoo along his lower back. The spider was facing sideways and had the number eleven in its abdomen. The skin around it was slightly red, but it seemed to be healing up very quickly. “It actually worked, this chick got through my skin! Pretty sick, huh?” 

Nobu gave a lopsided grin. “It’s very you, Uvo. Paku, you’re next.” 

Pakunoda nodded. “See you all soon.” She headed into the room as Jezi waved her in. 

Uvo sat down heavily and immediately started devouring ungodly amounts of their packed food. 

The time crawled on slowly. Pakunoda, Shalnark, and Machi all had their turns before Phinks was up. Pakunoda and Shalnark had declined to show off their tattoos, but he got to see Machi hold up hers on the way out. Her smaller spider was on the back of her hand. It revealed her number three. 

Phinks waited for Jezi to call “next” before making his way into the back room. He looked around curiously. The room was neat, well-lit, and adorned with several miscellaneous knick-knacks. There was a lounging chair in the center of the room. Jezi was seated on a stool beside it, while Chrollo was sitting in a chair up against the wall. 

Chrollo gave a little wave. “Hello, Phinks. Are you comfortable with me being here?” 

Phinks nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got no problem with that. I’m guessing this one’s for me?” He gestured to the lounging chair. 

“Yup,” Jezi answered. “Phinks, was it? Where do you want yours?” 

He sat down once he had confirmation. “Left calf. Is that one taken?”

“Nope, you’re the first to claim the left calf.” Jezi said. “Makes it a lot easier for me that none of you have wanted an already used spot so far.” 

Phinks grinned. “Cool. It’s kind of a funny story, a skulltula once caught me by the left leg. That’s the symbolism behind it.” 

Jezi started pushing him until he flipped over onto his side, his back facing her. “Alright, I’ll humor you. How exactly would someone get away from a skulltula once it grabbed them?”

“Let’s just say I had a bit of help.” He looked back over his shoulder to try to see what she was doing. She was shaving his left calf. It was a strange sensation that he had never felt before. 

She hummed. “Nobody gets away from those things. They’re our city’s most infamous magical beasts for a reason.”

“Well, this somebody did. Someone has to survive to tell the stories, right?” 

“No, the ones who tell the stories are the poor fuckers who watched their friends being dragged away and eaten. Not the ones who get got themselves.” She finished shaving him and started drawing the outline on his skin in thin marker. 

He shrugged. “You don’t have to believe me. I’m just glad I made it out alive.” 

Chrollo spoke next. “Is that really true, Phinks?” There was wonder in his voice. 

“Yeah. It was actually pretty recent. Kind of fitting that I’m a spider now. I wonder if you’d still like them as much if one got so close to eating you, boss.” 

Chrollo hummed happily. “If anything, that would only serve to increase my wonder at their power and majesty. I have so many questions.” 

“What’s your number?” Jezi interrupted. 

“Oh, right. It’s five.” Phinks answered. He could feel the marker against his skin again as she drew the number into it. 

Chrollo leaned in closer. “Perfect.” 

She chuckled. “Of course it is. Have I ever let you down, love?” She poked his forehead tattoo for emphasis. 

“You certainly haven’t.” Chrollo said fondly. 

Jezi poked her finger into the back of Phinks’s leg. “You, browless wonder. I’m about to start. Since this goes so much faster than an ordinary tattoo, it hurts a hell of a lot more. Just a courtesy heads up. If you squirm, I’ll bust your kneecap. Got it?” 

Phinks groaned. “Can I please get a new nickname? Or just Phinks.” 

“The more you bitch about it, the more I’ll call you browless wonder.” He could hear the teasing smile in her voice. She held the tattoo gun over his skin. The flare in her aura was subtle, but still enough to easily feel. “And three, two… one.” She pressed the rapidly firing needle in. 

Phinks grunted at the pain and balled his hands up into fists. It was more painful than he had expected, but he could handle it without squirming. He tried to focus on the feeling of clenching and unclenching his fists. The tattoo gun moved over him very quickly. It was as though she were still drawing with the marker. 

Chrollo spoke again. “So… what did the skulltula look like?” 

Phinks was grateful for the distraction. He picked the conversation back up, going into as much detail as he could without betraying Feitan’s secrets. 

Just half an hour after Jezi had started, the tattoo gun quieted. Phinks expected her to simply be taking another break to dip the needle in ink, but she set the handheld device down on the table next to her. “Alright browless wonder, you’re all done! Come have a look.” 

“That was fast.” Phinks commented. He sat up with his legs in front of him, careful not to brush the raw skin against the chair or himself. It was exactly as he had wanted; a medium spider occupying the thickest section of his calf. It was facing upward and had his very own number five in the center of the abdomen. He smiled. “It’s perfect, thank you.” 

“Oh, you’re gonna make me blush!” Jezi exclaimed, dramatically waving a hand at her face as though to cool down. 

Chrollo scooted closer to get a better look. “Another flawless work. Phinks, do you know who’s next?” 

“Yeah, that would be Nobu.” He looked to Jezi. “That’s the guy with the kimono and weird hairdo.” 

Jezi nodded. “Right then. I’ll call him in next.” 

Phinks stood. “Thanks again.” He walked out, leaving the door open. 

From behind him, Jezi shouted loudly through the doorway. “Oi, samurai jack-off! Get your scrawny ass in here right now!” 

Phinks covered his mouth to hold back a laugh. Suddenly, his nickname didn’t sound quite so bad. 

Nobunaga groaned loudly. “The name is Nobunaga!” He shouted back as he headed over. 

“I fucking know! But you’re samurai jack-off here, now quit bitching or I’ll tattoo a fuckin’ dick on your spider!!” Jezi taunted back. 

Nobu quickly shut up, trying to ignore the cackles of his fellow spiders. 

Feitan looked at Phinks as he neared. “She knows that spiders don’t have… dicks, right?” 

Phinks furrowed his brows. “Wait, they don’t? Then what do they have down there?” 

“I’ll tell you when you’re older.” Feitan replied in a patronizing tone. 

Phinks brushed past the comment and sat down next to Feitan. His pant leg was still rolled up to prevent the fabric from brushing his new tattoo. “Hey Fei, check it out!” 

Feitan leaned over inquisitively. From his hum of understanding, Phinks knew he recognized the significance. Fei gave a slight nod of approval. 

Shalnark crowded over. “Hey, if you’re showing it off the rest of us wanna see too!”

Phinks tucked his leg against himself just to be obnoxious. “I dunno, if you didn’t show me yours, why should I show you mine?” 

“Aw come on, that’s not fair…” Shalnark pouted. 

Phinks chuckled. “I’m just messing with you. Here it is.” He stood and turned his back to the group to give the rest of them a good view of his tattoo. 

Shalnark instantly smiled again. “Hey, that looks great! A leg tattoo was a good idea. It probably hurt way less than mine.” 

“Oh, yeah? Where’d you get yours?”

He pressed a finger to his lips. “Still not telling, sorry.” 

Phinks sighed. “That’s fine. Hey, did the rest of you get demeaning nicknames too? I only just started hearing them with mine.”

Uvogin shook his head. “I wouldn’t call mine demeaning. She called me ‘sloppy bear.’ I kinda like it, maybe I’ll have to start wearing a bear skin around.” 

Machi sighed. “I don’t like mine, but it’s not the worst. Mine was ‘pinkie pie.’” 

“Could be much worse.” Phinks said with a nod. “I got ‘browless wonder.’ How about you, Shal?” 

Shalnark rubbed the back of his neck with a little laugh. “I’m not sure why, but she called me ‘Barbie babe.’ Guess we’re just missing you, Paku. Did you get a nickname?”

Pakunoda wiggled slightly. “‘Tits’... She just called me ‘tits.’”

Uvogin burst out laughing. “Oh man, I love these names! We should keep them!”

“Hell no.” Phinks refused. 

Uvo grinned. “You don’t have to agree for me to use it… browless wonder!” 

Feitan let out a subdued little laugh. 

Phinks rolled his eyes. “Ugh, I never should have told you guys.”

Another forty minutes later, Nobunaga emerged from the room. He looked miserable, clearly not as much of a trooper with the name-calling. 

Jezi shouted out again. “Samurai jack-off is out! Looks like you’re next, flopsy bunny!” 

Franklin tensed up with a mildly murderous look. It was the first time Phinks had seen him break. He couldn’t help but look at Franklin’s long, dangling earlobes. That must have been where Jezi had picked that name from. Franklin sighed quietly, schooling his features again as he rose. He disappeared next, leaving Nobu to have his turn snickering at someone else’s terrible nickname. 

After an hour, Franklin left the room and sat with the others. 

“Flopsy is out! Last but not least,” Jezi called, “Skull-fucker!” 

Feitan merely hummed, seeming unperturbed. It made it a lot harder for the others to laugh at him. He entered the room and closed the door behind himself. 

Phinks wondered where he was getting his tattoo. It couldn’t be anywhere too personal, since Chrollo was still allowed in the room. He imagined it would be somewhere like the back of his neck, or maybe along his wrist. Something classy and dignified like that. He would just have to wait and see. 

It took just over half an hour before Feitan emerged from the room alongside Jezi and Chrollo. Feitan yawned cutely. His eyes blinked slowly in a sleepy manner. 

Phinks jogged to meet him halfway. “Hey, you okay, Fei?”

Feitan nodded. “Why wouldn’t I be? Just had a nice nap.” 

“You… you napped in the middle of all that?” He asked in confusion. 

“Mhm. The rhythm was very soothing.” 

Phinks sighed. “I should have known you’d end up enjoying yourself somehow. I’m glad you had fun. Hey, can I see your tattoo now?”

Feitan raised a brow at him and said nothing. 

Chrollo leaned closer to Phinks and whispered. “You should consider yourself very lucky if you ever get to see his.” 

Phinks’s face flushed red. “W-wait, where is it? He let you see it?” 

Chrollo shook his head. “I was there, yes, but that is not my secret to divulge.” 

Jezi spread her arms in a grandiose, dramatic gesture before addressing the troupe. “Ladies and gentlemen of this court of freaks, your attention, please. It is my pleasure and honor to officially decree every last one of you trash whores!” 

Uvogin, Shalnark, Machi, and even Feitan laughed. 

Phinks looked away, still red. He saw that Nobu also looked a bit embarrassed. Chrollo and Pakunoda wore sheepish smiles, while Franklin didn’t react much at all. Always a resting poker face on that man. 

Jezi continued. “I would like to make a special thanks to three sexy little sluts who will always hold a special place in my heart.” She first looked to Uvo. “Sloppy bear, it takes a real man to flaunt a tramp stamp. And boy, do you rock it.” She blew him a kiss.

Uvogin laughed. “I knew I would!”

She then looked between Shalnark and Feitan. “Barbie babe and sleeping beauty. You know what you did~! You’re naughty little whores and I’m living for it! Love you, baby boos.” She joined her hands into a heart. 

Shalnark laughed. “Thanks, Jezi. You’re the best!”

Feitan stuck out his tongue with a little smile, visible past the scarf as he ducked his head. 

Phinks turned to the two, all the more flustered now. “Wait, where did both of you get yours?!” 

Feitan scuttled closer to Shalnark and leaned on his tiptoes to whisper something to him. Shalnark held a hand over the side of his mouth to block any lip reading as he leaned down and whispered back. The two broke into shared giggles after the exchange. They must have shared their tattoo locations with each other, Phinks thought jealously. 

Chrollo started to walk over to the artist’s desk. “We’re all very pleased with the results. Let’s go ahead and finalize the payment, Jezebel.” 

Jezi nodded and headed after him. “Sounds good.” 

Phinks crept over to where Feitan and Shalnark were standing together, the two still grinning at each other. “Hey, Fei? I’m losing my mind over here. Would you please just tell me where you got your spider?” 

Feitan sighed exasperatedly. “Fine. But nobody else.” He strode towards the back room where they had been tattooed. 

Phinks followed closely. He wondered why such distance was needed to share a secret, but he wouldn’t question it. 

Once inside the room, Feitan closed the door and stood by the chair where they had gotten their work done. He slipped off his left shoe. He then opened up his long coat down the middle and started wiggling his pants down his hips. Now that the coat was undone, his lack of an undershirt was apparent. 

Phinks just gawked. He couldn’t bring himself to look away, though he certainly didn’t want to. Feitan’s pants clung tightly to his hips, and watching him wiggle out of them was quite the show. 

Feitan lowered his pants to knee level and pulled just his left leg out from the fabric. He did have on a pair of black underwear, so he wasn’t completely exposed. He lifted his foot up onto the chair, then positioned his leg with his knee bent and his inner thigh exposed outward. His tattoo was very high up on his inner thigh. It was a large size, with the tips of its legs creeping over onto the front and back of his thigh. The spider was positioned upright as though crawling up his leg. The number two adorned its abdomen. 

Phinks lost track of how long he had stared before Feitan swiftly removed his leg from the chair and fully reclothed himself. With the tattoo no longer in view, he looked back up to Fei’s face. Feitan was raising a brow at him again with an unimpressed expression. Phinks cleared his throat, briefly averting his gaze. “Sorry for staring. It looks really great. That’s… that’s a great spot.” 

“Pervert.” He said flatly. 

Phinks’s eyes widened and he adamantly waved his hands back and forth in front of him. “No no, it’s not like that! I, uh, I was just giving a compliment!” 

Feitan let out a short, quiet laugh. “Kidding.” 

Phinks let out a long groan and slumped down like a corpse into the chair. This boy was going to be the death of him. 

“Let’s go.” Fei said as he started to walk back out. “They’ll be finishing up by now.” 

“Right…” Phinks got back up and followed him out. He hoped his blush had gone down enough that the others wouldn’t mock him for it. 

No more than a few seconds after they had returned to the main group, Shalnark turned to Feitan. “You showed him, didn’t you?” 

Feitan nodded. 

Shalnark laughed. “Thought so, he’s all red! That was nice of you.” 

Phinks turned away with a soft growl. Just his luck that it would be pointed out like that. 

Feitan let out another little giggle and bumped shoulders with Shalnark. 

Shalnark smiled brightly and pressed back. The two seemed to be becoming fast friends despite being polar opposites. 

Chrollo rejoined the group. “All taken care of. Let’s return to the hideout.” 

Jezi waved at the Phantom Troupe as they left the shop. “See you, ya beautiful fuckin’ freaks! Call me up when you get new spiders, and best of luck to you lot!”

Once they had all exited the shop, Nobunaga spoke. “I still can’t believe that lady with her nicknames. I’m glad that she at least had enough respect not to give one to you, boss.” 

Chrollo cleared his throat quietly. “About that… I do unfortunately have one, she was simply kind enough not to say it in front of the rest of you.” 

Pakunoda snuck up on Chrollo and touched his shoulder. She threw a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with mirth as she absorbed the memory. 

“Paku, don’t-“ Chrollo started to protest. 

“Satan’s little bitch!” Pakunoda announced to everyone before he could finish the demand. 

Laughter erupted from the troupe. Chrollo pinched the bridge of his nose, his face slightly red. “It’s really not that funny… let’s just go.” He started to speed walk out of there. 

The group headed back the way they had come. By now, the sun had set and Meteor City’s nightlife was abuzz. The streets were generally more dangerous at night, but it was also significantly less hot in the evening hours. In the game of ‘pick and choose,’ Phinks would always take nighttime. 

Before long, they were outside the main city. The evening grew quiet in the absence of life, but the chatter of the spiders filled the night with life. 

Phinks felt a sense of camaraderie at a whole new level. Now that they all had matching tattoos, it somehow felt even more special. It was no longer him and Feitan amid everyone else, it was all of them feeling closer together. Granted, he still favored Feitan, but it was good to feel like he was truly part of the group. He had full faith in Chrollo and in his fellow spiders. He really saw a future with the Phantom Troupe. 

Around ten at night, they made it back to the warehouse they had been using as a hideout for the last several days. Before everyone could lounge about, Chrollo addressed them. “I’m very glad we could make this happen today. Thank you, each and every one of you. I’m lucky to have you all. I have another announcement, just a few more minutes of your time. Our lovely Shalnark here has served a crucial role in planning the next great Phantom Troupe heist. Phinks and Feitan, I know this will be your first. I want you both to know that you can have faith in us as a troupe. We haven’t failed yet, and we don’t ever intend to. Allow me to fill you all in on the details of our upcoming quest. But first, an open question. What is Meteor City’s greatest export?” 

Shalnark clearly knew the answer but was keeping quiet to give someone else a chance. 

Nobunaga shrugged. “I didn’t think we had any exports, frankly. We’ve just got trash.”

Chrollo gave an incline of his head. “I understand the confusion. Meteor City does not have any legitimate exports, but we do have one invaluable commodity: people. Human trafficking is the single most profitable enterprise around. So, who better to rob than those responsible? We’ve already stricken the mafia, but they’re far from the only ones involved in the kidnapping and sale of people. We’ve located the primary agency that provides human life not only to our city’s mafia, but to other mafias and notorious criminal enterprises worldwide. In two day’s time, we will attack them where it hurts: their main safe.

“Through careful investigation, we have managed to locate this vital asset. The plan is as follows. Uvogin and Phinks, you will create a diversion by causing massive destruction to the north-face outer walls. Shalnark and Pakunoda, you will be our eyes on the outside. You will inform us if anything unexpected emerges. The rest of us will infiltrate the base from the south face. The safe is located in the approximate center of the building. Between the distraction and the break-in, we will create havoc and prevent a coordinated counterattack. That should give us easy access to the safe after picking the enemies off one by one. 

“The safe should simply be made of steel. Nobu, you will cut a way in. Franklin, you’ll be outside of the safe launching a suppressive fire. The rest of us will enter the safe and grab what we can. Bear in mind that you’ll need a free hand to defend yourselves on the way out. We’ll have grab bags to make things easier. Naturally, we will kill any who stand in our way. Questions?” 

Feitan was the first to speak. “Are you sure that he can cut open thick steel?” He pointed at Nobu. “He didn’t manage to cut through my thin blade.” 

Nobunaga glared. “You just won’t get off my tail, will you? I was focusing more on speed than strength, that’s why I didn’t cut through your cheap sword.”

Chrollo spoke again. “On that note, Feitan, we need to start nen training. During your fight with Nobu, you were using small amounts of nen. That tells me your body uses it as an automatic defense system. The more you know, the stronger you will become. I’ll help you understand the nature of nen and unlock your very own specialty.”

Phinks hadn’t known about Feitan’s accidental use of nen during the fight. He really should have used gyo in his eyes to see what was going on, but it was too late now. He still had a long way to go.

Feitan gave a slow nod. “Understood. When do we start?”

“We begin training tomorrow morning. Same time as today. That should give us enough time to take you through the basics before our heist. We will attack the trafficker’s headquarters in two day’s time. Nobu and Uvo, how would you feel about participating in training for Feitan and Phinks?”

“You know I’m down!” Uvogin replied, enthusiastic as ever. 

Nobunaga furrowed his brows slightly. “You want me to teach the little punk?”

Chrollo chuckled. “Correction, I simply want you to help teach him. I will do the majority of the training. The fact of the matter is you two are both skilled swordsmen. With your experience, you can more easily teach him about imbuing nen into his blade. Making it an extension of himself. I’m personally not very skilled in that department. And Uvo, go ahead and teach Phinks more about the joys of meat-fetti.” 

Uvogin gave a thumbs up. “You’ve got it, boss!” 

Nobunaga sighed quietly. “Alright, alright… I guess I’ll help teach him.” 

Chrollo gave a soft bow of his head. “Thank you both. Your assistance will make this a lot easier.” 

Machi spoke next. “So, if you five are training tomorrow, where does that leave the rest of us?”

“The rest of you can take tomorrow off. Rest up before the heist. Your time is yours. When the following day comes, meet here at eleven at night.” 

Machi nodded. “Cool.” 

Chrollo continued. “For those of you who will be training tomorrow, I’ll see you in the morning. That’s all I have for you tonight. At any time you may address questions about the upcoming heist to me or Shalnark.” 

With that, the troupe parted ways for the night. Phinks and Feitan departed together again. Phinks looked at Feitan as they walked through the silent night. “You ready for tomorrow?”

Feitan hummed softly. “Don’t know what to expect. But you and the boss seem sure that I can do this nen thing. So, I see no reason to worry.” 

“I’m glad you’re not worried. You’ve done great at everything that gets thrown your way. The hardest part for you tomorrow will probably be not killing Nobu.” He grinned. 

A quiet laugh escaped him. “I’ll be good… mostly.” 

———

The next day, Phinks and Feitan returned to the old hideout as planned. When training began, they split into two teams: Phinks trained with Uvogin outside the warehouse, while Feitan would be taught by Chrollo and Nobunaga inside. 

Uvogin seemed enthusiastic as he led Phinks off. “You’re gonna have tons of fun training with me, I know it! Since you already know how nen works, you get to skip the boring lecture on the basics. You know what we get to do?” 

“Punch hard good?” Phinks guessed. 

Uvogin pointed at him, grinning broadly. “Exactly! Punch hard good! It’s an enhancer’s bread and butter. For starters, I wanna see what you’re made of.” He held out an open hand, palm facing forward. “Hit me as hard as you can without doing that wind-up thing you mentioned. Right here.” He pointed at his palm. 

Phinks felt a bit uncertain. “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.” 

Uvo laughed. “Don’t worry, you won’t! My defense is better than a tank’s. Just trust me.” 

“Alright, if you say so. Guess you did manage to hold back Feitan pretty well.” He threw a solid punch into Uvogin’s fist. He had hit as hard as he could, but the larger man hadn’t budged an inch. 

Uvo gave a nod. “Not bad! Now start doing the wind-up. One at a time. I want to see how much stronger you get each time.” 

Phinks gave a cocky grin. “You got it. But don’t be surprised when I break through your defense.” 

Uvo let out another laugh. “I hope you do!” 

Phinks wound back once, then punched into Uvogin’s palm again. The man still didn’t budge. 

“Hey, I felt the difference! Keep it up, two winds this time.” Uvo coached. 

Phinks huffed slightly. Uvogin was tougher than he had realized. He continued enhancing his strength through each consecutive punch. By the time he reached six winds, Uvogin was finally pushed back by about an inch. Phinks let out a victorious little laugh. “You moved!” 

Uvogin nodded with a little grin. “Just a bit. Now, see if you can get my arm to buckle under the pressure instead of just pushing me back. You’re doing good.” 

At seven winds, he pushed Uvo back a few inches. At eight, he pushed him about a foot back. The progress continued on a similar trajectory until at fifteen winds, Uvo’s arm was pushed back to his chest while he was also pushed back several feet. Phinks was panting from exertion, but he was grinning triumphantly. “Got ya!” 

Uvo threw up his hand in a celebratory fist pump. “Yeah, you did! Awesome! Let’s keep going.” He walked back to his previous point in front of Phinks and held out his hand again. 

Phinks nodded and got back to winding. He was tired, but he also really wanted to see what he could do. He had never been able to effectively practice to this level, thus his limits were unknown to him. At sixteen winds, Uvo was again pushed back several feet with his hand forced back against his chest. 

Uvogin looked down at the slide marks his feet had left on the ground for the past two punches. “Looks like you capped out at fifteen. Sixteen didn’t give any extra damage.”

Phinks sighed. “Well, at least now I know.”

“Hey, it’s a good starting point! Every time you wind, your power just about doubles. I figured it’d be a matter of addition. The fact that it’s a matter of multiplication is way better! We’re gonna tackle three things together: power, stamina, and defense. Power to increase the strength of each hit. Stamina to allow you to get more winds in before you cap out. And defense to make you damn near invincible. You’ve got the stuff for it. The boss made a good choice picking you.” 

Phinks averted his gaze, getting a bit bashful. “You don’t gotta butter me up like that… let’s just punch stuff.” 

“That’s the spirit!” Uvo said with a laugh. 

Uvogin went on to coach Phinks on concentration techniques, exercises for increased stamina, and the best ways to attack powerful enemies in disadvantaged situations. The lesson was a bit scattered, bouncing back and forth between different things as Uvo got excited about them, but Phinks kept up well. They lost track of time, focusing on the task at hand true to their enhancer natures. 

After a while, Uvo nudged Phinks. “Hey, let’s take a break.” 

“Break? I’m just getting started.” Phinks said despite being a panting, sweaty mess. 

Uvogin chuckled. “Yeah, but we’re taking a break to check on your boyfriend~!”

Phinks could feel himself instantly grow red. “H-hey, he’s not my boyfriend!” 

“I’m just messing with you.” He winked. “Besides, I can hear what’s going on in there. He’s about to do the leaf test. Don’t you wanna see for yourself firsthand what nen type he is?”

Phinks was surprised that Uvo could hear that well from way out here. He really did have a long way to go. “I definitely want to see that. Let’s go.” He followed Uvo back into the warehouse. 

Just as Phinks and Uvogin were coming in, Feitan put his hands on the water glass. Nobunaga was leaning in from the side to get a better peek. Nobody could quite place Feitan’s nen type, and they were all curious to see the result. This time, Phinks made sure to activate gyo in his eyes to see what the little spider was doing. 

Feitan concentrated. He channeled his energy into the glass. For a few moments, nothing happened. 

‘So, he’s a transmuter? The water must have changed taste.’ Phinks thought to himself. 

There was a sudden burst of light, and out of nowhere the leaf that floated at the water’s surface was engulfed in flame. The water bubbled in a scalding simmer. The heat didn’t seem to affect Feitan, who kept his hands on the glass with a fascinated look in his storm-colored eyes. The leaf quickly burnt to ash. The bubbles slowed and then ceased altogether in a matter of seconds. When the simmer had died down, what was left at the surface of the water was an ash-infused layer of ice. 

Phinks stared in wonder. He had never seen or heard of a reaction like that. He let out a low whistle in admiration. 

Uvogin and Nobunaga were exchanging a look. “I win.” Nobu stated. 

Uvo sighed. “Yeah, alright. You called it.”

So, they had placed a bet. Phinks wondered what they had staked, but it was only a background curiosity. Most of his attention remained on Fei. 

Chrollo was smiling. “Excellent… such a strong reaction. You show so much promise already… Normally, someone would have to train for weeks at the very least before they channeled that much raw power into the leaf and water. You are a specialist. Same as me.”

Feitan gave a slow nod. He started poking at the icy layer in the glass. The sheet of ice broke into smaller pieces at the pressure. “Neat. What’s next?” 

“Your ability seems to be at least partially elemental. The presence of both fire and ice may hint at what you can do. We’re going to continue training until we can extract enough clues to know what we’re working with.” 

“Hm. Are we done with this?” Feitan asked, pointing to the water. 

Chrollo nodded. “Yes, I believe we are. Why do you ask?”

“I drink.” Feitan picked up the cup. 

“Oh, I don’t think you want to do that, there’s ash in it…” Chrollo tried. 

Feitan looked at the water, then at Chrollo, then back to the water again. “I drink.” He repeated before taking several small sips. He furrowed his brows as he ceased drinking. “Tastes like blood.” 

Chrollo eyed the glass curiously. “I’d like to have a taste.” 

Feitan set the glass back down on the table and gestured towards it in a ‘go ahead’ motion.

Chrollo dipped a finger into the water and brought it to his lips. He seemed confused as he licked the drop up. He took another dip with two fingers and tasted the water again. “This is very strange… you really have changed the flavor properties of the water. It tastes just like slightly watered-down blood. That suggests you are a transmuter, but I haven’t seen or heard of elemental effects in any transmuter leaf tests. I’ve read quite a lot on the subject.” He hummed. “Come to think of it, it’s not unheard of. There are many theories behind abnormal test results. I believe that your primary nen type is transmuter. Your aura transmutes to fire or ice. It must have revealed itself in the test because it is volatile in nature. If it’s true that your aura is so volatile, then we will have to take extra precautions when training. And especially when unleashing it in battle.” 

Feitan only seemed to be half-listening. “Mhm.” He picked the cup back up and quickly drank the rest of it. 

Chrollo looked equal parts amused and confused. “Do you actually enjoy the taste of blood?”

“You don’t?” It was answer enough. 

Uvogin grinned and pointed at Nobunaga. “Sucks to suck, now I win!” 

Nobunaga groaned loudly. 

Uvogin nudged Phinks. “C’mon, let’s get back to training before the boss thinks we’re slacking off.” 

“Good point.” Phinks whispered. He slipped back outside with Uvo. 

Uvogin pointed to one of his ears. “Don’t worry, I’m keeping a close ear on what’s going on in there. If things get interesting, we can easily take a peek.” 

“Sounds good. Hey, so what’d you guys bet?”

“Oh, not that much, just ten percent of the next heist’s profits. He was the one who proposed the bet, so I’ll be sure to rub it in extra! I thought Feitan was a transmuter, and Nobu guessed he was a specialist. The boss’s final decree seems to be transmuter, so it looks like I won!” Uvo seemed very proud of himself. “What was your guess?”

Phinks glanced back at the building. He still wanted to watch Feitan’s training, but he knew it was best to listen to the boss and focus on his own. “I kind of thought he might be an emitter. Or maybe a specialist. How’d you guess right?”

“Intuition.” Uvo responded with a grin. “If I’m gonna be completely honest, all the transmuters I’ve met have a distinct flavor of bitchiness that Fei fits into perfectly.” 

Phinks stared at him incredulously. “Dude, he’ll kill you if he hears you saying that!” 

“And that would only prove my point!” He laughed. “Now come on, give me your best punch again!” He held out an open palm. 

Their enhancer training continued for a while before Uvo paused to sneak up to an open window of the warehouse. He gestured for Phinks to follow. He must have heard something interesting from inside. 

Phinks crept up to the other side of the window and looked into the building with him. 

Chrollo was cupping Feitan’s open hands in his own. Energy radiated powerfully from the tiny transmuter. “That’s it, you’re very close… focus on what you want your energy to become. Picture yourself attacking an enemy.” 

Fei nodded and closed his eyes. The ball of energy contained within his open palms began to spark. It very quickly escalated from tiny sparks to massive bolts of electricity firing in all directions. 

Chrollo had a quick reaction time but still got zapped slightly before he dove towards the window that Uvo and Phinks were watching through. The two quickly ducked off to the side as they saw him coming. Chrollo landed on the ground in a crouching position. He rubbed softly at the shocked hand. “I suppose I was right about his power being volatile. This is going to be more difficult than I expected…” He murmured, half to the two watching and half to himself. 

“You okay?” Phinks asked, concerned. 

Chrollo nodded and got back to his feet. “I’m quite alright. Thank you for asking.” 

Feitan’s confused voice emerged from inside. “Boss? Where are you?” 

Chrollo quickly peeked in to make sure the coast was clear. “Right here, Feitan. We’ll need to work a bit on containing your aura.” 

“I’ll say! The little runt almost electrocuted me!” Nobunaga griped from within. He had evidently taken shelter behind a large stone slab. 

Feitan glared at Nobunaga. “Not too late to fix my miss.” Smaller bursts of electricity danced around him as he made the threat. 

Chrollo sighed. “Once again, into the fray.” He said under his breath before hopping back in through the window. 

Uvogin and Phinks exchanged a look. “Well, that was pretty badass.” Uvo said. 

Phinks rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah… I wasn’t expecting electricity, I thought it’d be fire or ice.”

Uvogin shrugged. “Yeah, nen is pretty wibbly wobbly. It’s full of exceptions and surprises. Maybe electricity is the leveled-up version of fire, I dunno.” 

They vaguely heard Feitan’s lessons continue from indoors. Chrollo seemed to be doing a reasonably good job at helping him contain his aura, until an hour later when he again came leaping out the window. This time, a burst of fire was tailing him out. They could hear Nobunaga cursing loudly from inside. 

Chrollo had landed in a prone position on the ground to avoid the roaring flame. He looked back over his shoulder. “Well… I know it looks bad, but it’s actually not going poorly.” He said to Uvo and Phinks without them having to ask. “Things seemed to be going very well, but after so many times of me telling him to modify his nen output to more, then less, then more, then less again, he seemed to grow frustrated…” He seemed to have a revelation and jumped to his feet. “He was frustrated! Aha, another piece of the puzzle! His elemental transmutation is affected by his emotional state!” 

Feitan slowly crept to the window and peeked out after him. “Sorry… accident.” He seemed genuinely apologetic. 

Chrollo brushed himself off. “It’s alright, you’re still learning. You’re doing very well.”

Feitan gave a sheepish smile and nodded appreciatively. 

Nobunaga stormed out through the door and joined them at the side of the warehouse. His hair was slightly singed. “That’s it, I’m staying the hell outside.” 

Now it was Chrollo’s turn to look sheepish. “Sorry, Nobu. You’re welcome to stay outside.” He crawled back in through the window again. “Just a little longer, Feitan. I have a few exercises I’d like to try with you, now that I know what to expect.” 

After a few more moments of processing, Uvogin turned to Phinks. “Aaand there’s the fire we were expecting. Hey Nobu, you good?” 

Nobunaga sighed and sat down with his back against the warehouse wall. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just hot and bothered, but not in the fun way.”

Uvo laughed. “Well, pissed or not, I’m glad your sense of humor is still intact. The boss really is a sucker for punishment, isn’t he? Going in again and again like that. I guess it’s in his best interest to tough it out. I’d do the same, I’m just surprised he hasn’t asked for any help from the rest of us. This new kid is a handful.” 

Nobunaga shrugged. “At least the little runt is trying, I’ll give him that much. I’m sure he’ll be one hell of a fighter when he can actually control all that power. Otherwise, the rest of us are going to have to learn to bolt for cover when he gets going.” 

Phinks couldn’t help but grin smugly at Nobu. “I hope you realize you’re saying that I picked out a great nominee. And you made such a fuss about doubting him. Seems to me like you owe us both an apology.” 

Nobunaga waved a hand dismissively at Phinks. “Oh, shut up. Aren’t you supposed to be training?” 

Uvogin pointed at Nobu. “Hey, I’m not neglecting my student! We just got a bit distracted for obvious reasons. C’mon Phinks, let’s show off!” 

The training continued yet again, now with the added distraction of Nobunaga’s sass. Having had enough time to rest, Phinks was able to incorporate some of Uvo’s techniques and managed to push him back a whole two more feet at maximum power. Things seemed to be going smoothly with Chrollo and Feitan as well since the boss didn’t leap out from the window a third time. At one point, a few icicle spears flew out through the window, but nobody was hit so they didn’t pay it much mind. 

The sun was just starting to set when Chrollo and Feitan reemerged through the door and met the others at the side. Feitan looked calm and content. As usual, his hands were in his pockets while he walked. Chrollo only looked the slightest bit ruffled. He had a small scorch mark on his cheek, and another on his hand. Much like Feitan, he seemed pleased. 

Chrollo gave the three a nod in greeting. “Uvo, how did it go?” 

Uvogin gave a thumbs up. “Great! I have no doubt that Phinks has mastered the art of meat-fetti. He just needs some bodies to practice on. Maybe at tomorrow’s heist! Either way, things are going well. He’s been picking it all up nice and fast.” 

Chrollo smiled. “I’m happy to hear that. Well done, Phinks.” 

Phinks was still getting used to compliments, so he briefly averted his gaze. “Thanks, boss.” 

“How’d it go with the little punk?” Nobunaga asked Chrollo. 

Feitan stuck his tongue out slightly at Nobu. 

“Lessons are going very well.” Chrollo answered sincerely. “Feitan, would you like to show them?” 

Feitan gave a soft nod before holding out his hand. He slowly produced a nen ball in his palm. With the more gradual pace, he transmuted his energy into a miniature fireball. It looked like a tiny sun floating just above his palm. Like a true sun, it radiated impressive heat, but fortunately, it was not sufficiently hot to burn anyone. 

Phinks grinned broadly. “That’s amazing, Fei!” 

Feitan gave a happy little hum. He closed his hand into a fist and the flame was snuffed out. 

“It certainly is.” Chrollo said with a fond smile. “I’ve had to recalibrate multiple theories today, but we’ve finally gotten the hang of it. His energy can be controlled effectively in any element so long as he keeps a calm mind. When he feels more, it bursts out in a broad radius. Certain elements are generally correlated with particular groups of emotions. Electricity is happiness or excitement. Fire is rage or passion. And ice is sadness or nostalgia. These are the ones we have discovered thus far. I’m quite certain there are more abilities just waiting to be revealed.”

Uvogin nudged Phinks. “See, aren't you glad you’re an enhancer? My brain would explode if I had to consider all this stuff.” 

Phinks gave Uvo a playful little push back. “Says the one who has a million battle strategies and a whole encyclopedia’s worth of training techniques. You’re plenty smart, Uvo.” 

“Aww, you’re just bein’ sweet!” He ruffled Phinks’s hair, who gave him another harder push in response. 

Chrollo chuckled softly at their antics. “All that being said, you have the rest of this evening and most of tomorrow off. Tomorrow night at eleven we’ll meet back here.” 

Phinks nodded. “You got it, boss. We’ll see you then.” He waved before heading off. 

Feitan followed closely at his side. 

Phinks looked over at him while they walked. “So, how was training with the boss?” 

Feitan hummed softly as he thought. “It was good. A bit frustrating at times, but overall good. I had fun. And learned a lot.” 

“I’m really glad to hear that. Did you get any time with Nobu?”

Another quiet hum as he recalled. “Just a bit at the start. I actually didn’t want to kill him today. Progress. They said we’ll have more time for swordplay later. How was your training?” 

“It was great! I actually improved a lot. Uvo said I hit hard enough to easily kill a fox-bear in one punch.”

Feitan looked confused. “Why would you want to do that? They’re cute.” 

He shook his head. “I’m not saying I actually would. He was just using it as a measure of strength. Besides, I don’t think that animals should be killed just for being themselves. Do you really think fox-bears are cute? You know those things eat people, right?”

“I eat people, Phinks.” He stated bluntly. 

Phinks rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh yeah, that’s right… that definitely doesn’t make you any less cute either.” He could feel himself rapidly growing red as his brain caught up with his own words. He stared straight ahead even as he felt Feitan looking at him. When he finally gathered the courage to look at him again, his heart skipped a beat. 

There was an indescribable softness in Feitan’s eyes. It was as unexpected as it was breathtaking. The sunset’s colorful, gentle light further served to highlight his beauty. For what felt like the thousandth time since Phinks had met Feitan, he felt like this was exactly where he was meant to be. 

———

The next day started with work but progressed to leisure. In the morning Phinks led Feitan back to the market to show him how the exchange system worked. The items he had found in Fei’s homeland were rather profitable and scored them a hefty sum of food. Feitan was dubious that the canned substances they procured were truly food, but after a little while he warmed up to the idea and tried some. They shared an enjoyable day picnicking on a trash mound and getting to know each other better. They also picked back up on language lessons. 

Phinks kept a close eye on the moon as it rose in the sky. When the time for their troupe meetup neared, he steered them that way. They arrived at the hideout in a timely fashion and took their place on their usual boulder. The relative silence of the troupe before meetings officially started was strange to Phinks, but the two settled into a comfortable silence with the others until everyone had arrived. 

Once everyone was there, Chrollo spoke. “Welcome, everyone. As you all know, tonight is our last heist before we depart from Meteor City. I hope you can take this night to truly enjoy the experience. Does anyone have any questions since we last discussed the plan?” 

Aside from some quiet, excitable chatter, there were no questions. Chrollo continued. “Very well. Follow me. It will take about an hour to reach the trafficking headquarters.” He led the way off; into the night, the Phantom Troupe went. 

Their quest took them to an entirely new quadrant of the city. Only a few of them were evidently familiar with the area. They moved silently through the night. Even their heavier members were putting considerable effort into moving with stealth. Chrollo gave a hand signal to indicate when they had reached the right building complex. Despite being desolate in location, the structural quality of the place was high. The building materials alone were enough to suggest that there was considerable wealth within.

Chrollo made a clear ‘N’ shape with his fingers and pointed at a part of the building. He gestured towards Uvogin and Phinks for emphasis. 

Though Phinks was very familiar with compass directions on his own, the clear spelling out of directions was far better than insufficient communication. As per the plan, he and Uvo were to smash down the north face of the structure to make a distraction. The building complex was huge, but between the two of them, he was confident that they could pull it off. 

Chrollo gestured for the two enhancers to stay before moving on with the rest of the group. Phinks and Feitan made eye contact before they separated. Phinks gave a little wave and Feitan responded with a soft nod before disappearing into the night. 

Uvogin wrapped an arm around Phinks’s shoulder and squeezed gently. It was a reassuring gesture. Phinks knew that Uvo was very experienced. He trusted him to lead the way. Around ten minutes later, Uvo gave a tap to Phinks and started skulking off. Phinks followed closely. Soon, they had both reached the building. Phinks was startled out of stealth mode by a sudden battle cry from Uvo, followed by the larger enhancer smashing through one of the walls with a bare fist. 

Phinks quickly followed queue, moving further down and continuing to aggressively break down walls. Like ants in a disturbed mound, people flooded to the scene of the distraction. 

Uvogin cackled delightedly as he started relentlessly mowing them down. The ground rattled forcefully from his every attack. 

Phinks took a breath. He wasn’t used to taking life when he didn’t have to, but he had mentally braced himself for this. He was willing to sacrifice this part of his innocence for a better future. He saw a small cluster of heavily armed guards emerging from the wall closest to him. The four men charged at him and began to open fire. He was grateful for Uvogin’s lessons; the bullets stung badly but failed to puncture his skin. He threw back his shoulder and launched himself at the man in the front. Before he had time to think, he had punched clean through the man’s skull. Splatters of blood, bone shards, and shredded bits of brain flew everywhere. He had little time to dwell on the atrocity he had committed; he was still being fired on. He charged at the others in the group and ruthlessly struck them down. The force he used was certainly excessive, but the sooner he could stop seeing them as people and merely brush them off as sentient meat, the easier this would be. 

More and more people kept coming, foolish as it seemed. Killing got a little easier every time. The longer the assault lasted, the more he justified his acts. These were human traffickers. They kidnapped and sold kids for a living. They profited from the suffering for children, helpless young orphans just like he had been once upon a time. He felt his rage spike as his sense of righteousness intensified. The killing grew even easier. He was covered in blood in a matter of seconds. A small, subconscious part of him wanted to be presentable when he got out of all of this. He started grabbing enemies by the head and snapping their necks instead of bursting their skulls. It felt cleaner, somehow. It felt okay, like putting down sick animals. 

He could hear the far softer crash in the distance as the remainder of the troupe broke in through the south wall. In the back of his tainted mind, he truly hoped that Feitan was alright. 

The slaughter went on for what felt like ages. In reality, it had only been a few minutes. Eventually, the armed men stopped shooting and throwing themselves at the two. Phinks couldn’t tell if they were retreating or if they had been called in elsewhere. If it was the latter option, that could spell trouble for the others. These enemies were weak, but he was still protective, and that made him worry. 

Uvogin quickly scanned the area and then jumped into the building through the demolished wall. “Come on, we’ve got to find the others.” 

Phinks followed without hesitation. He was glad that he and Uvo were on the same page. The two ran through the building’s convoluted series of halls and killed any they found. Uvogin soon grew frustrated by the labyrinth and started ramming his way through walls in a southern trajectory. Phinks tailed him through the new holes in the walls. He hoped the whole building wouldn’t come down from the strain they were putting on it. Uvo only slowed down for a moment to listen through one of the walls. “They’re here.” He said confidently before more carefully pushing through the final wall that separated them. He easily tore through drywall, wood, and metal support beams alike. 

The rest of the troupe seemed to be executing the plan well. The vault was open with most of them inside grabbing what they could. Franklin and Feitan were working together to eliminate enemies. Franklin covered one end of the hall, mowing down everyone who came through with his nen bullets. Feitan covered the other end, gracefully dashing from person to person and slashing them down with his sword. Bodies were piling up around them. Uvogin and Phinks had burst through right between the two. Franklin and Feitan had both looked over to ensure they weren’t enemies before continuing the onslaught. Uvogin took a position between them, watching and waiting for either to need backup. 

Phinks didn’t even think before running to Feitan’s side. He joined the assault, though he wasn’t able to get many kills in with Fei’s efficiency. The small spider was clearly having a good time. It seemed like it was all a game to him. At one point Feitan kicked a man over to Phinks, and without thinking he ended the enemy’s life with a hard punch that sent blood splattering everywhere. Feitan seemed amused, and between his own kills occasionally continued the macabre game of catch. At the unconventional play, even Phinks was starting to have a little fun. Feitan was amazing to watch, and even more amazing to fight alongside. 

Everyone seemed in high spirits as the arrival of intruders slowed to a trickle and eventually halted altogether. The enemies had all been pitifully weak. It allowed them to relax a little and take their time. It wasn’t long before the spiders in the vault filled their bags to capacity. Uvogin started taking bags from the smaller members; it was a gentlemanly display that may have looked a bit out of place coming from a man covered head to toe in liquefied human remains. 

Just as the troupe was making their exit out of the vault, Chrollo slowed down to take a phone call. “Shalnark, is everything alright? We’re just leaving the vault now.”

Shalnark’s muffled voice came through from the phone. “Hey boss, we’ve got trouble… the whole mafia just showed up. I don’t have proof of what they’re doing here yet, but I’ve got a bad feeling that it involves us.”

Pakunoda spoke over the phone next. “And they’ve got blacklist hunters. At least ten of them.” 

Chrollo looked at the rest of the troupe and saw them looking right back at him. To Phinks, it looked like he was trying not to panic. “Not to worry. All within the probable parameters of our plan.” His smile was strained. “We’re about to evacuate.” He gestured with a hand and took off in a sprint towards the south wall. 

The others followed close behind. They listened with bated breath to hear what else their scout team might have to say. 

Shalnark’s voice sounded more alarmed at the latest update. “They’re surrounding the building! Man, they’re fast… I don’t think the entry point is safe anymore. The north wall is also heavily guarded. It’s possible that the tunnel system underneath the complex is safe. Problem is, you’ll have to get close to one of the main walls to access it. I’m afraid a confrontation is all but inevitable at this point… where should we meet you?” 

Chrollo was only silent for a moment before he answered decisively. “Meet us at the north face. They’re expecting us in the south. And we will have a far wider scope of motion in the north. Only show yourselves once the rest of the troupe has assembled. Your safety is imperative.”

“You’ve got it, boss.” Shalnark sounded calmer now that there was a backup plan. 

The group kept up as Chrollo skidded to a stop and rerouted them in the opposite direction. They made full use of the holes Uvogin had torn through the walls on the way over. They moved very quickly. Phinks held tightly onto his loot bag. He was a bit nervous, but he had complete faith in the troupe. 

By the time they made it to the north face, over a hundred enemies faced them. Most of them were mafia men; the long-range shooters stayed well outside the building. The blacklist hunters, however, blocked their path from within. There were five hunters there, and several more skilled nen users from Meteor City’s mafia. 

Chrollo rapidly skidded to a halt. His troupe also slowed to a stop close behind him. His eyes were wide like those of a cornered animal. Even so, his pause was only brief. He spoke to the Phantom Troupe without facing them, keeping his eyes firmly on the new perilous swarm of enemies. “Drop the loot. Stick close together. Prioritize the hunters. Together, we are strong.” With that, he charged towards the nearest blacklist hunter. 

The others dropped their bags and charged with him. Most were silent, but Uvogin and Phinks yelled out sonorous battle cries as they ran at their opponents head-on. The charge itself felt like an eternity. Once the rival groups clashed, it was as though they had hit an immovable wall at a rapid speed. It was a cacophonous mess of sounds, between the clashing of weapons and the numerous cries of pain. Any attempts to further synchronize attacks on both ends were lost in the surrounding chaos. Phinks saw out of the corner of his eye that Chrollo rather quickly dispatched his first enemy before moving on to help Machi. Somewhere in the fray, Shalnark and Pakunoda joined their fellow spiders. 

Where was Feitan? He couldn’t afford to be distracted. Before he knew it, he was locked in an intense wrestle with one of the hunters. The blacklist hunters were easily distinguishable from Meteor City residents through the ways they moved and acted. It almost struck Phinks as a sense of entitlement. His adrenaline intensified as he fought for his life. He didn’t have nearly enough time to wind up a powered-up punch. This guy really was good. His adversary was notably shorter but similar to himself in musculature. Most importantly, he was clearly a lot more experienced. The man had bright yellow eyes and orange hair. His teeth were all sharpened to points like those of a shark. His energy radiated outward with frightening strength. 

There was no time to feel afraid. Phinks fought his hardest even as the hunter managed to stab him several times in his upper body. The knife never punctured deeper than an inch or so. Phinks reassured himself that he was doing alright. 

All around them, the fight raged on. The number of rivals suddenly doubled as the men who had been waiting from the opposite end of the building closed in. Slowly but surely, the Phantom Troupe reduced the degree of their disadvantage. Shalnark hacked a mafioso and made the man open fire on the others who were operating from the long range. Nobunaga and Feitan were dashing about in a graceful blade ballet with any whom they got close enough to. Uvogin was in the process of fighting off multiple powerful nen users. He looked like a Cape buffalo battling a pride of lions. After several minutes of struggling, most of their enemies had been slain. Virtually all of the low-power fighters and many of the nen-wielding mafiosos were dead. The spiders, many of them injured, were locked in combat with the most powerful fighters of the opposing group. At this stage, it was essentially one-on-one. The weak had been eliminated and now only the strongest fought tooth and nail. 

Phinks felt almost forlorn as he and his opponent grew ever more isolated from the main group in their struggle. The hunter was unfortunately very effective at deflecting Phinks’s attacks. In between dodges, the enemy frequently stabbed him and occasionally cackled. Even still, Phinks felt as though he could handle it. None of the damage he had taken thus far was life-threatening. 

After a particularly deep stab, Phinks managed to launch his rival back quite a distance. In the pause between attacks, he grunted and clutched at the new wound. It shouldn’t hurt this much, especially with all the adrenaline pumping through his veins. 

The hunter slowly stalked closer to him with a maniacal grin. “What’s wrong, kid? Feeling unwell? That’s because you’ve been injected with my very own poison.” 

Phinks tried not to panic. It wouldn’t do him any good. He grabbed several chunks of rubble and hurled the projectiles at his opponent. 

The hunter skillfully dodged, then retaliated with a series of long-range throwing knives. He laughed as two of them managed to hit. “By the way, these are also coated in poison. You’re sure to die now. If you submit, I’ll make it nice and quick. If you resist, I promise it will be slow and very painful!” 

Phinks’s body was suddenly wracked by a fit of immense pain. He managed not to collapse to his knees, but only through very active efforts. His agonizing distraction gave the attacker a distinct advantage. His vision practically became slow-motion as he saw another throwing knife get launched right at his neck. It likely wouldn’t kill him, but it was sure to cause catastrophic damage and end their fight with a crippling loss. He tried to move to block it, but his vision was hazy and his reaction time was slow. 

There was suddenly a loud clanking sound of metal on metal. He saw the distinct silhouette of Feitan land in front of him in a defensive stance. Fei began to speak in a language that he still had yet to understand. “Arg via seip… kouru trapts neieuri.” 

Feitan was radiating a brutal heat. Even standing near him, it was difficult to bear. Before he knew what was happening, Feitan had turned back towards him and had gripped him in a tight hold. The sensation of that grip was changed as a thick layer of fabric materialized on Phinks’s body. He saw his own limbs cloaked in a strange, full-bodied white suit with red accents. 

Feitan continued to speak as he glared at Phinks’s opponent. “Ia ei kap ia el!” He held out a hand and produced a bright, beautiful orb through his palm. The orb hovered over the head of their shared enemy. 

Chrollo urgently shouted out to the rest of the troupe. “Everybody, run!” 

The light that Feitan had launched rapidly transformed into a great ball of fire. It was large enough to encompass the whole room around them. Feitan shrieked as his aura completely engulfed the area around them. 

Phinks vaguely saw as the man he had been fighting was burnt to a crisp, and then became nothing more than ash. He could see the fire and its brutal effects, but he no longer felt any heat from it. Everything was happening so quickly. He desperately hoped that Feitan and the other spiders would be alright through the terrifying transmutation. 

Before Phinks knew it, everything around them was cinder. The entire building had been burnt to a blackened pile of rubble. Feitan was still holding onto him with one arm, the other extended out in front of him. His friend was panting heavily and seemed to be thoroughly out of it. The mysterious suit that had encapsulated Phinks disappeared. Feitan wobbled dangerously, but Phinks caught him before he could collapse. “Fei… Feitan! Are you okay?” He asked frantically. 

Feitan groaned softly but nodded. 

Phinks let out a breath of relief. Now they would just need to find the others. The area around them looked absolutely apocalyptic. Phinks desperately hoped that their comrades had survived the blast. He wrapped an arm around Feitan to help support his weight. Together, the two ran in a graceless hobble towards where they had last seen their friends. Right at the cutoff between obliterated ash and regular ground, they saw Uvogin’s head rise first from behind a fallen rock pillar. Phinks let out a relieved laugh. Surely, he thought, the others must be alright. One by one, the spiders emerged from the rubble. At last, everyone was accounted for. And there wasn’t a single enemy in sight. 

Chrollo spoke quietly. “Feitan… didn’t I tell you not to use your special ability in battle yet?”

Feitan gave a tired little laugh. “Sorry, boss… just lost it.” 

Chrollo just gave a dazed nod. “Right, then. We’ll work more on it later.” He looked all around, seeming to run a head count of the troupe. He seemed relieved when he saw everyone there. “Let’s head back to the hideout. If we can recover some loot first, fantastic. Otherwise, it’s alright. What’s most important is that we get to safety before anyone else regains consciousness. Assuming, that is, anyone is still alive.” 

The spiders quickly combed through the rubble. They impressively managed to find most of their loot bags before Chrollo called off the search in favor of retreat. The group ran through the night. Exhausted and badly injured, their trip felt exceptionally laborious. Still, they soon made it back to their trusty hideout.

———

Back in the relative safety of the warehouse, Machi had her work cut out for her. Starting with the most serious injuries, she was efficiently making her rounds with the wounded. 

Chrollo was among the first to be stitched up. He’d taken a deep stab to the gut and had another gash on the side of his face, in addition to a broken arm. He looked a bit distant as he contemplated. “Well… not our smoothest operation, but bumps in the road are to be expected when facing a city’s most powerful criminal enterprise. We still walked away with almost fifty percent of their assets. All things considered, I would call that a smashing success. Well done, everyone.” 

Uvogin grinned. “Yeah, I’d call that pretty damn good! Not to mention, we culled off most of the mafia. That’s an added bonus. It’ll probably be way easier to steal from them in the future.”

Shalnark sighed. “I just wish I knew how they anticipated our arrival… the traffickers had the mafia on standby. There’s no way they would have been able to sneak up on us otherwise. I wonder if they just guessed that we’d show up, or if they hacked into my systems somehow while I was probing for information.” 

Pakunoda gave Shalnark’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “There’s no way they hacked you back. The thought flashes I got from those I directly engaged with strongly suggested that they made a guess. The two organizations got closer in touch after our initial raid on the mafia. They banded together in an effort to snuff us out for good. There’s no way you could have predicted that. The plan was a very sound one. Don’t blame yourself for this.” 

Shalnark relaxed visibly. “Thanks, Paku. I guess we won’t have to worry about any of this once we’ve left the city.”

Chrollo nodded. “I do believe it wise to leave Meteor City promptly. I can’t say how long it will take them to recuperate enough forces to serve as a threat to us. You’ve all earned a day of rest. We’ll leave the city together tomorrow night. The nearest city is quite a way off, so the journey will last several days. Luckily, it’s a major city. We should arrive in Yorknew within a week.” 

“Frankly, I can’t wait to get the hell out of here.” Nobunaga mused. 

Phinks thoughtfully stared up at the sky through the hole in the ceiling. The ambient gasses had cleared enough that the stars shone through sparse smog clouds. “I don’t know, I’ll kind of miss it. I think I’ll want to come back here someday.” 

Chrollo looked at Phinks. “I agree. This will always be home to me. I can’t say when, but we will be back here to visit sometime in the future.”

Feitan nodded. He seemed to approve of the idea. 

“Hold still.” Machi ordered Phinks as she came to patch his wounds. She quickly mopped the blood up just enough to properly see the injuries, then dutifully sealed each one shut with her nen stitches. 

“Thanks.” Phinks mumbled as she worked. 

“Don’t mention it. Hey, you’re running really hot. Is that normal for you?”

He furrowed his brows. “Am I really? I feel like I’m freezing. Huh… getting kind of dizzy too.” He had assumed that the searing pain in his stab wounds would fade when he got stitched up, but the feeling only intensified. Had the hunter he’d fought really not been bluffing? Was he dealing with deadly poisoning? 

Machi frowned. “That’s not good. I doubt a regular fever would kick up that quickly. Did something else happen?” 

By this point, Phinks knew that the entire troupe was staring at him. It wasn’t comfortable, but he knew they were only hovering because they cared. “Maybe… the guy I fought said he’d dipped his throwing knives in poison. Didn’t say what kind. But he seemed real damn smug about it being lethal.” 

Chrollo looked alarmed. “Why didn’t you mention this sooner?”

“I just kind of figured he was trying to get in my head. Or that even if it was lethal to most people, I’d probably be fine. I’m a pretty big guy.” 

Uvogin let out a concerned hum. “I don’t know about that. Poisons still affect me if they can actually get in. Haven’t killed me yet, but they really suck.”

Chrollo started pacing. “Any antidotes that hunter might have had would have been burned up with his body… it seems that all we can do at the moment is to get you rested and monitor your symptoms.”

Feitan had been side-eyeing Phinks throughout the explanation. He scooted closer and turned to face him. He suddenly jabbed him with a talon and pressed a small vial against the punctured skin. 

“Ow! Fei, is it always going to be stabbing with you?”

“Mhm.” He hummed his response. He collected enough blood to fill the vial and then scuttled off on his own. 

Phinks took slow, deep breaths and tried not to move. He knew adding blood circulation would only make the poisoning worse. The pain was rapidly escalating throughout his body. He tried his best not to show it on the outside. 

Feitan returned a few minutes later with the same vial. Its contents were no longer red, but black. He shoved the vial close to Phinks’s face. “Drink.”

Phinks looked at it, confused. “What is this?” 

Feitan shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Just drink.”

Machi gave Fei a strange look. “Are you sure about this? Whatever you’ve got there, you can’t have possibly whipped up an antidote in five minutes. You might make it worse.”

Phinks didn’t need any further convincing. He trusted Feitan. He downed the viscous black liquid like a shot and tried not to gag at the acrid taste. He miserably handed the vial back to Fei. “If it helps, great. What’s the worst that could happen?” 

Feitan nodded, seeming pleased. He planted a foot on the basin of water Machi had been using to clean wounds and tipped it over, dumping all the water out. 

Machi stared incredulously before yelling at him. “What the hell was that for? You’d better fill that back up!” 

“You were done with it.” Feitan stated plainly. He slid the empty bucket towards Phinks with his foot. “You’re going to need this.” 

Phinks picked up the bucket. It didn’t make any sense, but at this point, he was just going along with it. “Okay, but why will I-“ His sentence was interrupted by his own retching. He covered his mouth at first, but the feeling of nausea was too much. He held onto the bucket for dear life and violently vomited into it. Everything burned on the way out. 

“Told you.” Feitan said. 

By the time he was reduced to dry heaving, he was exhausted. He slowly set the bucket down, slumped back in his chair, and closed his eyes. The world was spinning in his head and the vertigo threatened to take him down with it. Before he knew it, his consciousness slipped from his grasp. 

———

The next time Phinks opened his eyes, his limbs felt extremely heavy. He was no longer in his chair. He was lying on a blanket on the floor of an isolated room. From the corrosion patterns of the walls, he recognized that he was still in the old warehouse. The room was dimly lit by a flashlight on its side. His eyes were quickly drawn to Feitan, who was now leaning over him and staring. Their faces were mere inches apart. “Fei? What happened…?” He asked groggily. He barely remembered what had happened once they’d returned to the hideout. 

“Poison. Should be gone. All better now?” Feitan asked with just a hint of sweetness in his voice. 

Memories started filtering back. “Oh yeah… actually, I feel pretty great. Just tired.” He gave a dopey grin. “Are you gonna tell me now what was in that stuff you gave me?”

Feitan’s eyes held a twinkle of amusement. “Sorry, but no. Let’s just say I’m a bit of a poison and venom hobbyist.” He poked a talon into Phinks’s arm more lightly to take a single drop of blood. He licked it, analyzed it, then nodded. “Mhm. Poison is gone.” 

Machi shook her head. She was the only other person in the room. “Okay, I’ll admit it. That’s pretty useful. Since you’re alright, Phinks, I’m gonna go tell the boss to stop worrying and then crash. See you guys tomorrow.” With that she walked off, leaving the two alone. 

Phinks gave Feitan another smile. “How many more times are you gonna have to save my ass before I can finally pay you back?”

Feitan laughed quietly. “As many times as it takes. I don’t mind. You are pretty pathetic.”

Phinks chuckled. The word was starting to grow on him. “Yeah, I guess I am. But really, thanks.” 

“No need to thank. You are my… best friend.” He looked a little vulnerable as he said it. 

Phinks gently grabbed him and pulled him into a hug. He figured the worst that could happen would be Feitan hitting him again. This moment was worth the risk. 

Feitan squeaked quietly as he was grabbed. His arms hung limply at his sides, but he thumped his head against Phink’s chest in a returned show of affection. 

“You’re my best friend too.” Phinks said sincerely. He gave a soft pet to Feitan’s back before releasing him. 

Feitan stayed for a few moments longer and then sat back up. There was a slight rosiness to his cheeks and ears, easily betrayed by his pale skin. “I’m glad you fell into my web.”

“And I’m glad you didn’t eat me.” He chuckled. 

Feitan looked off to the side. He seemed a bit distant. “It’s hard to believe how much has happened in such a short time. I think… I want to show them what I can do now. And say goodbye one last time before we leave.” 

“Your family?” Phinks asked despite already knowing. 

Feitan looked back at him and nodded. 

“Not a problem. We’ve got plenty of time before tomorrow night. We can head out now, while it’s still dark. I know you don’t like the sun.” He shakily sat up. 

Feitan shook his head. With a firm but gentle hand, he pushed Phinks back down by his chest. “You need rest. Stay.” 

Phinks let himself be pushed down. Still, he couldn’t help but worry. “I don’t know, Fei… it can be dangerous going out alone. I’m good to travel, honestly.” 

“No, you rest.” He insisted. “You know I can handle myself. It will be a quick trip. I’ll be back by tomorrow afternoon.” 

A quiet, instinctive dread gnawed at the back of his mind. He was probably just overthinking, he reasoned. Feitan was right. He could easily handle himself. “Alright… are you sure?” He tried one more time. 

Feitan sighed. “Yes, I am sure. Don’t worry so much.” He softly poked his chest. 

Phinks finally relented. He gave a small nod. “Okay. Safe travels, Fei.” 

Feitan returned a nod and rose to his feet. “See you tomorrow.” He tucked his hands into his pockets and walked out of the room. 

Phinks watched after him for as long as he could see him. He had no idea what was causing his bad feeling, but he tried to ignore it. He would see Fei tomorrow. 

Chapter Text

When Feitan awoke, he was groggy and barely able to move. His bleary eyes blinked open to take in his surroundings. A sinking feeling of dread entered his heart. The room was cold and was dimly lit by a lightbulb dangling precariously from a wire cord taped to the ceiling. The walls and floor were gray and damp. Bloodstains occupied a significant portion of the floor space. A small table nearby was stocked with various cutting tools and unfamiliar instruments. 

How had he ended up here? His mind was so fuzzy that he could barely concentrate. The last thing he remembered was walking through one of the urban sectors of Meteor City. Cutting straight through would save him a lot of time, so he had braved the crowds. Except, he hadn’t quite gone a normal route. For the sake of avoiding people and remaining in the calm, quiet comfort of the dark, he had traveled through a myriad of alleyways. He never would have guessed that he was being hunted, even as he felt the presence of people behind him. It had simply been a nuisance at the time. But he distinctly recalled a sharp pain to the back of his neck followed by a rapid loss of control over his body. Had he killed one of them? Two, maybe? It was all a blur. Clearly, whatever fight he’d put up hadn’t been enough. 

He again tried and failed to move. Confused, he looked down at himself. To his horror, he was restrained to a chair by thick metal chains. There were chains around his throat, wrists, and ankles. Even worse, he was only clothed in his undergarments. He applied all the force he could in an attempt to break free. His body was still sluggish from a foreign contaminant in his system, and he simply couldn’t muster the strength. 

The metal door in front of him slid open with a loud, rusty creak. A man he didn’t recognize stepped through. He was a lanky man with beady eyes, greasy gray hair, and a crooked, toothy grin. 

He stepped closer. There was an unsettling hunger in his eyes. “You’re finally awake. Comfortable? No? Good. You and me are going to have lots of fun together.” He picked up a scalpel. Like the floor, it was bloodstained. “I’m going to make you scream. And I’m going to make you beg. When you’re ready to beg for me, then I’ll take what we both really want…” His eyes raked over the boy’s largely exposed body. “Only then, I’ll consider the possibility of letting you go.”

Feitan growled lowly. He loathed this man already. An instinctive part of him knew what the man wanted, but that was something he would never give to the likes of him. No matter what this disgusting creature did to him, he refused to give him any satisfaction. 

“Don’t worry, baby doll. I won’t touch your beautiful face.” He grabbed his chin forcefully. “Well, I won’t mutilate it, is what I meant. Too pretty to scar at this age.” 

Feitan flared up with a spirit of defiance. He yanked back out of the man’s grasp and bit down hard on the meat of his thumb. The flesh sliced easily between his teeth. He felt a moment of victory as his captor screamed. He only wished he had the strength to envenomate him. 

The man stabbed the scalpel deep into the side of Feitan’s upper arm. When Fei released his bite to gasp at the sudden pain, he pulled his hand out of the boy’s mouth. He left the scalpel in him as he paced back a few steps. Cursing under his breath, he fumbled around until he found a rag. He hastily wrapped the rag around his palm to apply pressure and slow the bleeding. He glared over at the spider. “You’re gonna regret that.” 

Feitan bared his blood-coated teeth and hissed. The sound was weaker than he would have liked, but his control over his body was very limited by the drug in his system. 

The man stepped closer again. He seemed more cautious this time. “You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you? That’ll just make this more fun for me.” He kept out of biting range as he reached over and quickly pulled the scalpel out of his arm. 

Feitan grunted slightly, silent as ever. The look in his eyes was absolutely murderous. He wanted so badly to slaughter this cretin. Nobody touched him without permission and got away with it. 

After a few more seconds of looming, the kidnapper grinned again. His confidence seemed to have been restored. He pressed the scalpel to Feitan’s sternum and pressed in. He slowly sliced down all the way to his navel. 

Feitan continued to glare with murderous intent. The blade hurt, but it certainly wasn’t the worst pain he had felt. He could handle it. 

The man hummed. “They usually squeal by now. You really must be enjoying this… that makes two of us.” He stabbed the blade deeper into his abdomen between the ribs. 

Feitan let out a quieter growl. The damage was not lethal, he could tell. All he had to do was wait it out. He was certain that at some point, there would come an opportunity to break free. When that happened, he would pay him back for the pain. 

A snarky laugh escaped his captor. “You still somehow think that you’re in control here. Let me make this abundantly clear.” He pulled the blade back out and wiggled it in front of his face. “You have no way out. There is no escape. No one is coming for you. It’s my will against yours. And my will has never lost before. It’s only a matter of time before I get what I want. You decide when that happens, and I enjoy myself regardless. I have taken dozens just like you. They always give in eventually. It may take minutes, or it may take days. But I assure you, it will happen.” He slowly dragged the blade down Feitan’s leg, from his right thigh to his knee. “By the way, I like the tattoo. It was clearly positioned to catch the attention of someone like me.”

When he got no audible response from Feitan, he frowned. He repositioned the scalpel at his jawline and pressed in. His eyes were wild as he continued to cut into him. 

Feitan only let out the faintest of squeaks. He maintained eye contact, determined to persevere through this. 

“Do you even know what’s happening?” The man asked in a deranged voice. “You’re being tortured. You have no control. No voice. You are nothing. You’re just my little toy.” He put the scalpel back on the table. He seemed frustrated. He looked through his options and selected another tool. It was something akin to a pair of pliers. He held onto Feitan’s right hand and pressed it down hard against the cold metal chair’s armrest. He knew better than to trust his captive to comply at this point. He held his hand down hard, forcibly prying his fingers out from the defensive fist, and used the tool to grab onto the nail of his pointer finger. 

Feitan emitted another hiss. He didn’t know what this man was getting at, but he certainly didn’t like it. 

The man started pulling the pliers backward, yanking at his fingernail. He watched him the whole time, just waiting for him to break. 

Feitan continued to maintain glaring eye contact. He tried to bite him again but was too far away to succeed. His eyes widened as the pressure on his fingernail increased. He hadn’t known what to expect, but he certainly didn’t expect this dreadful of a sensation. His nail was slowly being ripped out by a series of jolting motions. Still, the only sound to escape him was a quiet gasp. 

The man watched his face throughout the entire process. Finally, the fingernail was ripped fully off. He appeared displeased by the lack of visible reaction. He let the severed nail fall to the bloody floor and clamped the tool onto the next one, the middle finger of the same hand. He continued the same excruciating process. This time, the man had pulled too abruptly, and the nail split in half rather than coming clean off. The vile man cursed under his breath and started digging around in the bloody, sensitive skin to get at the remaining half of his nail. Finally, he got a hold on what remained of his fingernail. 

Feitan’s eyes finally broke away from his captor’s. The pain was too much. He couldn’t bear to look at him anymore. His eyes squeezed shut. A strangled grunt escaped through his nose. Another nail was gone, lost to the filthy floor. 

He could hear a distinct clanking sound as the man set the pliers down on the table, and picked up something else. He felt a new cold, metal tool clamp around his index finger. The pressure against his already mutilated finger was almost unbearable. It only got worse as the pressing began. His breaths escalated into agonized pants as he felt himself pushed toward a breaking point. After what felt like ages, a sickening snap signaled the end of that finger. The bone had been shattered. His breaths grew rapid and strained, but he forced himself to calm back down. His only grounding force was the refusal to give the man satisfaction. 

As he refused to react, more of his fingers were brutally stripped of their nails and broken, one by one. The immense pain was growing increasingly difficult to cope with. Before he knew it, his whole hand had been shattered. The man was still speaking to him, but the words grew dull. In self-defense, he dissociated. It was as though he were no longer in his own body. Rather, he was watching his body as a spectator while it continued to be brutalized. Cuts, breaks, and blows melded together into one unfathomable experience. He barely even noticed his considerable blood loss. When his damaged body was touched with a bare hand, he refused to show any reaction. Instinctively he knew that showing distress would only serve to further intensify the attack. 

Minutes turned to hours. His limbs were slashed. Bones were broken. He was sliced and stabbed between his ribs. His throat was slowly cut, layer by layer. He felt a warmth creep down his chin as his latest attempt to take a deep breath resulted in blood dripping from his mouth and down his face. Through it all, he remained detached. His body tried its best to alert him of imminent death, but his mind countered the signals for the sake of mentally protecting himself. He became a hollow husk of his former self. The physical sensations dulled until he could barely feel anything anymore. Through the blood loss, he continued to grow weaker and more tired. Even still, begging was never an option. If he was going to die here, the least he could do was make sure his captor failed in his efforts. 

After what felt like an eternity, the man got behind him and tightened the chain painfully around his neck. The cold, unforgiving metal pressed into his gaping throat wound. His breaths came in strained gasps and he started fading in and out of consciousness. He knew the end was near. 

Random memories of his life played through his head and became all he could see. His mother’s doting grooming, the day she taught him to weave silk, the moment his exceptionally squishy siblings hatched from their eggs. Having the privilege to guide them and watch them grow up. Then there were his new friends. In such a short time, they had become so dear to him. In his head, he relived their greatest moments. The day he met Phinks, learning so much through the strange boy, and silently committing himself to protect him. The glorious sense of belonging when they got matching tattoos, and the hilarious redness in Phinks’s face when he saw his. He really had thought he would spend longer with the troupe. Especially with Phinks. The cute, dumb boy who was so excited to spend time with him. But he knew his time was running out. He had lived a good life and had remained strong until the bitter end. 

——-

Earlier…

Phinks slept like a rock despite numerous nightmares. The bad dreams soured his mood when he finally awoke the following morning. A trickle of sunlight peeked in through a crack in the wall. He was initially confused to see that he was not in his house, but he soon recalled the previous day’s events. The small ray of light was not nearly enough for him to tell the time. He carefully rose to his feet. He found that his muscles were only a little sore from overexertion. The lack of pain was a pleasant surprise. Machi’s stitches and Feitan’s antidote had clearly done their job. 

He shambled his way out to the main building. He wasn’t sure how many of the troupe would be there, but he had questions for those who were. When he got back out, most of the troupe was present. Chrollo, Uvogin, Shalnark, Pakunoda, and Machi were engaged in casual conversation and eating together. The food looked fresh; it was a rare sight in Meteor City. Food that didn’t come from a can was very expensive. He supposed that after the latest heist, they could afford it. 

Chrollo nodded to Phinks as he emerged. “Good morning, Phinks. I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.”

Was it morning? Phinks glanced up at the sky through the ceiling. The sun was high in the sky; He determined that it was just before 11 am. He had never woken up so late before. After the late night and recovery, his body must have really needed the rest. It seemed that aside from him, the entirety of the Phantom Troupe were night owls. He looked back to Chrollo. “Morning. Yeah, I’m feeling a lot better. Has anyone seen Feitan?” 

Machi sighed. “Of course that’s the first thing you ask. Maybe he just needed some personal space. You’re so clingy.” 

Phinks glared lightly at her. “Very helpful.” He said in full sarcasm. 

Chrollo spoke again. “No, we haven’t seen him since last night. He told me on his way out that he would be back this afternoon. I expect we’ll see him in a few hours. Why don’t you have a seat and eat while we wait?” 

Phinks was very distracted by his concerns. It took him a few moments to process Chrollo’s words. “What? Oh, sure. Sorry, I’m just worried about him.” He sat down and observed the impressive spread of food laid out on a janky, three-legged table stabilized by cinder blocks. Most of the food was unfamiliar to him, but it all looked and smelled fantastic. He grabbed a bowl and started scooping a bit of everything. 

Shalnark gave a reassuring smile. “I wouldn’t worry too much about Feitan. We’ve all seen what he’s capable of.”

Phinks slowly nodded. “You’re right. He’s really impressive. It’s just this feeling that I can’t shake.” He took his first bite. The explosion of flavor was heavenly. “Man, this is really good.” 

Uvo grinned. “It sure is! Don’t worry, we’ll save some for Fei. I’m sure he can heat it right back up with his fire. Preferably a very small one.” 

Chrollo seemed to remember something and slid a bag over to Phinks. “This is your share from last night. We counted it all up and split it while you were recovering. 

Phinks accepted the bag. “Thanks.” He had forgotten just how much they’d managed to recover after the inferno. He curiously opened it up and saw an impressive pile of money. Most of the bills were on the high end. There was also a sprinkling of gold. It was mind-blowing to be holding so much wealth. He couldn’t help an inner sense of denial. The notion that he might have wriggled his way out of his accepted life as a scrapper was inconceivable. “Damn, that’s more than I expected.” 

Shalnark laughed. “Yeah, it turned a good profit! Those nuggets aren’t exactly the sarcophagus gold you love, but they are pretty close. Should give you something nice to look at before I digitize our accounts. It’ll be much easier when we get to a major city. There are a few reputable black market banks, and I’ll be heavily fortifying our assets with my own tech. You’re welcome to keep it wherever you prefer. Nobu and Franklin are out shopping with their shares.”

“I think I’d rather digitize it like you said. Otherwise, I might lose some of this. I can at least keep it safe until we get to our next stop, though.”

Shalnark gave a thumbs up. “Sounds good!”

Uvogin ruffled Shalnark’s hair. “So nice to have a genius on the team!” 

Shalnark squirmed under the ruffle. “Uvo, hey! You’re messing up my hair!” He whined. 

Uvo chuckled and released the blonde. “You know damn well it still looks perfect like that.” 

Shalnark blushed at the compliment. He combed his fingers through his hair in an attempt to straighten it back out. 

Phinks couldn’t help but smile at the endearing display. His mind soon drifted back to Feitan. He started to eat as quickly as he could without looking like a savage. It didn’t take him long to finish. He rose to his feet. “Alright, I’m gonna go out and look for Feitan. If I don’t find him in a few hours, I’ll assume he wound up here and come back.”

Chrollo gave a concerned look. “I won’t stop you. But are you sure you don’t want a quick shower before you go out?”

Phinks furrowed his brows and looked down at himself. He was still covered in dried blood from yesterday’s slaughter. ‘How did I not notice that sooner?’ He shook his head. “I’m fine. If anything, it’ll intimidate people into answering honestly when I ask around.”

“Good luck.” Shalnark said sincerely. “I’ll do some digging into underground forums just in case. We’ll see what we dig up.” 

“Thanks.” He started a brisk walk out of the warehouse.

On his way out, he heard Machi mumble to the others. “I don’t know… it does seem pretty odd. Just a hunch.” 

Once he was outside he picked up to a full run. He was headed in the direction of Skull Cavern. If Feitan was coming back his way, he should be able to see him. If not, he would detour through town and start interrogating. His plan set, he kept alert and got to searching. 

Several times he thought he saw his friend’s silhouette, only to be disappointed when he grew closer. The people he passed had every right to be alarmed by a bloody stranger running towards them, and most did their best to avoid him. He diligently searched for what felt like ages. He ran past the residential sector and climbed the highest trash peak he could find. From there, he scanned the western horizon. His heart dropped as there was still no sight of Feitan. He doubled back to the inhabited part of the city. He first looked for him in the places they had been to together. Maybe Fei had wanted to see one of them again? No such luck. 

He really had hoped it wouldn’t get to this point. He started asking passerbys if they had seen him. Feitan was distinct enough in appearance that he knew it was unlikely he would get a false positive. Unfortunately, he was having a hard time getting people to talk to him. He was starting to regret not taking that shower before leaving. 

After an hour of searching and questioning, he was getting desperate. He made his way to the city’s black market. It was an area he preferred to steer clear of, but there was a chance that one of them had somehow snatched Feitan. He stopped at the tent of a flesh collector first. A dried human hand hung above the doorway like a mistletoe from hell. He stormed into the tent and strode right up to the vendor. He tried not to look at the multitude of dried and jarred body parts lining the shelves. “I’m looking for my friend. Short, black hair, scarf over his lower face, jacket with a skull on the back. Have you seen him?” 

The man gave an irritable look. He was a thin man with a narrow jawline and long, silver hair. “You came here looking for someone? If I had him at this point, it would already be far too late.” 

Phinks grabbed him harshly by the front of his shirt and lifted him off his feet with a menacing glare. 

Two guards in the back pulled guns on him threateningly, but Phinks couldn’t care less. 

The vendor flailed in an attempt to break free. “What the hell are you doing? Put me down right now, or you’ll end up part of my collection!” 

Phinks slammed him down against the table he had previously been seated at. “Do I look like I’m in the mood to mess around?” 

The guards fired several shots, emptying their clips on him now that his body was far enough from their boss. They stared in horror as the only thing damaged was Phinks’s clothing. 

Phinks glared over at them. “Are you done? Have either of you seen him?”

The man just stared. The woman slowly shook her head. 

“Guess it’s back to you, then. It’s just a question. So answer it. Now.” Phinks pushed harder on the vendor’s chest, making it difficult for him to breathe. 

The flesh collector looked slightly panicked. “Alright, alright! I haven’t seen this boy of yours myself… but I might have heard something.” He strained to get the words out. 

“Go on.” Phinks eased up a bit on the pressure. The anticipation was dreadful. 

The man took a deep breath before continuing. “There was talk among the traders… someone was bragging about a new catch. Said they got a pretty Asian kid. Rare type, around here. Said she was quite the looker when they got past the mask. Could have been a boy though, I have no idea. No idea what the kid was wearing, either. It’s not as though they care. That sound like your friend?”

Phink’s blood boiled at the disrespectful description. Still, he had to keep his cool to get the answers he needed. It did sound like it could be Feitan. “Which traders?”

The man raised a brow slightly. “Haven’t you ever heard of a trade up? They sell people locally. Could be for anything. Labor, ransome, snuff videos, prostitution, etcetera. I’m guessing the last one in this case, since they went so much into looks.” 

Keeping his composure was growing increasingly difficult. His hands shook from restrained rage. “Tell me exactly where to find them.” He growled. 

The man shrugged nonchalantly. “Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for you. Our bases of operations are closely guarded secrets. We primarily see each other here, at the market. They don’t have a booth. Just a guy who represents them. Look for the most cliche definition of a sketchy guy, that’s him. Trenchcoat, fedora, usually loafing about by the wall behind the opposite side of stalls. Are we done here?”

Phinks finally released him, leaving him lying on the table. “We’re done here for now. But if you gave me any false information, I’ll be back to finish you off.” He threatened before exiting the tent. 

He vaguely heard the man speaking to his guards after he left. “Well, that was fun. Typical Tuesday.” 

Phinks looked around at the nearby stalls and tents. Most of the crowd had dispersed. Thinking back, he had heard quite the commotion outside just after the gunshots went off. Most of the vendors were still at their stalls. They were glaring down Phinks and holding their weapons of choice. 

He crossed over behind the row of tents. He scanned along the wall. There was indeed a sketchy-looking man in a trenchcoat leaning against the wall. He jogged over to the man. He would play nice at first, he decided. “Hey. Heard you got a pretty new catch. Still available?” 

The man looked up at him from under the brim of his hat. “You’ll have to be more specific. You mean the newest?” His voice was low and gravelly. 

“I mean the one your people have been bragging about.” He said coldly. 

The man hummed. “Black hair, gray eyes?”

Phinks’s breath caught in his throat. “Yeah. That’s the one I’ve been hearing about.”

He shook his head. “Not for sale, sorry. The boss is keeping that one for himself.” 

“You don’t say.” He was so close. He just needed to know where they were keeping him. “Fine. How about the others? I want to see the ones who are available.”

The man gave a slight nod. “That can be arranged.” He produced a small deck of Polaroid photographs from his coat pocket. “What are you looking for?” He started flipping through the photos of tied-up, terrified kids who looked to be aged anywhere from about five to sixteen. 

Phinks took a small step closer. He trembled as he felt himself slipping back into his unbridled rage. “Can’t say from just a picture. I’d have to see them in person.” 

The man stopped flipping through photos and tucked them back into his pocket. “Can’t do that. Standard rules. How do I even know you can afford the stock?” He asked suspiciously. 

His hands clenched into fists. ‘Stock… they’re just stock to you.’ Even if Phinks had wanted to flaunt wealth, he had left his money back at the hideout. Playing nice never got him anywhere. Without warning, he punched the wall right next to the man’s head. He hit hard enough to put a sizable hole in the metal structure. 

The man was disappointingly unperturbed. He hadn’t even flinched. He was still staring Phinks in the eyes. “I’m going to take that as you can’t. You really don’t want to piss me off. If you get out of my face now, I’ll let you go. Keep throwing a tantrum like this, it’s not going to end well for you.” 

Phinks leaned in closer to leer at him. “You’ve already pissed me off ten times over. You’re the one this doesn’t end well for, so let me make this perfectly clear. That kid you just told me about is my friend. I’m getting him back one way or another. Now, here’s my ultimatum. If you take me there willingly and help me get him back, I’ll let you live. If you make me fight the information out of you, I’ll kill every last one of you sick bastards.” 

The man sighed as though he were being inconvenienced. “Your friend’s a goner, kid. The boss’s personal picks only make it out in body bags. You’re better off accepting that and just making a new friend.” He flared up his own aura, finally lowering the zetsu he had clearly been using. 

Phinks subconsciously took a small step back at the sudden surge in power. His hesitation was only momentary. Evidently, his enemy had chosen to do things the hard way. He swung a punch at him, but the man was significantly quicker and easily dodged. His opponent retaliated with a jab to the back of Phinks’s neck that disabled all of his senses. Lost in an inky black void without sound or feeling, it was a jarring experience. The effects seemed only temporary, however, as his senses soon came flooding back. It must have been his special ability. He had managed to stay standing through the attack. When he came to, he had a slight pain coming from his sternum accompanied by a trickle of blood. The man must have tried to stab him. 

The man was watching him from a distance. “You’re a bit tougher than I expected, I’ll give you that. But you’re still outclassed.”

“Then why are you hiding all the way over there? Fight me like a man!” Phinks barked. 

At the provocation, the man rushed back with a nen-enforced switchblade. They sparred head-on for several moments before his enemy maneuvered behind him. 

Phinks reflexively clamped a hand over the back of his neck to protect it. He simultaneously aimed an elbow jab back at him. 

The man dodged the jab and jammed a knuckle in between two of Phinks’s vertebrae. This hit had no effect on his senses, but it sent painful shockwaves through his body and briefly paralyzed his arms. 

Phinks’s hand dropped from the back of his neck in partial paralysis. He knew he couldn’t let his enemy get to his neck again. The man had jumped back again after the latest attack. ‘If he’s not willing to stay close, he must think I’m stronger. All I’ve got to do is land a hit.’ His eyes landed on a large rock on the ground. He could feel as he was starting to get the feeling back in his arms. With precise timing, he slid over to the rock and kicked it hard towards the man. It provided just enough of a distraction that he could charge and capture his foe in a vice-grip grapple. 

He pulled the man’s arms behind his back and re-secured his grapple. He took a small sense of joy in pushing the defeated adversary’s face into the dirt. Now it was time to force the information out of him. Improvisation was never his strongest attribute, but he was determined. He forced the man’s right arm higher up and twisted it painfully. He heard a growl beneath him. 

He started slowly pushing the arm to the left, putting ever more strain on the struggling muscles. “From what I’ve seen, you’re right-handed. I could break your arm, sure. But that’s not what I’m going to do. I’m going to keep on pushing right here, harder and harder. When the pressure is high enough, the bone of your arm will pop right out of the socket. Then I’ll rip it clean off. After that, I’ll start with the left. I’ll take as many of your limbs as I want, and I’ll sell them to the flesh collector over there. You’ve got three seconds before I start. Three… two…”

“They don’t pay me enough for this shit… fine. I’ll take you to your little suicide mission.”

“Atta boy.” Phinks patronized. He felt as though he was channeling Feitan’s sass. 

The man practically snarled but went silent for a while after. “No need to rub it in. Let’s go, before I change my mind.” 

Phinks lessened the pressure and pulled the man to his feet. Even as he did so, he kept him under complete control. After all that work, he wasn't willing to sacrifice an ounce of control. Especially not now that he was so close to finding his most beloved little spider. “If you’re dishonest in any way, I’ll kill you and everything you care about. Understand?” 

“I get it.” The man grumped. “Let’s get this over with.” 

Phinks dragged him to his feet. “Lead the way.” 

The man let out another heavy breath. Even so, he started to walk off. “Fine.” He grumbled before leading Phinks off. 

Phinks maintained his tight grip. He refused to trust the man even after he had earned his apparent compliance. He was reluctantly led to a part of the city he had never been to before. It was a large landfill that occupied the space between two housing communities. The trash formed impressive peaks, the closest thing Meteor City had to mountains. They traveled into the heart of the landfill and climbed up one of the largest trash peaks. A few pieces of garbage broke loose and tumbled down the hill as they walked, but overall the mound was surprisingly well-packed. At the very top, Phinks could see that the mound had a large crater in the center, much like a volcano. At the bottom of the crater was a sizable building. 

His guide stopped in his tracks. “That’s the place. This is as far as I go. They’d kill me if I walked you in.” 

Phinks narrowed his eyes at the back of the man’s head. “How do I know this is the right place if you don’t go down with me?” 

“Guess you’ll just have to extend a little trust. You know where to find me in the black market. Bearing that in mind, it would be unwise of me to lie to you now.”

“Fine.” Phinks released him. He watched him closely to ensure he’d be ready for any possible attack. 

The man didn’t even look at him. He moved around him but paused by his side. “This is your last chance to back out. Think about it carefully.” With that, he quickly began his descent down the trash mountain. 

Phinks didn’t need to think. He was an enhancer, after all. He ran down into the crater. He built up considerable momentum as he descended. Thinking back to the way Uvogin had crashed through the building they’d robbed, he decided to adopt a similar approach. Right as he reached the building, he rammed into it. The wall easily crumbled with a loud crash. He was in. Shouts came from down the hall. He ran in the direction of the voices. He could hear that they were moving his way too. 

Within seconds they met in the middle. This group held five men. None of them felt particularly strong in energy yet. This should be easy. “I’ll kill you all for what you did to him!” He shouted just before launching his first attack. His rage-filled punch caused the man’s head to explode into a fine red mist. The severed neck spurted blood as the body collapsed to the floor. The rest of them went down just as easily. Phinks continued running through the building, desperately searching for wherever the prisoners might be held. As he ran, he started winding up his dominant arm. He wanted to take out any nen users before the fight had a chance to get serious. 

He was attacked by dozens more as he dashed through the building. He kept his right arm at full power and used his left to take out weaker enemies to conserve energy. His strategy was working; his ultra-powered hits were very effective at defeating nen users once he got them to land. Still, the more powerful enemies dealt him some damage and slowed him down far too much for his taste.

Finally, the stream of enemies came to a close. He ran around the building searching for any signs of life. His heart sank more and more the longer he went without any signs, but he persevered. His attention was soon recaptured by a distant voice. He took off in that direction. The closer he got, the clearer he could hear the voice. It was an unknown man, who sounded violent in tone. The clearest thing he heard as he got close to a door was the man screaming, “DO YOU SEE HOW EASILY I COULD KILL YOU?!” Phinks’s urgency increased. He burst through the metal door. 

The sight before him was absolutely horrifying. Feitan was chained to a chair and soaked in blood. An unfamiliar man was behind him, choking him out with a metal chain. Feitan was gasping for air; he looked like he was on the verge of passing out. The floor was soaked in fresh blood that was clearly his. 

Phinks’s vision went red. He charged at the offending enemy, who barely had the time to look at him before he was punched with a fully-charged fist. The walls were colored red. There was no sign left of the man. He looked over at Feitan, his breathing growing heavier as he started to panic. Feitan was notably paler than usual and didn’t seem to be looking at him. He ran over and quickly broke the chains one by one, starting with his neck and moving downward. Fei’s head slumped down towards his chest as his neck was freed. The chain stayed close to his neck rather than falling down as expected. 

When Phinks finished breaking the chains, he looked back up at his friend’s face. “Feitan… Feitan! Are you still with me?” His own voice sounded broken. His vision was clouded by the mistiness in his eyes. Fei was unresponsive. His body was limp. Phinks reached up and gently pulled the chain away from his neck. He gasped when he saw the gaping neck slash, cut from ear to ear. A steady stream of blood trickled from it. He could see Feitan’s exposed trachea, and watched as the windpipe strained for air. He felt himself slip into shock and denial. Was he too late? He scooped him up into his arms. Fei hissed at the touch, but it was a very weak sound. “It’s okay, Fei… you’re going to be okay.” His resolve to get Feitan help was the only thing that kept his tears at bay. 

A distant explosion caught his attention. Phinks stared off in the direction of the sound. Now was the absolute worst time for him to encounter another enemy. He refused to let Feitan go. His best option was to try his best to sneak out and make it back to the hideout. 

He shifted his grip on Feitan so that he was able to carry him with one arm. He placed his free hand over the boy’s gaping neck wound to slow the bleeding and applied as much pressure as he could without further restricting his airflow. Then, he took off in a sprint. He was startled out of his attempted escape by a familiar voice in the distance. It was Uvogin’s voice, calling out his name. And then, Feitan’s name. That man certainly had a pair of lungs on him. 

Phinks rerouted towards his friend’s calls. If the others were there too, it would get Feitan help that much faster. “We’re over here!” He called back as he ran. 

The troupe found him quickly. Phinks could see as their looks of relief turned to dawning horror. Everyone was staring at Feitan’s mutilated, barely conscious body. 

Machi was the first to break the moment of silence. “Holy shit, what happened to him…?” She snapped herself out of the shock and rushed closer to the injured spider. She produced nen stitches before looking to Phinks. “Where’s his worst wound?” 

Phinks’s eyes turned downcast. He carefully removed his hand from Feitan’s neck, revealing the life-threatening gash. 

Machi’s jaw tensed. She nodded and brought her hands up to the boy’s neck. 

When she started stitching up his neck, Feitan’s head reared up slightly with a low, teeth-baring growl. The sound was louder than should reasonably come from a creature of Fei’s size; he sounded possessed. His eyes suddenly flashed bright, glowing red with softer pink undertones. His teeth were sharper and his aura, even subdued, oozed bloodlust.

To Machi’s credit, she didn’t back down. “I know it hurts, and I’m sorry. I really am. But I’m trying to fix it.” 

Feitan looked confused shortly after his little outburst. His eyes returned to their usual gray color. He blinked several times, then his eyes stayed closed. His body went limp again and he leaned his head back against Phinks’s arm. 

Phinks gently petted his blood-soaked hand through Feitan’s hair, hoping to bring him comfort. “It’s alright, Fei. Everything’s going to be okay.” 

Chrollo spoke very quietly to Machi. “Will he pull through?” 

She finished stitching up Feitan’s neck and quickly moved on to the stab wounds along his abdomen. “I can’t make any promises. I really wish I could, but he’s lost somewhere around half his blood. I can’t replenish that.” 

“You can make it, little runt.” Nobunaga spoke softly. His voice sounded almost broken. 

Chrollo’s expression darkened. He turned to face the rest of the troupe. “At least half of these cowards will have run off amidst the previous carnage. Find them. Root them out like the rats they are and kill them. Pakunoda, bring me one alive for questioning. Shalnark, return to where you found the imprisoned children and release them. Everyone else… kill every last one.” 

“With pleasure.” Uvogin growled. 

Without further words the troupe dispersed, leaving just Phinks, Feitan, and Machi. Machi continued to stitch Feitan up in silent concentration. Every time Phinks thought she was done, she kept finding more wounds to fix up. He wished he could do more to help. For now, he waited and listened to the sounds of Feitan’s breathing. As long as he was breathing, he was still alive. 

After about half an hour of nen surgery, Machi stepped back and the thread in her hands vanished. “That’s all I can do.” Her voice wavered slightly. 

“Thank you.” Phinks replied quietly. Feitan’s breathing had slowed but was more steady now. It seemed he had finally passed out. 

She shook her head slightly. It was as though she couldn’t bring herself to accept the thanks. “When we get back to the hideout, we’ll need to keep him warm. And as soon as he’s able, get some food in him. Would be good to clean him up a bit too, so I can more easily monitor his progress.” 

“I’ll take care of it,” Phinks said quietly. He had a pressing question in mind but was afraid of the answer. “Hey… now that he’s all stitched up… does he look any better?” 

Machi gently pressed two fingers to the side of Feitan’s neck. She was quiet for several seconds as she felt his heartbeat. She hummed softly. “He does feel a bit better. I still don’t want to make any promises, but I do think he’ll pull through. He’s too stubborn not to.” 

Phinks let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. “Okay. That’s good. Thank you.” 

She sighed quietly. “Seriously, don’t mention it.” 

Phinks gave a slight nod. He slowly sat down on the floor. He set Feitan gently in his lap and took his blood-stained shirt off. He draped it over the significantly smaller boy; it looked like a blanket on him. 

Not long after, they heard the first series of footsteps heading their way. Shalnark was leading a pack of children over. Phinks instantly recognized these kids as the ones in the photographs his reluctant informant had shown him. It was good to see them making it out of that hell hole. Two of the smallest children were holding Shalnark’s hands. A few of the older teens held the hands of other young kids. It was clear through their faces that they had been through hell, but most of them looked hopeful. 

Shalnark gave a soft nod as he saw the other spiders. He looked melancholy, but calm. “Hey, guys. Machi, do you have any news on Feitan?”

“Nothing earth-shattering, but he seems to be doing alright.” She replied. 

Some of the sadness was lifted from his features. “That’s great to hear. The others should be finishing up soon. We’ll all head out together in just a few minutes.” 

Within minutes, the rest of the spiders had all run back. Each took their turns checking on Feitan and asking questions. Machi looked slightly irritable at all the repetition, but she didn’t snap at anyone. Uvogin had managed to find Feitan’s stolen clothes somewhere along his murder route. He kept a hold of them when he realized Phinks’s hands were still full. 

Pakunoda was the last to return. She was dragging a man along by the back of his shirt. His legs dragged on the floor. Phinks knew damn well that she had the strength to carry him. It was a choice, and he certainly didn’t blame her for it. He would have done much worse. Pakunoda bowed her head. “I apologize for the delay. I took time to read each target. I found the highest ranking before killing the rest. He was the second in command. He will have the most answers for us.” 

Chrollo nodded. “Thank you, Paku. Let’s head back to the hideout.” 

Shalnark spoke as they all departed. “Hey, boss? Most of these kids have parents they need to get back to. And those who don’t have found family in each other. If you don’t mind, I’d like to see this through.” 

Chrollo gave a slight smile as he looked at Shalnark. “Ever the gentle heart, I see. I have no objections. Go ahead and help them get back to their homes. Would you like any assistance from the rest of us?” 

Shalnark considered for a moment before nodding. “Just one will do. Uvo, would you mind coming with us? People are a lot less likely to mess with us if you’re around. And I know you’re good with kids.” 

Uvogin seemed surprised by the request, but he didn’t take long to answer. “You’ve got it. I’ll do whatever I can.” He offered Feitan’s clothes to Chrollo, who accepted them with a grateful look. 

Chrollo looked to Shalnark again. “Do you and Uvo have it from here? Or would you prefer more support?” 

“We’ve got it. You guys go ahead.” Shalnark said with a soft smile. 

Chrollo gave him a slight nod. “Very well. Uvo, before you go, destroy it.” He then turned to the other spiders. “Let’s make haste. Follow me.” He took off in a run. 

The rest of the spiders followed him, leaving Shalnark and Uvogin to take care of the children at a much slower pace.

Phinks held Feitan close to ensure he wouldn’t get jostled in the run. He glanced back a few times to see what Uvogin was doing. Uvo ran up the trash mountain, leaped high in the air, then went crashing down into the crater where the building was. There was a loud bang as he collided. The rippling energy wave sent an avalanche of trash tumbling down the peak in all directions. Luckily, everyone was out of range. 

Before they knew it, they had made it back to their old hideout. Chrollo led Phinks and Machi to the room Phinks had been in the night before to recover. “This is unfortunately the best room we have. I hope it will suffice for now.” 

Machi shrugged. “If it was good enough for Phinks, I guess it’s good enough for Feitan. Not like he can get an infection at this point. Thank Lucifer my ability covers that much. Alright, boss, go on. We’ve got it from here. I know you wanted to question that wheezing bag of dick tips Paku found.” 

Chrollo quickly folded Feitan’s clothes and caringly set them down by the pile of blankets that had been Phinks’s bed the night before. “Your thoughts and colorful vocabulary are always appreciated, Machi. You know where to find me if you need anything.” With that, he silently departed from the room. 

Machi gestured towards the blankets. “Well, this is the spot. Like the boss said, best we’ve got. Maybe someday we’ll have a proper conjurer. That’d be real fucking nice.” 

Phinks carefully laid down on the blanket pile and positioned Feitan on top of him. He saved one of the heavier blankets to wrap around the boy. “This is plenty, don’t worry about it. We're used to it.” 

Machi gave a mirthless chuckle. “Yeah, me too, buddy. “ She leaned down and checked on Feitan’s vitals again. “He should be stable for the night. If at any point that changes, come and get me. Or just yell. I’ll be one room over.” She stood and left the room with a final, halfhearted wave. 

Phinks trusted Machi, but he was still terrified that Feitan might destabilize at any moment. He so badly wished he could do more for his best friend. He vaguely remembered hearing at some point that those who were unconscious could still hear what people said to them. So, he started quietly talking to him in his sleep. He lost track of time, caught up in their one-sided conversation. He was snapped out of his talking when Feitan began to wiggle in his sleep. Phinks grew dead quiet, but nonetheless, Feitan blearily opened his eyes. 

“Hey, Fei… you okay?” Phinks asked quietly. 

Feitan looked as confused as he had before he’d passed out last. He slowly looked around the dark room, then at Phinks. He tried to talk, but his attempted words came out as broken, incoherent syllables. He seemed frightened. When his English failed, he spoke a few scattered words in his native language. The only one Phinks recognized was ‘hurt.’ It was difficult to bear, but his job was to be here for Feitan, not to get lost in his own emotions. 

Phinks held him tighter. He didn’t want to hurt him, but he wanted to give him a feeling of security. “It’s okay, Fei… I’ve got you.” He assured softly. 

Feitan made several more broken attempts at speech before his breathing grew sharp and panicked. His heart rate skyrocketed. He clutched tightly onto Phinks with black and blue fingers as his body trembled. It seemed the shock of what he had been through was finally catching up to him. 

Phinks continued to hold him tightly. He softly rubbed circles into Feitan’s back. He was determined to do whatever he could to help him through this. In this moment, gentle comfort felt best. 

Feitan’s breathing and heart rate continued to escalate. Just as Phinks was about to call Machi over, Fei’s heartbeat slowed slightly. Instead, he began to cry. It started out quiet but soon evolved to sobs. He pressed his face hard into Phinks’s chest as he cried. 

Phinks’s heart broke with Feitan’s. He desperately hoped that in the midst of his friend’s immeasurable pain and trauma, his presence might provide some comfort. 

——-

As time passed, Feitan’s frantic panic dulled to more manageable tears. He was clearly exhausted but seemed determined not to pass out again yet. A few minutes after his crying had lessened to sniffles, he did his best to speak. His words were still broken and slower than usual, but he was perfectly coherent. “It was… I-It was o-over too quick.” 

Phinks listened carefully. “It’s aright, Feitan… what was over too quickly?”

“ Him… ” he sneered disdainfully. “A-after all that… I-It… It ended t-too quickly… I wanted… to cause him as much pain as he brought me…” 

Phinks was quiet as he listened. He thought back to the moment he’d rescued Feitan from his deplorable captor. “I wish I had been able to bring him more pain… I’m sorry it was so quick. I… I was just so focused on trying to get you out of there. If I could do it again, I’d save him for you.”

Feitan was quiet; he was even more silent than usual. 

Phinks gave him a gentle pat on the head. “Do you want to talk about it?” 

Feitan was quiet for many more moments before he spoke at last. “The things he did… they were…” he shook his head. “They were horrible… his touches… they made me feel… disgusting… I felt real pain. It… it made me feel… helpless.” He looked down. “I hated it… I refuse to feel like that ever again… mark my words; if it ever happens again, I will be the one inflicting it.”

Phinks gave him a soft squeeze. It was all he could think of to bring him comfort amidst the day’s horrors. “I’m so sorry… it won’t ever happen again…” 

Feitan grew distant. “Not to me, no… never again. But I assure you, I will inflict that kind of pain on others.”

“You’re right… never again.” Phinks said once more as he held him. 

Feitan grew quiet again. He seemed to have said everything he needed to say. He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep. 

Phinks continued slowly petting Feitan’s back. He hoped Fei wouldn’t have nightmares after everything he’d been through. Thinking about what it must have been like was difficult. He was lost in his thoughts for a while before he heard a familiar dragging sound. It was the same sound Pakunoda had made as she’d dragged their prisoner’s semi-conscious body around. He felt himself tense slightly in anticipation. 

The door slowly creaked open. Chrollo was standing in the doorway. “Hello, Phinks. Mind if I come in?”

Phinks was a bit surprised to see Chrollo. “Uh… yeah, sure.”

“Thank you.” Chrollo entered the room. His gait was still silent, except for the sound of the body he was dragging. 

Feitan groaned quietly. Phinks hoped he wasn’t being woken by the new noises, but he had a feeling he was. He looked up at Chrollo. “What are you doing here with him?” He asked as quietly as he could. 

Chrollo’s eyes were glued to Feitan. “I was hoping to bring him a small gift.” 

Phinks furrowed his brows. “What are you talking about…? “ he froze as he felt his friend wriggle. 

Feitan growled quietly and opened his eyes. His gaze was cold as he eyed Chrollo and the man he held. He slowly crawled off of Phinks. 

Chrollo set the unconscious prisoner carefully down in front of the crouching spider. “Hello, Feitan. This is the second in command of the organization that captured you. I hope this offering brings you some closure… you deserve to kill him yourself. Eat up.”

Phinks’s head snapped over to Chrollo. Had he really just told him to ‘eat up?’ Where had the boss even gotten that idea from? He wondered if Feitan had even told Chrollo about his unique past. 

Feitan eyed the captive, then slowly looked back up at Chrollo. He looked back and forth between Chrollo and Phinks. 

“Oh…” Phinks spoke quietly, picking up on his nonverbal cues. “Do you want us to leave?”

Feitan gave a slow incline of his head. 

“Right. You’ve got it. I’ll be back a bit later.” Phinks said before quietly getting up and leaving the room. 

Chrollo briefly glanced at Feitan once more and then followed Phinks out. “Is that what he meant? You two certainly are close.” 

“Yeah… we’re pretty close.” Phinks said, voice still quiet. “Hey, why’d you tell him to eat that guy?”

“The change in his eyes.” Chrollo replied with a distant look. “In all my research, I have only encountered one explanation that fits that look. The shape, the color, the energy. I believe that Feitan is a demon of some kind. Now, if that theory is correct-“

“Dammit, he’s not some guinea pig for you to test your theories on!” Phinks snapped. Why should it matter what Feitan’s species was? In his state of emotional instability, he had become irritable very easily. 

Chrollo grew quiet for several moments. “Phinks… I need you to know that I am just as upset as you are. I deeply care about him too. I am not doing this for the sake of testing theories. It is simply so that I can better anticipate his needs and assist in his recovery. No other reason. Demons must consume souls, and sometimes blood or raw flesh. It will not affect how I treat him either way.” 

Phinks rubbed his face, simmering down quickly. “I’m sorry… I just… I should have been there. I should have protected him.” He felt his eyes begin to water again. He angrily wiped away at the tears with a palm. 

Chrollo placed a hand on his shoulder. “This world is full of cruel, self-serving people. It is not even remotely your fault that one of them found him. It will be alright.”

Phinks let out a quiet sob. “But what about him… how long until he’s alright…?”

Chrollo gave his shoulder another squeeze. “He may never be the same as he was… but he will be alright in time. The best thing you can do for him right now is to be there for him. Continue to love him for who he becomes. The rest of us will be right there with you doing the same.”

Phinks tried to focus on Chrollo’s words. His body was still shaking and his mind was overwhelmed. “I promised I would protect him… I promised. I failed him…”

“That’s not true.” Chrollo’s voice was more stern now. “You did protect him. You got him out of there. I know you would have liked for it to have been sooner, but you got him out of there. You were the one who sensed something was wrong and went after him. You risked your life to help him. You didn’t fail. You’re a true friend.” 

Their conversation was interrupted by shrieks of terror from the room behind them. Phinks panicked and whipped around, but he soon realized those were not Feitan’s screams. They belonged to the man who had been left in there with him. It was clear he was no longer unconscious. He could only imagine what Feitan was doing to him to elicit such desperate, agonized screams. He looked at Chrollo, wondering what he might say or do. 

Chrollo initially appeared disturbed, but in an instant, the look was replaced by a ruthless smile. “That’s my spider. Give him hell.”

Phinks couldn’t help but worry for Feitan, both physically and mentally. “Should we give him more space…?” He asked, unsure. 

Chrollo shook his head. “No. We must stay close to ensure that if that pitiful thing does break free, he can’t cause any more harm to Feitan. I suppose only one of us truly needs to be here. You’re welcome to go, Phinks.” 

Phinks stared straight ahead at the door resolutely. “Not a chance in hell. If you’re staying, so am I.” 

“As you wish.” 

The time dragged on for ages, filled with pained and terrified screams. Finally, there was a sickening squelching sound, and the shrieks came to an abrupt stop. 

Phinks looked back at Chrollo. “Can we go back in now?” 

Chrollo shook his head. “Listen closer. His prey still has a heartbeat. This may take a while yet.” 

Phinks tried his hardest to listen, but his senses weren’t nearly attuned enough to hear a faint heartbeat across this distance and through a door. “If you say so… just tell me when it’s safe to go in.”

“I assure you, I will.”

The two fell back into silence. It was a whole hour later when Chrollo faced Phinks again and nodded. “It is done. I’ll let you two have this time alone.” He turned and started walking off. 

Phinks took a deep breath. He stepped closer to the door and gave a quiet knock. He heard no response. He assumed the lack of hissing or growling was permission enough and opened the door. He peeked in first, unsure of what to expect. His eyes were first drawn to Feitan, who had significantly more color in his pale skin. He looked calmer, less feral. Next to steal his attention was a pile of clothing. It had a strange, shriveled fleshy tube contained within. The tube was only two or three feet in length. Taking a moment to look closer, he realized that the tube was made of human skin. It looked more like a used and discarded sock than a person, but something in him just knew that’s what it was. He quietly stepped the rest of the way into the room and closed the door behind himself. “Hey, Fei… you doing alright?” 

Feitan gave a very small nod. 

Phinks moved closer. He sat down on the floor next to him. He focused on Feitan and tried to ignore the skin sock. “I’m curious… What’d you do to that bastard?”

Feitan looked at the shriveled husk of skin. “First… I did some of the things his boss did to me. Then, I did what my mother threatened to do to you.” 

Phinks’s memories were drawn back to the day he had left the spider’s nest with Feitan. The massive skulltula had threatened to paralyze him and very slowly suck out his insides. From the revolting tube of human skin, it seemed Feitan was somehow capable of doing just that. Was he venomous? It would be a question for another time. “Sounds like exactly what he deserved. I’m glad you gave it to him. Are you… feeling okay?”

Feitan gave a slow nod. “That torture was… oddly therapeutic. I think I’ll be doing it a lot more in the future.” 

Phinks wasn’t sure if it was truly healthy for Feitan to torture people after he had so recently been horribly abused. But if it was what Feitan wanted, and what would help him feel safe and in control again, he would support him all the way. “I’m glad it helped you feel better. Seemed like you had a bit of fun.” 

Feitan nodded more visibly and leaned against him. “Tired now.” 

Phinks very gently pulled him down into a lying position and snuggled up with him. “Go ahead and sleep, Fei. I’ll be right here with you.” 

Feitan didn’t fight at all on the way down. He yawned quietly. In a matter of seconds, his breathing grew heavier as he drifted back to sleep. 

Phinks stayed with him all night, just as he had promised. He was too afraid to sleep; afraid that if he closed his eyes, he would wake back up to a world where Feitan had died after his horrible ordeal. The steady sounds of his breathing and heartbeat were enough to substitute sleep for the time being. 

———

Throughout the night, Phinks had closely monitored Feitan’s vitals. His breathing had remained slow and steady, but his heartbeat had grown stronger. Machi had occasionally come in to check on Fei, and each time she’d seemed satisfied with what she’d determined. The next morning, his friend finally awoke. Phinks tried not to stare too intensely as Feitan sleepily blinked his eyes open. He couldn’t help but smile softly. Seeing him awake again was a massive relief. 

Feitan’s sleepy eyes fixed on him. “Phinks?” 

Phinks started to softly pet through the noirette’s silky hair. “I’m right here, Fei.” 

Feitan gave a few more slow blinks. “Did all that… really happen?” He tried to stretch but winced in pain. “No need to answer. It definitely happened.” His hand landed delicately over his throat. His fingers lightly trailed the thin, discrete scar. 

Phinks looked down. Profound guilt came flooding back to the surface. “I’m so sorry, Feitan… it’s my fault. I didn’t keep you safe like I promised.”

Feitan sighed. “It’s not your fault. It’s the fault of those who did it. I never asked you to promise that. Could have been hunted anywhere. Was just a case of wrong place, wrong time.” 

Phinks felt as though Feitan was being overly generous, but his words were comforting. “Are you sure about that? It’s not too late to feed me to your spider mom.” He cracked a small smile. 

Feitan let out an exhale akin to a laugh. “I’m sure. You’re mine, not hers.” 

Phinks’s heart fluttered at those simple words. The fact that Feitan cared enough to call him his felt like a huge step. “Yeah. I’m yours.” He gently pressed their foreheads together. 

Feitan closed his eyes and softly pressed back. 

The precious moment lasted for quite a while before Feitan slowly pulled away and looked back up at him. “We should go.” He said quietly. 

Phinks glanced at the door before looking back at him. He wondered if the other spiders were ready to leave Meteor City. “You’re right. Oh, but before you go,” he rustled around on the floor behind himself until he found Fei’s clothes. “Uvo found these. I’m guessing they’d be more comfortable than my baggy shirt.” 

Fei gave a small, subtly soft smile. He took the dark clothes and started to dress himself. His motions were slow and pained, but he powered through all the way. Once he was redressed, he looked back at Phinks and held up his bloody white tank top. “I’m keeping this too.” 

Phinks blinked in confusion. Why would Feitan want to keep his nasty old shirt? He knew better than to ask his strong-willed friend such questions aloud. “Sure, if you really want it. I’ve got a spare packed.” 

“Good boy.” Feitan said with a hint of sass. 

Phinks couldn’t help but blush. Those words probably shouldn’t have affected him as much as they did. He rose to a kneel and started to pick up the smaller spider. 

Feitan shook his head and pushed Phinks’s hands away. He wasn’t aggressive, but he was firm. “I’m fine.” 

Phinks wasn’t entirely convinced, but the least he could do was listen and give him a chance. “Got it.” He watched Fei as he shakily stood. He rose alongside his friend and discretely pressed against his side to give him extra support. When Feitan pressed back against him, he took the motion as permission and stayed resolutely by his side. 

The pair slowly but surely made their way out of the room and into the main warehouse. 

The Phantom Troupe was fully assembled. They looked tired and were significantly quieter than usual. The previous day’s events had clearly been draining for everyone. All eyes landed on Feitan as the two emerged. 

Phinks was tempted to gripe at them not to stare, but he didn’t want to offend Feitan by speaking on his behalf. The two made their way to their usual rock. Phinks hopped up first and swiftly pulled Feitan up before he had time to protest the assistance. Feitan looked a little grumpy but didn’t comment.

Feitan sighed at the continued stares. “What are you all looking at?” 

Shalnark spoke first. “We’re just glad to see you okay. We were all really worried about you.” 

Chrollo chimed in next. “How are you feeling today?”

Feitan was quiet as he reached for his neck. He was blocked by his scarf, which seemed to throw him off of his rhythm. “Fine.” He answered concisely. 

Chrollo watched him closely. “Are you feeling well enough to travel?” 

Before Feitan could answer, Machi interrupted. “I don’t care how he thinks he feels, he’s not running today. He shouldn’t perform any heavy activities for at least a week.” 

Chrollo considered her words before addressing Feitan again. “We could wait a week, or we could have Phinks or Uvogin carry you. Which would you prefer?”

Feitan looked miserable. “Let’s just go. I’m ready to get out of here.” 

“As you wish. We’ll pack some food for the road and then begin our journey. I only need one person to accompany me, to provide an additional set of hands.”

Uvogin stood. “Looks like it’s the good ol’ pack mule’s time to shine. Let’s go, boss.” 

Chrollo gave him a soft nod and led the way off. 

Shalnark waved. “Good luck, travel safely!” 

Uvogin winked at the blonde on the way out. “You know we will.” 

Phinks looked at Shalnark, who was now blushing slightly from the wink. “Hey Shal, been meaning to ask. Were you the one who found out where Feitan and I were yesterday? You mentioned checking forums or something.”

Shalnark met his gaze. “Yes, that’s right. It took some searching, but while I was scanning the dark web I found a lead. They made the mistake of digitizing some of their activities, so I was able to hack in and trace the location.” 

“I’m glad you did. It made a big difference. All of you did.” He looked around the group. 

Nobunaga turned his face away. “Don’t make a habit out of being such a sap. We’re a troupe, we stick together.” 

Phinks grinned slightly. “Whatever you say. Shal, how’d it go with the kids yesterday?” 

Shalnark smiled. “It went really well! Took a while, but we were able to find all of their families and reunite them. And we were even able to help the ones without families find a pretty safe place to stay.” 

“It was really nice of you to do all that. Is Uvogin actually good with kids like you said?” 

Shalnark nodded. “He might be scary to most kids at first, but it doesn’t take long for them to see he’s just a big teddy bear. Once they warm up, he feels very safe for them.”

“Bit of a subject change,” Nobunaga started, “Feitan, are you actually a demon? The boss sure seems to think so.” 

Feitan shrugged slightly. “Not sure. How should I know?” 

Nobunaga sighed. “It’s just like you to be cryptic. Apparently, demons eat souls. They’re also freakishly strong, which would help explain how you beat me in that fight without knowing nen.” 

Feitan took a few moments to consider. “I suppose the rest of you don’t devour life essence? Think that’s what you just called a soul.”

Pakunoda shook her head. “No, as far as I know, none of us do. That seems to settle it. I wonder what kind of demon you are. Can you change into an animal of some kind?” 

Feitan grew slightly squirmy. He seemed to be considering just how much to tell them. “Spider.” 

Pakunoda looked a little incredulous. “Amazing. Spider demons are exceedingly rare.” 

Franklin spoke next. “Can you really turn into a spider? I want to see.” 

Machi narrowed her eyes at Franklin. “Don’t you remember what I said about him avoiding strenuous activity for the next week? Completely changing his form would be pretty damn demanding!” She scolded. 

“Tch.” Franklin crossed his arms. 

Feitan had a slight look of amusement. “I’d rather not show it off. Bit personal.” 

Pakunoda nodded. “Of course, that is your right. Spider demons do tend to be secretive, from what I’ve read.” 

“And so do transmuters, go figure.” Nobunaga added. 

None of them pushed the subject. The conversation moved on to travel plans and thoughts on what their upcoming destination would be like. 

Chrollo and Uvogin soon returned with the promised sustenance. They set the dishes up on the same rickety old table that had been used the day before. Chrollo then beckoned the others with a hand motion. “Take what you please.” He quickly made a plate for himself and then made way for the others as they headed over. 

Phinks looked at Feitan. “You just got comfortable. I’ll get it for you.” He tried his damnedest not to show that he was mainly making that offer on account of Feitan’s healing wounds. Fei clearly wasn’t one to react well when people thought him ‘weak.’ Thankfully, Feitan simply gave a nod at his offer. He slid down the rock and waited in the short line. 

It was interesting seeing his friends’ varying culinary habits. Chrollo ate slowly with all the grace of a nobleman. Uvogin had taken two of the large to-go boxes from the bag of extras and was quaffing it down savagely. The others lay somewhere in between the two extremes. Shalnark was more on the neater side, while Machi was more on the shamelessly messy side. 

His observation was brought to a pause as he reached the table. He grabbed two of the large paper plates and started piling food on. There wasn’t quite as much diversity as there had been at yesterday’s breakfast, but that made it easier to know what to get. He knew that despite Feitan’s compact form, he could eat a lot. He made them both equal plates and then carefully hopped back up on their shared rock. He settled down and handed Feitan one of the plates with a plastic fork in it. “Hope you like it.” 

Feitan took the plate and stared at it. He looked confused. He subtly sniffed the food, but that didn’t seem to answer his questions. He pointed at the meat dish. “What is?” 

“It’s fish.” Chrollo answered. “To be specific, sea bass. Saltwater fish are quite the delicacy this far from the ocean.” 

Feitan hummed, then pointed to the green matter on his plate. “And this… what is?” 

“Why, that would be broccoli.” Chrollo responded again. “It’s been sautéed in garlic butter.” 

Feitan scrunched up his face. “Still don’t know what that is.” 

Chrollo looked a little lost. “Broccoli? Oh, well… it’s a vegetable.” 

Feitan slowly tilted his head. “Vegetable? Isn’t that the food’s food? Why would you eat it?”

He cleared his throat softly. “Actually, it’s one of the major food groups… very important for omnivorous animals. Simply put, it’s good for you. Why don’t you give it a try?” 

Feitan seemed skeptical, but he picked up a piece of broccoli and took a small nibble out of the floret. He looked pleasantly surprised. “Pretty good.” He kept slowly nibbling away, ignoring the fork. 

Phinks couldn’t help his soft smile. Everything about Feitan was endearing to him, even his more psychotic episodes. He started eating his own food as well. He had never been in the habit of using utensils, but he was trying to get there for the sake of perceived normalcy. 

Before long, everyone had finished eating. Uvogin had shoveled down any leftovers. Chrollo stood and all eyes landed on him. “We leave in five minutes. Those who haven’t yet done so, grab your bags.” 

Phinks looked briefly at Feitan to make sure he was alright. Feitan didn’t react much to the announcement, so he progressed as usual. He gave a slight nod to Feitan. “I’ll be back soon.” He said before sliding back down the rock. Once free, he scuttled off and grabbed what remained of his items. He put a new shirt on and stuffed the few remaining clothes in a travel pack along with his and Feitan’s share of the money. 

He didn’t dawdle for long. Within a few minutes, he had grabbed everything he’d needed and returned to the rest of the group. He was a bit more presentable now in his relatively clean shirt. Feitan gave him a slow blink of acknowledgment. Phinks nodded back and leaned against the rock they had shared. 

As the rest of the group filtered in on time, Chrollo spoke again. “It seems everyone is ready. Our journey begins now. Follow me.”

The rest of the troupe fell in after their leader. Phinks held out a hand for Feitan. “I know it’s not what you want, but what the boss says goes. Is it okay if I carry you?”

Feitan had that miserable look again. He let out a quiet sigh before giving a curt nod. He took Phinks’s hand and slid down the rock with the added support.

Once Feitan was down, Phinks gently scooped him up. There was a subtle pink hue in the boy’s face, but he knew better than to point it out. He trotted to catch up with the others. 

Chrollo looked back at the rest of the troupe, seeming to run a head count like a mother goose. He then faced ahead again and continued to lead the way to a brave new world. 

———-

Traveling at a modest pace, the trip lasted just under a week. The terrain was desolate and included a long stretch of desert. Only Chrollo seemed to know exactly where they were going. He led them steadily northwest. Finally, skyscrapers peaked on the horizon. They made quick progress and by the end of the sixth day arrived in the city. 

Chrollo gestured around at the city outskirts. “My trusty spiders, welcome to Yorknew City.” 

“Finally,” Nobunaga said, “now the little runt can stop hissing at every new sunrise.” 

Feitan glared lightly at him. He had been using Phinks’s stolen tank top to cover himself from the scorching sun. 

Uvogin looked around. “It’s not as fancy as I expected. But hey, at least the buildings aren’t made from trash. They’d probably be a lot more fun to knock down.” 

“I’m sure they would be.” Chrollo said with a smile. “However, for the time being, we are not here to destroy. Nor to steal. Our first several months here will be devoted to intensive training. We could all use some improvement. The stronger we become, the less likely we are to ever have another incident like the traffickers heist. I'm aiming to get us to the point where, even if we are ambushed or separated from one another, we can still easily kill anyone who gets in our way.” 

Machi grinned. “Maybe then I won’t have to stitch you chuckle fucks up so often.” She directed towards everyone except the boss. 

“Oh, shut up! You gave yourself that role.” Nobunaga snapped back. 

Chrollo held up a hand and the squabbling instantly ceased. “Reduced injury is indeed part of the goal. I am confident that we will achieve it very soon. Once I am satisfied with the progress we have made, we will plan our next heist. Yorknew City is rife with greed, corruption, and power hunger. There is a great deal of wealth to be made here. That comes with a great deal of opportunities to make a name for ourselves. Meteor City now fears and respects us. It’s time to bring that sentiment to the rest of the world.” 

“We look forward to it.” Pakunoda said with a slight smile. 

Chrollo gave a soft nod back at her. He continued to lead the way to their next destination. They walked for another twenty minutes or so before he stopped in front of a decrepit, abandoned building. The structure was around thirty stories in height and it was unclear what it had once been used for. “This is the place. It should have plenty of access points for water pipes. We could all use a drink and a bath. Shalnark, are you able to hack into the city’s main water supply?”

Shalnark nodded with a smile. “Sure thing! It’ll be nice to practice with new systems. We’ll probably have several leaks, but it should be easy enough to avoid the affected areas in this huge building.”

“Excellent. I’m glad I can rely on you.” He wrenched the building door open with a quick yank, breaking the rotting wooden slabs that had been boarding it up. He briefly brushed his dirtied hands off on his coat and then continued into their new hideout. 

The others followed. With all the windows and surrounding city lights, this building was significantly brighter than the old warehouse by the defunct nuclear plant. Phinks also couldn’t help but notice that Yorknew City was far less smothered by smog than Meteor City. Even so, the stars were muted by all the city lights. He remembered the night when he had introduced Feitan to the Phantom Troupe. The young spider had mentioned liking stars. Phinks hoped that someday they would both be able to see them much easier. 

The troupe ascended to the top floor. Chrollo strode to a cracked window and gazed at the city below. A slight hint of a smile graced his lips. “We’ve come so far already. Just imagine where we’ll be in a few years.” He turned to face the other spiders. “You are welcome to occupy any area of this building you like. I will be staying up here. Rest up; you’ve all certainly earned it.” 

The spiders started unloading their possessions and lounging in their chosen areas. 

Uvogin sat down with a loud thump. “Thanks, boss. My glutes are feeling the burn from all that running.” 

Chrollo had a mildly amused look. He gestured for Shalnark to follow him a short ways off. The two sat together and Chrollo watched as Shalnark started speed typing on his miniature laptop. 

Phinks looked at Feitan. “Wanna stay up here with the others?” 

Feitan shook his head. “Need more space.” 

“You got it.” He walked back to the staircase and began the descent. “Just say when.” 

Feitan appeared very contemplative as they reached each new floor. He seemed to be taking the decision quite seriously. At the twenty-fifth floor, he pointed at the door to exit the staircase. “Here. If it’s not gross inside.” 

“Sounds good.” He pushed open the door and looked around at the floor plan. It was full of old office cubicles. Paper was strewn about everywhere and there was a slight layer of dust, but it looked mostly clean. “What do you think? Should we rest here?” 

Feitan nodded. “Good enough. Now put me down.” 

His brows knit slightly with concern. “Are you sure? It’s only been six days, Machi said-“

“I know,” Feitan cut him off, “don’t care. It’s close enough.” 

“Okay… how are you feeling?” 

Feitan gave an irritable look. “Stop asking me that. Or I bite.” 

Phinks averted his gaze in subconscious submission. “Right, sorry… you know best.” He slowly and gently set Fei back on his feet. 

Feitan took a few steps away and started stretching. He was moving a lot better now; the rest and food must have done him well after the kidnapping ordeal. After his stretches, he quietly walked to the cubicles and started pushing lightly at the walls of a larger one. 

Phinks followed him closely. He couldn’t help his curiosity about what the little spider was doing. “Want a hand with anything?”

Feitan shook his head. He slowly circled the chosen cubicle and continued giving little pushes to the walls. After a few laps he seemed satisfied. “This will hold. Now look away.” 

“Oh, okay… what am I looking away from, exactly?” Despite his question, he turned his back to his friend. 

“You’ll see. You peek, I eat your eyes out. Deal?” 

Phinks chuckled. “Yeah, deal.” He closed his eyes for good measure. He listened curiously, but the quiet shuffling sounds behind him didn’t give anything away. He waited patiently. 

After a few minutes, Feitan spoke again. “You can look now.” 

Phinks turned around. He was amazed to see a silky hammock hanging between two of the cubicle walls. “Whoa… is that web? I didn’t know you could do that.” 

Feitan looked satisfied with himself. “Yes. Unlike the boss, I like to be comfortable.” He hopped up into the hammock and snuggled in. He patted the spot beside himself. 

Phinks didn’t need any further invitation. He was worried that his added weight might cause strain on the web or walls, so he carefully got up onto the office desk and from there crawled into the hammock. It felt soft but sturdy. It was like a downier version of the web that had ensnared him on the day they’d met. The structure was wide enough that they could both lay comfortably. He settled in beside the boy and smiled at him. “You’re amazing.”

Feitan squirmed with a rosy blush. “I know…” 

It really wasn’t fair how cute he was. He pushed that thought to the back of his mind. “So, are you venomous?” 

Feitan quickly recentered when the subject shifted away from compliments. “Highly, if I change my teeth a bit.”

“Badass. How many eyes do you have?”

He shrugged. “Two, usually. Sometimes more if I want to see better.” 

“So, you really do have eight hidden in there somewhere? I thought I was imagining things back in the cave.” He was distracted by a loud creak traveling through the building, followed by the distant sound of trickling. “Sounds like Shalnark figured out the water situation.” 

Feitan nodded. “I like him.” 

Phinks smiled again. “I can tell. Me too. Hey, now that we’ve got water, wanna wash off?” 

Feitan sighed. “No, just got comfortable… tomorrow. But I do want some to consume.” 

“I got it, just sit tight.” Phinks carefully rolled out of the web hammock. He scouted out a water fountain and snatched a mug from one of the desks on the way. He rinsed it out as well as he could and then filled it. He found himself growing distracted by his thoughts. This water was completely clear. He was used to at least a small tint of brown. It really was a whole new world outside of Meteor City. He was glad Chrollo had found him. 

Feitan seemed to be adjusting well, too. He had been disgruntled the whole trip, but now he was warming back up. Phinks wondered if it was because he had his sense of control back. Fei had been a bit more guarded since the incident. Considering what he had been through, Phinks was surprised he wasn’t more visibly traumatized. He wondered if his friend really was okay, or if he was just doing a good job of hiding it. He wished he were better at emotions. As of now, he wasn’t sure how to ask him. The very least he could do was be there for him. 

He snapped himself out of his idle thoughts when the mug started overflowing. He poured out a bit, then leaned down and took a quick drink from the fountain. Better to leave the cup clean for Fei, he mused. He picked the mug up again and quickly walked back to their shared hammock. He gave a little wave with his free hand as he approached. “Hey! Found the water.” 

Feitan gave a slow blink as he approached. He accepted the cup with both hands as he offered it and started sipping subtly beneath his skull-patterned scarf. 

Phinks couldn’t help the little smile as he watched him. He was ready to settle back down with Fei, but didn’t want to disturb him. “I know you’d prefer to wash up tomorrow, but are you sure you don’t want me to shower? I know I’m grimy as hell after that desert walk.” 

Feitan shook his head and handed him back the empty mug. “I’m sure. Sweat isn’t a bad thing. Just means you smell more like you.”

Phinks gave a sheepish smile. He set the mug on the desk and started to get back into the hammock. “I’m surprised you don’t mind that. You must have a pretty advanced sense of scent as a demon, I wish I knew how you experience the world. Kinda curious, what do I smell like to you? Like food?” 

“Like you’d make pretty kids.” Feitan’s brows furrowed after he spoke. It seemed to be one of the rare instances where he blurted out words without carefully calculating them. “What does that even mean? Wait… eww!” He pulled up his scarf to completely cover his face. “I never said that…” 

Phinks knew from the heat in his face that he was red as a tomato. He looked away in an effort to grow less flustered by the implications. From both of their reactions, it was abundantly clear that they were still just kids. “Course. Didn’t hear a word. A-anyway… how do you think our next round of training is gonna go?” 

Feitan slowly emerged from his scarf cocoon of shame. “Probably better than the first. But still annoying.” 

“I think it’ll go better this time too. We know a lot more now and have all the time we need. Should be getting into the advanced stuff soon. You should start thinking about what you want your special ability to be.” 

Feitan gave a contemplative nod. “I’m starting to piece it together.”

“Whatever it is, you’ll do great. You always do.” He nudged him softly. 

Feitan ducked his head slightly with a little grin. “Thanks.” 

The remainder of the night elapsed in pleasant conversation. Phinks could only stay awake so long after traveling practically nonstop for almost a week. Feitan’s calming voice and the softness of the hammock soon lulled him into a peaceful sleep. 

Chapter Text

The next morning, Phinks awoke to a sharp bite to his arm. He deliriously looked at the slightly punctured arm and saw Feitan clinging to it with his teeth. Feitan had that characteristic unimpressed look. “Feitan? What happened?” He slurred out. It took him a few more moments to note that he had his arms snugly wrapped around the little spider, including a hand firmly planted on his hip. That realization was enough to jostle him the rest of the way out of sleep. He yanked his hand off his hip and more carefully pulled the other one out from under Fei. He could feel himself growing red yet again. “S-sorry! I, uh… I was asleep. Didn’t realize what I was doing.” 

Feitan simply emitted a little hum. Once he received the apology, he released Phinks’s arm. There were only small prick marks where his canine teeth had been. 

Phinks quickly tried to change the subject. “Did you sleep well?” 

Feitan thought about it for a moment before nodding. “You?” 

“Yeah, pretty solid blackout. I definitely overslept… seem to be doing that more and more lately.”

Feitan’s eyes held a glimmer of amusement. “You should get used to that. Spiders are creatures of the night.” 

“Yeah, that’s true. I think I’m starting to get used to it. Anyway, we should probably wash up and get back to the others for training.”

Feitan nodded in agreement. He rolled off his side of the hammock and gracefully landed on his feet. He tucked his hands in his pockets and started walking off. 

“Hey, wait up!” Phinks was far less graceful in his descent, but he managed. He trotted to catch up with Fei. “I think the bathrooms are over here.” He pointed to the wall where he had located the water fountain the previous evening. Sure enough, there were two restrooms. The women’s was on the left of the fountain and the men’s was on the right. He halted in between the two.

Feitan paused next to him and inquisitively looked up at him. 

Phinks rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Feitan was certainly too private of a person to want to share a bathroom, but his own sense of normalcy made him hesitate to choose the women’s bathroom. He knew he was overthinking this. Best just to talk about it. “Do you have a preference on which one you want?” 

Feitan looked between the two doors pensively. “Are they the same?”

‘That’s right… he probably doesn’t know the difference.’ He gave a side-to-side tilt of his head. “Mostly, I think. Though if I’m being honest, I’ve never been in a women’s bathroom before.”

Feitan hummed. “So, that’s what it is? Interesting.” He paced to the door on the left, carefully studied the pictogram of a woman, then moved to the door on the right and studied the man. “Which is which? Neither looks like a person. And if that is the head on top, they’re both decapitated.” He sounded more curious than anything. 

Phinks pointed at the door on the left. “That’s the women’s. The one you’re looking at now is the men’s.” 

“Interesting… and this matters why?” He turned to face him again. 

He rubbed the back of his neck again. “Well it doesn’t, really… just wanted to know if you prefer one.” 

Feitan snorted quietly. “Oh, I see. You have a preference and don’t want to admit it. Wise of you to give me the choice. You can have your fragile masculine door. Female spiders are bigger and stronger.” He strode back to the left side. “Besides, I’m kind of both internally.” 

Phinks stared after him as he disappeared through the women’s door. “B…both? Wait, what does that mean?!” He called after him. 

“I’ll tell you when you're older.” Feitan’s muffled voice sassed from the inside. 

Phinks groaned. It was just like Feitan to drop a cryptic comment and then leave. He pushed open the men’s door and began the tedious process of washing off in the bathroom sink. 

By the time he finished drying himself off with thin paper towels and getting redressed, Feitan was already waiting by the water fountain. He seemed like he’d been spacing out, but looked at Phinks and nodded when he emerged. Fei’s hair was slightly damp, but still fell perfectly as it always did. How he managed to always wake up looking perfect was a mystery. 

Phinks waved back. “Hey! Hope I didn’t leave you waiting long.” 

Feitan shook his head. “Not too long.”

“That’s good. Alright, you ready to train?”

The shorter spider let out a long, quiet sigh. “I guess so…” He started walking to the staircase. 

Phinks chuckled and fell in by his side. As they walked, he bumped slightly against him. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fun. If you don’t have at least some fun today, you can bite me as hard as you want. Deal?” 

Feitan seemed to perk up at the offer of atonement flesh. “Deal.” 

The pair made their way up the stairs and onto the top floor. Several of the spiders were already practicing. Chrollo was seated at a massive wooden desk surrounded by two stacks of thick books. He was reading from one of them when they arrived, pausing to nod at the two. “Welcome. As you can see, we’ve gotten started nice and early today. You didn’t miss much, however.” 

Was it actually early? Phinks didn’t think so. He glanced out the window. It had to have been around 1:30 pm. If this was what the others called ‘early,’ it was clear he had a long way to go in adjusting his sleeping schedule. “Morning. Whatcha got there?” He gestured to the books. 

Chrollo looked back at his stack. “Ah, this is the finest literature available on the subject of advanced nen. At least, it’s the finest immediately available. I stole these from the local hunter-exclusive library.”

Shalnark sighed softly. “I still think it would be beneficial if at least one of us took the Hunter Exam. They won’t all be so easy to sneak into, and can you imagine all their digital information? I’ve had no success hacking into it…” He looked like a sad puppy. 

Chrollo gave the blonde a little smile. “Once we’ve finished these months of training, I have no problem with you taking the next exam that rolls around. Thank you for volunteering.” 

Shalnark beamed at the permission. “Awesome, thanks!” 

Chrollo gave a soft nod. “Certainly. Ah, and Phinks, if you were inquiring about the book I am holding specifically, this one delves into conditions. You’d certainly know a thing or two about that, with your windup ability.” 

Feitan moved up to Chrollo’s desk and poked the book. “Last lesson, you said conditions were too advanced for beginners. Are you going to let me learn it today?”

Chrollo put down the book and stood. “Of course, should you select that subject. However, I personally believe that conditions shouldn’t be looked into too hard until you know what your special ability will be. And not everybody employs them. Simply put, a condition is a contract you make with yourself. You would place a limit on what you can do when. If the condition is fulfilled, then the ability that you have linked to it becomes substantially more powerful. Conditions may need to be fulfilled through the nen user, or through their adversary. They’re really quite flexible. The stricter the condition, the greater the degree of power amplification.” 

Feitan spoke decisively. “I know what condition I want. And what ability. My ability will be called Pain Packer. And my condition is that the more someone manages to hurt me, the stronger it gets.” There was an intense, vengeful look in his eyes. 

Phinks couldn’t help but worry. With a condition like that, he supposed he would have to get used to seeing Fei get hurt. It wasn’t a comfortable thought, but it might grow easier in time. 

Chrollo looked somewhat concerned, but he nodded. “That would have very powerful potential, especially coupled with the radiating volatility of your aura. To be honest, Feitan, your ability is more than strong enough without the addition of a condition.” 

“I know. But some enemies will be very strong. Good to have a backup option and use their strength against them.” 

“I see… very well. I can understand the appeal of turning your pain into an empowering asset for revenge. Naturally, we can’t practice it here. But I can teach you how to finalize your condition and integrate it.” He picked the book up and flipped to a page he had bookmarked. “Let us begin.” 

As the training session was underway, Phinks joined Uvogin once more to resume enhancer lessons. Some, like Nobunaga and Shalnark, were practicing specific techniques. Others, like Machi and Pakunoda, were focusing on nen emission stamina. Feitan continued to train one-on-one with Chrollo. It was hard not to look at the others out of curiosity, but Uvo kept him on track rather well. 

The following months were filled with much the same. While there were some setbacks, the days kept getting easier overall. With each other’s support and Chrollo’s ever-growing hoard of books, the troupe members excelled. By the four-month point, Phinks could sense a shift. Chrollo didn’t need to give nearly as many corrections on their techniques. Every one of them could easily hold a steady nen output for over six hours. And those who hadn’t before finalized their special abilities. 

One day, after training, Chrollo gathered the troupe together for an announcement. All eyes were on him as he sat on the desk. “I wanted to congratulate you all. You’ve made incredible progress. Just as I wanted, every one of you has truly become a force to be reckoned with. I can confidently say that any of you could defeat even seasoned pro hunters. With that in mind, I am officially lifting this training period. You’re ready to become true legends.” 

Uvogin was the first to speak up in a typical boisterous shout. “Does this mean we get to steal again?” 

Chrollo smiled and nodded. “Yes, Uvo. Whenever you want something, take it.” 

Uvo let out a cheer. “Hell yeah! I know where I’m going first! This night calls for celebration. I’m gonna go rob that liquor store on the corner. We need beer, lots of it! Who’s with me?” 

Franklin stepped closer. “Sure. Sounds fun.” 

Nobunaga grinned at his best friend. “I think I’ll sit this one out. But make sure you bring back enough for the rest of us.” 

“That was the goal. Got you covered!” Uvo said with a thumbs up. “Are we dismissed, boss?” 

Chrollo nodded. “Indeed you are. Have fun.” 

“You know we will! See you guys in a bit.” Uvo trotted off, followed by Franklin. 

Pakunoda spoke to Chrollo next. “Are we having our next heist soon?” 

Chrollo nodded. “Very soon. We will execute it tomorrow night.”

“Guess we can’t party too hard, then.” Machi mused. “I’m looking forward to it, though. It’ll be neat to practice thread slicing on real targets.” 

Phinks smiled over at Feitan. It was hard to believe that they were finally done after months of hard work. The thought of embarking on another heist was both nerve-wracking and thrilling. “You excited?”

Feitan nodded. “The boss already said I can’t use my special ability on jobs. Something about burning the merchandise. Oh well. I’m still excited to kill again. It has been far too long.” 

Phinks rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s certainly one way of looking at it. I’m just looking forward to getting back to the real action. Not to mention finding new treasures. Maybe at some point, we’ll find some genuine ancient Egyptian artifacts.”

Feitan nodded. “Most likely. I’ve heard there’s an annual underground mafia auction here where lots of artifacts come up. Including ancient Egyptian jewelry, religious artifacts, and even mummies.” 

Phinks looked up in thought. “Well, aside from the outrageous disrespect of unearthing a mummy, that does sound really cool. Do you think the auction will be our next heist?”

“No. I said it’s only once a year, and it’s still many months away. The boss won’t want to stick around and wait. Maybe in the future. But don’t worry. We’ll find shiny things elsewhere.” 

Phinks nodded. “True. And if we get back on the move, we’ll get to see more of the world. That’ll be nice.”

“Yes… it will be.” Feitan very slightly leaned into Phinks’s side. 

Phinks reminded himself not to get all mushy at Fei’s touch. It would probably only spook him. Instead, he softly leaned back to add just a bit more pressure between their sides. 

The night continued in enthusiastic chatter among the group. Phinks noticed a shift in Chrollo’s attention before he looked outside. A few minutes later, they all heard the heavy footsteps of Uvogin and Franklin thundering up the stairs. Had the boss truly noticed their presence so far in advance? He really was on a different level. 

Uvo was the first to burst through the door. He was carrying two black trash bags full of what were clearly cans. “We return victorious!” He announced as though that were unclear. 

Franklin followed behind him at a more casual pace. He too was carrying two huge bags of stolen booze. “Yeah, I think they know that.” He set his bags down in the middle of the circle of troupe members. “Go to town. They’re still cold.” 

Uvogin poured his bags out on the floor, sending a cascade of cans in all directions. “I know they know. It’s all about the show!” He scooped up an armful of beer cans and sat down heavily on the floor next to Shalnark. He offered one to the techie. 

Shalnark smiled softly and accepted the can. “Thanks, Uvo. I think I’ll just have the one.” 

Nobunaga started lightly smacking Uvogin’s shoulder. “Hey, you’re not gonna offer me any? What gives?” 

Uvogin laughed and gestured to the pile. “They’re all right there! But alright, if you’re gonna whine about it, you can have one of mine.” He offered him another can with a smirk.

Nobunaga huffed and snatched it before sitting on Uvo’s other side. 

Feitan inquisitively picked up one of the cans that had rolled close to him. He looked up at Phinks. “What is?” 

Phinks cracked open the can Feitan held. “It’s that stuff that makes people drunk. Or just a little tipsy, depending on the person and how much they have. Typically makes people relax. I haven’t had much of it, but it can be nice to wind down with. Fair warning, though, you might not like the taste. It’s kind of bitter.” 

Feitan stared at the elliptical opening of the can and sniffed at it. “You like it?”

“I acquired the taste, yeah. But it’s more about the effect than the flavor.” 

Feitan hummed and pulled down his scarf. He took a small sip. His reaction was instant and visceral; he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head with a quiet gag. 

Phinks bit his lip to suppress a laugh. “Guessing you’re not a fan?”

“Disgusting…” Feitan glared at the can as though it had personally offended him. He let out a huff and then threw back his head and started chugging it. 

Phinks blinked in surprise. “Uh, Fei? Why are you still drinking it if you hate it so much…?”

Feitan finished the can and tossed it disdainfully to the side. “Want to see why you like it.” He grumbled before picking up another. He felt around at the tab before figuring out how to open it, then started drinking it just as fast as the first. 

Uvogin looked over. “Damn, Fei! I didn’t know you could drink like that! You might actually rival me.” He said with a grin. He clearly hadn’t heard the smaller spider’s comment on the repulsive flavor. 

Feitan again quickly finished it and tossed the empty can off to the side. “Challenge accepted.” There was a defiant spark in his eyes. 

Shalnark laughed. “You two certainly know how to get into trouble! Guess the party’s officially started.” He set up his computer with a makeshift speaker and started playing uptempo pop music. 

Phinks’s brain was still loading when the drinking competition between Uvo and Fei began. He wanted to tell Feitan that it wasn’t a good idea to challenge someone so large to such a contest, but in all honesty, he was too impressed to intervene. Feitan was actually keeping up with Uvogin. Somewhere around ten cans in, Feitan hiccuped and reluctantly set down the beer he had been about to throw back. He was suddenly wavering from side to side like a hooded cobra. Uvo hadn’t noticed and was still chugging beers. 

Feitan slowly slumped against Phinks and started giggling. “I… I think…” He let out another hiccup and continued to talk between giggles. “I think I get it now. Still disguuusting.” 

Phinks wrapped an arm loosely around Fei, wanting to help support him. He couldn’t help some concern at just how much his novice drinker of a friend had consumed. “You okay, Fei?”

Feitan started rubbing his cheek against Phinks’s arm. His eyes were glazed over in blissful tipsiness. It certainly had hit him quickly. “Mhm… I’m good.” 

Uvogin finally caught up with his victory after Nobunaga had elbowed him in the ribs. “Oh, guess I won. Great try, little buddy! You’re still a legend in my book. Franklin’s the only one who’s been able to match me before.” 

Feitan let out a loud laugh before snorting gracelessly. “Stooop, you’re embarrassing!” 

Uvo sighed quietly. “Man, I’m jealous… I wish I could still get drunk. Haven’t been able to since I was ten.” 

Nobunaga raised a brow slightly at Uvo. “You know, that actually explains a lot.”

Uvogin didn’t seem to overthink the subtle insult and just continued drinking. 

Phinks gave a soft squeeze to Feitan’s shoulder. “Do you wanna head to bed?”

Feitan snorted and shook his head. “Why would I want that? It’s so early.” 

Phinks recalled that Fei was a creature of the night like the rest of the troupe. “Okay. Just let me know if you get tired.” 

Feitan giggled again and writhed against him. “I’m fiiine.” He insisted. His scarf was still down to neck level, providing a view of his whole face, including an adorably loopy smile. 

Of all the people here, it was sweet that Fei leaned against him while inebriated. He wondered if the troupe’s number two had as much dependence on him as he did. Either way, what was most important was their care for each other. No matter what, he would always be there. He was shaken from his thoughts as Fei started wiggling around more intensely. 

Feitan suddenly scooted up into Phinks’s lap. He sat right in the middle of Phinks’s crossed legs and leaned back against his chest. “You’re comfy.” 

Phinks stared down at him with wide eyes. It was difficult to keep his composure with Fei’s rear pressed against his groin. This was just like so many guilty pleasure dreams he’d had. He knew he shouldn’t drink at this point. It would take a substantial amount of focus not to get hard. And yet, the last thing he wanted was for Fei to leave. 

Uvogin grinned knowingly and wriggled his brows at Phinks. 

Phinks saw the gesture out of the corner of his eyes. He felt the heat rising to his face in a blush. He deliberately looked away from Uvo. When he turned his face away from him, he inadvertently caught Shalnark and Machi giggling quietly. 

Chrollo was quick to redirect everyone’s attention. “Why don’t we play a game? Truth or dare.” 

“Sure, why not?” Nobunaga said. “I’ll go first. Uvo, truth or dare?”

Uvogin looked intrigued. “You already know everything about me. Let’s go with dare.” 

Nobunaga picked up one of the empty beer cans. “I dare you to eat this.” 

“Sure!” Uvo took the can from Nobu and crumpled it in his fist. He then shoved it into his mouth and started chewing. He seemed completely unperturbed through the process, and grinned at the groans of revulsion some of the troupe members gave. He swallowed and opened his mouth at Nobunaga to show that the can was gone. 

Nobunaga laughed. “You’re such a trash compactor!” 

“And proud of it!” Uvogin said with a grin. “If we’re going in a circle, I’m next. Shalnark, I pick you.” 

Shalnark hummed in thought before answering. “I think I prefer truth.” 

“I was hoping you’d say that. Have you ever kissed a guy?” 

Shalnark lit up in a blush. “That got more personal than I was expecting… no, I haven’t kissed anyone yet.” 

Uvogin grinned. “Care to fix that?”

Shalnark hid his face in his hands. “Uvo, quit kidding around…” 

Uvogin let out a sigh. “Alright, alright. You’re up, Shal.” Phinks could tell that his advance had been serious, but it seemed Shalnark was oblivious. He felt his pain. It was difficult to suppress romantic feelings. He would need to talk to him about that later. 

Nobunaga subtly gave Uvo a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. 

Shalnark uncovered his face with a contemplative look. “Phinks, truth or dare?” 

With Feitan on his lap, the dare options were limited. Besides, he didn’t want to eat a can like Uvo had. “Truth.” 

“Were you born with your name, or did you choose it?” 

Phinks felt himself getting a bit lost in memories. As an orphan growing up in Meteor City, he hadn’t been born with a name. He had been casually looked after by a few scrappers, but there hadn’t been much real connection there. They had given him a name, but he’d never identified with it. “I picked it. Got it from the sphinx, my favorite magical beast.” 

Shalnark gave a warm smile. “You chose well. It’s a great name.” 

Phinks ducked his head slightly, getting a bit bashful. “Thanks…” 

“My turn.” Machi declared. “Boss, truth or dare?”

Chrollo looked intrigued. “I choose truth.” 

Machi nodded. “Do you have a crush on Lucifer?”

Chrollo sighed and lowered his head. “Yes…” 

She grinned. “Knew it.”

Phinks noted he and Feitan were next in the circle. Since Feitan didn’t seem to notice, he spoke first. “Pakunoda, truth or dare?” 

Pakunoda hummed. “I’d rather not look like a fool… truth.” 

“I’ve gotta know, what’s the most messed up thing you’ve ever pulled from someone’s memory?” 

She grew contemplative. “I suppose that depends on your definition of messed up… I’ve seen a great deal of killing, torture, and betrayal in people’s memories. But as someone who has killed plenty, I don’t particularly see it in the same light as someone with a strong moral compass would. However, there is one memory that stands out as the most jarring by a considerable margin. It was from about a year ago. I was interrogating a man to acquire the location of a gem he was rumored to have. One of the methods I have for making people panic and lose control of their thoughts is to threaten their families. When I asked if he had children, it happened. I received a very clear and graphic memory of him having sex with his teenage son. Can’t have been older than fourteen. The boy was calling him ‘daddy’ between panting breaths. They both seemed to be enjoying it greatly. I felt strong his romantic feelings for the boy. It was such an unexpected vision that I almost lost track of the mission at hand. I got the gem, but I let him live. I hope they’re still happy together, wherever they are.”

Phinks scrunched up his face. “Ugh… that’s pretty damn messed up. I don’t envy your ability anymore.” 

“I do,” Uvogin said. “That sounds hot.” 

Nobunaga gave Uvo a baffled look. “You’re disgusting.” 

Uvogin laughed. “Proud of that too!” 

Phinks nudged Feitan softly. “Your turn.” 

Feitan nodded. “Nobunaga.” He stated simply while looking at him. There was a bit of a slur to his voice. 

“Let’s go with dare.” Nobunaga said suspiciously. 

“I dare you… to let me cut your hair.” He spoke with an impish grin. 

“Not a chance in hell, that’s ridiculous!” Nobunaga shouted. “I change my mind, pick a damn truth.” 

Uvogin cackled. “Only little bitches back out of dares! I propose that the rest of us call you samurai jack-off for the rest of the game!”

Nobunaga groaned loudly. 

Machi grinned. “Sounds fair to me.”

Feitan giggled. “I like that. Samurai jack-off, here is your truth. If there weren’t a policy against infighting, would you accept a rematch challenge from me?”

Nobunaga looked miserable. “You don’t have to keep rubbing it in, it was one fight a long time ago. But no, I wouldn’t.”

“Didn’t think so.” Feitan said, devilish grin still firmly in place. 

Chrollo spoke next. “It seems I’m up. Franklin, truth or dare?” 

Franklin gave a little shrug. “You’re the boss. Dealer’s choice.” 

“Very well. Truth. You’ve been deliberately dodging this question for quite some time… what is your favorite Broadway play?” 

Franklin shifted slightly. “Fine… it’s ‘Cats.’” 

There were a few muffled snickers among the group. 

Chrollo smiled. “There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s quite the masterpiece.”

Franklin crossed his arms. “Let’s just move on. Paku, it’s your turn.” 

Pakunoda nodded. “Machi, truth or dare?” 

“Truth, I guess.” Machi said, looking over. 

“I know you’re quite fond of needles and pins. Have you ever sewn a voodoo doll of someone?” 

Machi sighed. “Yeah… I don’t think it worked, but the stabbing was still pretty therapeutic.” 

Pakunoda chuckled quietly. “I’ll try to stay on your good side.” 

Now Franklin’s turn, a mischievous grin reached his face. “Feitan, truth or dare?”

“Dare.” Feitan answered easily. 

Franklin’s grin broadened. “Alright. I dare you to wiggle around. Let’s say for about thirty seconds.”

Feitan looked confused. “What kind of a pointless dare is that? Fine… you do the counting.” He started wiggling from side to side. 

Phinks was startled by the extra pressure Fei’s hips were now pressing into him. The dare made perfect sense now; Franklin was clearly messing with him. He glared at the smug-looking Franklin and tried his best not to react physically. Before the time was up, it was becoming too much. Without thinking, he grabbed Feitan’s hips and forced him still. 

Feitan squeaked quietly at the hip grab. He looked back at Phinks with slightly widened eyes. The surprise soon left his features. Instead, he stuck his tongue out at him and then looked forward again. For some reason, he didn’t ask him to release the hold. “Good enough?” He asked Franklin. 

Franklin nodded with a chuckle. “Yup. You did perfect.” Another round of snickers made its way through the group. 

Phinks’s mind finally caught up with his own actions and he released Feitan’s hips. How had he not gotten bitten down to the bone for that? He never would have expected Feitan to be such a cuddly drunk. 

Shalnark had a light blush. “Since everyone’s had a turn now, maybe we should call the game off here before it gets too crazy.” 

Chrollo bowed his head. “I don’t have a problem with that. Good game, everyone.” 

Uvogin pouted slightly. “Man, it was just getting juicy.”

The night continued in a relatively tame, jovial celebration. Most of the troupe got louder as they had more to drink, but even with the ample background noise, Feitan was clearly getting sleepy. He was letting out occasional yawns and had ceased all conversation. It didn’t take him much longer to fall asleep. 

Phinks softly stroked through the sleeping boy’s night-black hair. He stuck around for a bit longer before picking Feitan up and heading towards the staircase. “We’re gonna call it here, big day tomorrow. See you guys.”

Shalnark waved. “Rest well, see you tomorrow!”

Chrollo gave a soft nod and a slow blink. 

Phinks continued down to their isolated room. He very carefully set Feitan in the hammock and then crawled in around him. Through the motions, Feitan emitted a quiet hum but didn’t wake up. Phinks relaxed when he managed to fully settle in without waking him. Reflecting on the night of celebration, it felt like a new milestone in their friendship. He still couldn’t believe that Feitan had comfortably spent hours in his lap. 

He reached over and gently grazed his fingertips along the boy’s cheek. His skin felt remarkably soft and smooth. He couldn’t help but smile as Fei leaned slightly into the touch. He softly stroked his cheek once more before retracting his hand. Best not to push the touch while he was asleep, he reasoned. The tiredness from the long day was finally catching up with him. He rolled onto his back and quickly drifted off to sleep. 

Chapter Text

The following day, the troupe dragged their hungover corpses from the clawing depths of post-party sleep. They had a job to prepare for. Chrollo briefed them on the heist, they rested for a few hours longer, then they departed together into the night. Anticipation and excitement were palpable in the air. 

After the last heist’s catastrophe, Phinks was determined to make a comeback worthy of pride. He could tell that the others felt the same. Even Feitan had a little extra pep in his step. The job should be a simple one, Chrollo had assured. They were going to rob Yorknew’s largest underground wrestling ring. Apparently, the bets produced quite a pretty penny. Phinks believed the boss and was anticipating a reasonably simple job. 

What he hadn’t expected, however, was for it to be as easy as it had turned out. The ring was in the middle of operation when they broke in. The underground arena was filled with dozens of powerful fighters, and hundreds of spectators. With all the fighters, it really should have been more difficult. Yet, they managed to clear the area in a matter of minutes. Those who fought were mercilessly slaughtered. Those who ran fast enough were allowed to leave; there had to be someone to spread the stories, Chrollo had said. 

At the end of the onslaught, the formerly lively arena was silent as the grave it had become. Corpses were strewn everywhere. Chrollo, Pakunoda, and Shalnark had departed to locate the loot. Everyone else was left amid the carnage they had created. Phinks refused to believe that it was over. There had to be backup, there had to be more of a life-threatening challenge coming up. There had to be injuries. Yet, here they stood in a desolate arena where the only sounds came from their own breathing and the quiet drips of blood. 

Uvogin was staring at the dead bodies with particular intensity. When he spoke, he finally broke the silence that had fallen over them. “Man… seeing all this meat is making me really hungry.” 

Nobunaga narrowed his eyes at Uvo. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Actively thinking about it.” Uvo said before ripping a leg off one of the corpses and biting into his macabre drumstick. 

Nobunaga scrunched up his face. “That’s disgusting! You don’t know where that’s been!” 

Uvogin shrugged. A small drip of blood had fallen down his chin. “Wherever it’s been, I doubt it’ll kill me. I’ve eaten way worse. Hey, this is actually pretty good! Needs salt, but good flavor. Seems like what cannibals say is true, it’s a lot like pork.” 

Nobu sighed. “I don’t know why I even try with you. You know this makes you a cannibal too, right?” 

Uvogin shook his head. “No, I don’t think it counts if you’re just trying it. It’s not like I’m addicted to it or anything. Just hungry.” He took another bite. 

Nobunaga rolled his eyes and looked away. “It counts. I just hope they find the cash soon. This place is creepy as hell now.” 

Phinks couldn’t help but share the mentality. Killing was one thing, but marinating in the product of their mass murder was another. It was eerie. He imagined this too would grow easier in time. He looked over at Feitan, who was sitting on one of the corner poles of the wrestling ring. The small spider yawned, looking sleepy. It was clear he wasn’t affected in the same way by the carnage. To him, meat was meat. Most of the other spiders seemed similarly unperturbed. 

Luckily, they didn’t have to wait for too long. The three on the recon team returned to the others carrying a few briefcases. “Mission success.” Chrollo coolly announced with a smile. 

Phinks looked to the returning party. “Is there really no backup coming? That was it?”

Shalnark checked his phone. “My cameras around the city aren’t showing anything suspicious. I’m pretty sure we’re in the clear.”

Chrollo nodded. “I believe so as well. Although, even if others do arrive, we will be prepared. No need to stick around here any longer. Let’s move out.” He led the way out, followed by the troupe. 

They exited calmly. At the surface, nobody was waiting for them. They continued onward and traveled back to their hideout. They remained vigilant, but there were no signs of anyone following them. They soon reached the top floor. 

Chrollo had the others set all the briefcases down on the desk and opened each of them up. He began the process of pulling out the cash, counting it, and dividing it up. “For those who weren’t there, I suppose I should mention that I left a bit of a calling card. The symbol of the Phantom Troupe, drawn onto their leader’s wall in his blood. It’s only a matter of time before everyone knows who did this. It’s been a very successful job. I wanted to congratulate you all again.” 

Phinks looked out a window at the cityscape. “It was too easy… it feels strange.” 

Chrollo chuckled quietly. “That’s why we spent so long training. You should grow accustomed to ease, Phinks. Many of the people we killed today were every bit as strong as the ones who gave us such a hard time in the last heist. We’ve grown as thieves. There will likely still be bumps in the road from time to time, but this should be our new normal.” 

Uvogin grinned. “Easy can be nice, but so long as we still run into a good challenge from time to time, I’ll be satisfied.” 

Chrollo nodded. “There will always be powerful nen users out there. They’ll put up good fights, and we will learn from the experiences. I do still encourage you all to travel in pairs for safety, just in case. Now, it’s time to discuss our next move. We will conduct one more heist in Yorknew, and then take an airship to the next major city, Zaban City. We will allow one week between tonight’s heist and the next. That will allow plenty of time for rumors to spread and fear to fester. 

“Our job for next week will be the Yorknew bank. No more hiding in the shadows. I want everyone to see what we can do, not just the underground. The Yorknew bank is extremely well-fortified due to the sheer quantity of wealth contained within. We will attack just after sunset, while it’s still in operation. Kill all who stand in your way. Allow some to escape. Who you choose to let live is up to you. We will discuss the details of who does what the day before.” 

“Cool. Sounds like a plan.” Machi said. 

Phinks couldn’t help but worry. The troupe was increasingly moving in the direction of killing innocents. Murdering spectators as they’d tried to escape had left a sour taste. Now, they would be targeting bank customers and security guards. These people were a far cry from the mafia and human traffickers he was used to killing. ‘Once a spider, always a spider.’ He reminded himself. He would just have to go along with what the boss ordered. Chrollo had never claimed that they would only kill bad people. He wondered if any other spiders were secretly as uncomfortable as he was. He would just have to get used to it.

————

The bank heist went by in a bloodbath of similar efficiency. They came, killed, stole, and left their troupe symbol painted on the wall in blood. On the way out, they encountered police who they also slayed mercilessly. It wasn’t long before all the backup was either killed or called to retreat. 

From there, they headed to the black market bank. Shalnark arranged their deposits into the accounts he had created for each of them. They had enough wealth to last a lifetime, but they all knew they wouldn’t stop anytime soon. Chrollo was too ambitious; he wanted the whole world to know their name and fear them. 

The very same day, they caught an airship to Zaban City. The cycle continued: kill, steal, and move on. Their intense robbery spree lasted a whole year. In all that time, they scarcely encountered a real challenge. They continued to grow stronger and more calloused with time. It didn’t matter who they stole from; whoever had the most wealth was targeted, and any who were in the way were killed. 

By the time the year was up, they’d had over fifty heists. Not all of the jobs had targeted wealth; a few, particularly towards the end of the spree, were aimed at items that were fascinating to Chrollo, regardless of price. It was an unexpected trend, but it wasn’t completely surprising. After all, they were already rich as kings. 

For Phinks, the best part of it all was getting to see the world with his friends. They traveled to every mapped continent and even charted a few unmapped territories for the thrill. They saw wonders of nature beyond his wildest dreams. He certainly didn’t need all the wealth they were gathering, but the experiences were well worth his waning moral dilemma. It was getting a little easier every time. Feitan was his rock; the killing didn’t affect him, which made it easier for Phinks to be unaffected. Whenever Phinks had moments of weakness after a slaughter of innocents, Fei was there to comfort him with soothing words and calm energy. They had each other through it all. 

By the end of their loop around the world, they were back in the continent of Yorbia. The troupe was just a few hundred miles north of Meteor City. Chrollo was particularly silent on this trip. He led the way to a new temporary hideout; this building was a long abandoned convenience store. 

As the troupe settled down, Chrollo finally began to speak. “Our dream has been realized. Over the mere span of a year and a half, we have managed to become the world’s most infamous thieves. Truth be told, I couldn’t be prouder. I’m sure you’re wondering what is next.” He looked around the group. 

Several of the spiders nodded before patiently awaiting his answer. Phinks honestly had not considered the question of what was next. He had assumed they would make the loop around the world again and hit different targets. 

Chrollo continued. “We are nine spiders. We need a total of thirteen. I had hoped that in our travels we would find other qualified individuals to recruit. However, it has become evident that I must put more active effort into searching. I will fulfill the next step of this journey alone. I will find four new spiders. Once I find them and train them to satisfaction, I will alert all of you via group message. The message will include the time and place for our next meeting. Once we’ve met back up, we will resume our course of theft.” 

The group was quiet. Phinks was at a loss for words. He hadn’t expected the troupe to split up anytime soon. They had no way of knowing how long it would be before the boss found and trained four new troupe members. Being thrown into a new situation so suddenly was alarming, to say the least. He looked at Feitan to gauge his reaction. 

Feitan’s brows were scrunched just a hint more than usual. He seemed contemplative, but not alarmed. As usual, his lack of reactivity was soothing. 

Pakunoda was the first to speak after the announcement. “Perhaps if we all put our efforts into recruiting, the search will go faster. Will you allow us to assist?” 

Uvogin spoke next. “Yeah, same with training. You’ve seen that we’re capable of training others.”

Chrollo shook his head. “I’m afraid I must do this alone. I will see you all when the time is right. Thank you, for everything.” With that, he stood and walked out of the building. 

The other spiders remained stunned. Phinks felt like a dog whose master had just abandoned him on the side of a highway. Luckily, he wasn’t alone. He hoped the rest of the group would stick together. After a while in silence, he looked out a window in the direction Chrollo had gone. There was no sign of him; he had vanished without a trace. “Damn… now what?”

Nobunaga sighed. “I guess we go wherever we want. It’ll probably be at least a year before we get called again. I know that specialists tend to be independent and all, but when the boss formed this group I thought he’d managed to break free of that pattern.” 

“On that note,” Pakunoda started, “I think I’ll be heading out solo. There are some things I’ve been meaning to do. I truly hope to see you all again very soon.” She gave a soft smile before departing. 

Shalnark waved. He looked sad, but like he was trying to uphold his optimism. “See you, Paku. Safe travels.” 

Nobunaga shook his head slightly after she’d left. “Damn specialists. Figures they’d be the first to go. Well, what about the rest of you?” 

Uvogin shrugged. “I’ll go wherever you go, Nobu. I know you like Azia best.”

Shalnark looked at Nobu and Uvo. “Azia has some pretty advanced tech. I think I’ll go with you guys for now.” 

Machi hummed slightly in thought. “I think I’d like to head back to Yorknew. The annual auction is coming up pretty soon, I’d like to see what they have to offer.”

Franklin nodded. “You read my mind. We can go together if that’s good with you.”

“Sure, I don’t mind. The boss did advise traveling in pairs.” Machi said. 

Feitan spoke out on his own. “Home. For now.”

Phinks pressed his shoulder slightly against Feitan’s. “I’m good with that. I’ve been thinking about it for a while anyway.”

Feitan gave a slow blink up at Phinks. 

The troupe gave their final goodbyes before traveling their own ways. 

Phinks and Feitan gradually made their way back to Meteor City. The two were in no rush; after all, from what the other spiders had said, they could have over a year on their own. They traveled at night and rested during the day. Now that the two of them were alone, they were able to truly take the time to appreciate the beauty of the world around them. Outside of major cities, the evening starlight was breathtaking. During nights, the two barely even exchanged words, carried away in their surroundings. 

Eventually, they arrived back in their native city. Well over a year had passed since they’d been here last; it was longer than either of them had expected to spend apart from their dumpster fire of a homeland. They’d passed back through the Gordeau Desert and ended up on the western front of Meteor City. Feitan clearly knew this territory better. He led the way back to his original homeland. Phinks could sense the shift in his friend as they neared the infamous Skull Cavern. Fei was moving notably quicker and speaking even less. 

Phinks wondered just how much had changed since they’d last been here. Being back in Meteor City came with a strange sense of comfort, despite their shared struggles here. Phinks’s senses had become significantly more honed. Like Feitan, he managed to step over every concealed web strand that they passed. 

Feitan briefly paused at the cavern entrance. He looked over to Phinks. “You can come in.” He said before disappearing into the darkness below. 

“Right behind you.” Phinks replied before continuing after him a few feet behind. He stayed back in the hopes of preventing distractions in the reuniting between Feitan and his unconventional family. Just a short descent later, he started hearing a distant scuttling. His senses were significantly more refined at this point. Within moments, the scuttles were joined by eerie clicking and squeaking sounds. Phinks looked around as the sounds grew closer. Even with his matured senses, he was still surprised as a giant spider fell from above directly down onto Feitan. 

Feitan squeaked and then laughed. Phinks could vaguely see his smaller friend wrapping his limbs around the spider’s body. The arachnid that had tackled Fei was larger than Phinks had remembered the smaller spiders to be, but significantly smaller than the giant he had recalled as Fei’s maternal figure. If this was a sibling, then where was the mother? Phinks was once again surprised by a strange tapping on his back followed by a moist suctioning feeling on the back of his head. His body went rigid at the bizarre sensation, but he didn’t fight it. “Hey, Fei? What’s happening?” 

Feitan looked over at him. In the darkness, his eyes glowed softly red. “Grooming. Means affection. Seems she approves of you.” 

That answered the question of where the mother was. Somehow, even after all his training, the skulltula matriarch had managed to effortlessly sneak up on him. Feitan really had learned from the best. Phinks couldn’t help but smile. He frankly hadn’t expected to ever earn her approval. He cleared his throat before giving his best effort at Fei’s demonic tongue. “Krup nek.” It was only two words, and he spoke with a heavy accent, but it seemed his ‘thank you’ was understood. 

The matriarch emitted a trilling rumble and continued to groom him more vigorously. 

Feitan directed a soft, fond smile at Phinks. It was still too dark for Phinks to see much, but he could see the smile in Fei’s lightly glowing eyes. Feitan started speaking in his language too quickly for Phinks to keep up with. Fortunately, the words didn’t seem like they were meant for him. The spiderlings around them were chittering in response. After a brief verbal exchange, Feitan produced a small nen orb from his palm. It started out very dimly lit before erupting into a ball of fire that warmly illuminated the cavern. 

Phinks felt proud of his friend for how far he had come. He clearly had no problem controlling his aura. In the new light, he could finally see the eleven young spiders lining the rocky walls and floor. They had to have been around a thousand pounds each but were still significantly smaller than their mother. Now that he could see them and knew more about them, he found himself thinking they were rather cute. 

Louder chitters and squeaks sounded from the spiderlings. Feitan laughed softly and nodded. He held his other hand out over the first, gaining better control over his burning nen. With a few motions of his hands, he changed the ball of fire into the shape of a spider. Its legs moved as though walking and sparks of electricity danced within its body. It was a magnificent display, one which showed a much softer side of the aura that was normally so destructive. 

Phinks felt lucky to be a part of this moment. He was glad that Feitan finally had the chance to show his family what he’d learned. 

Feitan played around with different shapes, colors, and elemental combinations in nen to entertain the spiderlings. After the impromptu show, he reduced his nen once more to a small fireball. He looked at Phinks. “Forgot that you probably couldn’t see. Want this light?” 

Phinks had been slowly crumpled into a curled-up ball and shoved slightly under the mother spider in her quest to groom him. He was resigned to his fate. “Sure, if you guys don’t mind.” Just then, he noticed the two massive, curved fangs that hung over his head. Each fang was the length of his forearm. He stared into the skulltula’s mouth with fascination. Her mouth was almost heart-shaped, providing a little pocket for each fang to rest in. Watching her mouthparts move around was thoroughly intriguing now that he knew he wasn’t about to be eaten. 

Feitan gave a slight nod. “The glow is soft. We don’t mind.” He stood and gestured for him to follow with a tilt of his head. “Come. I’ll give you the grand tour.”

Phinks looked between Feitan and the spider who held him. “I’d love that, but shouldn’t we wait for her to finish up here?” 

Feitan shook his head with a quiet chuckle. “If you don’t leave now, she’ll have you in her mouth all day.” He started slowly meandering off. 

“Good to know.” He started gently squirming until the spider had freed him. He gave her a soft pat on the leg before trotting after Feitan. 

Feitan’s miniature sun followed where they walked, continuing to illuminate the cave. Some of the spiderlings scuttled after them. They descended gradually through a combination of slopes and steep drops. Feitan was graceful as ever, making each drop look effortless. Phinks wasn’t as elegant, but he kept up well. 

As they delved ever deeper below ground, the walls began to change. Rocks that were once white and pale gray turned to dark grays and browns. Dry turned to damp. Soon, water trickled audibly. Feitan dropped down one more short chute before Phinks saw him stop and look back up at him. 

Phinks followed, dropping as carefully as he could onto the slippery rock below. When he looked around at the chamber they had entered, he was awestruck. The ceiling was adorned with hundreds of stalactites, long and hollow mineral straws that slowly dripped water. They looked like rocky icicles. The ground hosted stalagmites, an army of shiny, lumpy mounds that rose up in smooth towers akin to termite mounds. In a few places, the stalactites and stalagmites joined together to form impressive columns. In the center of the chamber was a shallow pool of unnaturally turquoise water, with pronounced ripple marks carved into the rock itself despite the water’s stagnant nature. The chamber looked as though it belonged to an alien world. 

Phinks slowly wandered around the room. “This place is amazing… I had no idea it was so beautiful down here.”

Feitan watched him with a small smile. “I agree. Glad you enjoy it too. I used to come here often to think.”

Phinks broke his stare from the wet, rocky room around him to smile over at Fei. He felt a sense of kinship and reciprocated affection when the noirette met his gaze. When he noticed that Feitan remained standing still, he started to slowly pace around the cavern. His wondrous exploration was briefly halted by a hiss from his friend. He quickly froze where he stood and looked back to Fei.

Feitan was pointing at the ground. “No step, no touch. Is alive.” 

Phinks broke his gaze to look at the area in front of him. He had been approaching one of the exceptionally moist stalagmite mounds. If Feitan saw this rock as ‘alive,’ he would respect that. “Got it. Sorry.” He slowly rerouted to drier rock. 

Feitan relaxed as Phinks changed course. He started slowly walking around as well, moving close to Phinks. 

Phinks lost track of time in the moment; nothing outside of the cave mattered. It was just him, Feitan, and the rocky oasis that surrounded them. 

The pair spent a while in the chamber before Feitan caught his attention with a beckoning hand. “Let’s continue the tour. I still have to introduce you to the flowers and bugs.”

Phinks followed Feitan. “To be honest, I didn’t know that either of those lived in caves.”

Feitan hummed with an amused look. He jumped back up through the chute they had entered the chamber through. 

Phinks was again careful not to slip as he leaped up. When he landed, he noticed that the spiderlings had moved on, leaving him and Fei alone. He wondered when exactly the young skulltula had turned around. He hadn’t noticed any changes in their presence. 

Feitan led the way through a new series of tunnels. They started to ascend in elevation. Once again, the rocks began to change. The walls were back to a pale grey-white. Phinks wondered if he was imagining things, but the walls now seemed to sparkle in the firelight. Feitan paused at a certain point and gestured up to the cave ceiling. “Flowers.” 

The ceiling was full of beautiful, delicate clusters of crystal, many of which resembled flowers. Phinks again found himself in awe of the natural beauty around them. “Whoa… are they made of rock?”

“Mhm. It’s called gypsum. Very delicate. No touch.”

Phinks chuckled and raised his hands in surrender. “I won’t touch anything except the ground I’m standing on, I promise. Are the bugs you mentioned made of rock too?” 

Feitan shook his head. “No, they’re real bugs. You’ll see.” He strode off again, followed closely by Phinks. They continued at a mild upward slope. When the walls changed again, they were dark brown with black accents. 

As Phinks looked around, his attention was caught by movement on one of the walls. A strange arthropod about the size of his palm had scuttled a short distance before settling back down. It was dark brown with lighter brown stripes along the legs. There were six clear legs, with another two very long appendages slowly moving around in front of it. Its body was flat like a crab’s and it had a set of spiny mouthparts that were perhaps best described as nightmare fuel. They were something like the grasping forelimbs of a mantis, but positioned side to side and several inches long each. “Never seen anything like that before… what is it?” 

“Whip scorpion. Named for their whip-like first pair of legs. Type of arachnid. So, they’re distantly related to spiders. They’re mostly cave specialists and are very friendly.” Feitan answered. More whip scorpions became visible the further down they got. There was also an abundance of rotund cave crickets with exceptionally long hind legs and antennae. 

“That’s pretty neat.” Phinks hadn’t entirely realized how interested Feitan was in bugs. While they weren’t exactly his hobby, he certainly appreciated their uniqueness. 

“Snaggletooth!” Feitan exclaimed with a rare level of excitement. He ran up to the cave wall and started gently scooping one of the larger whip scorpions into his hands. 

Phinks was a bit confused, but he came in closer to get a better look at the arachnid. This one had slightly longer spines along the pedipalps than most. “Is this one you already knew?”

Feitan nodded and turned to face Phinks with the creepy creature in his hands. He looked very happy. “Yes. I’ve known him for six years now. His name is Snaggletooth. He’s my favorite. He’s on the older side, so I’m glad I get to see him at least one more time.”

Phinks felt his heart melt a little. He didn’t know anyone else who would show such adoration to a bug on a cave wall. Feitan really was so sweet underneath his more jaded layers. “I’m guessing no touch?”

Feitan let out a quiet giggle. “Him you can touch. Hold out your hands, just like this.” 

Phinks was hesitant. Snaggletooth looked very delicate, and the last thing he wanted was to harm a creature that meant so much to Fei. “Are you sure?”

Feitan nodded. “I’m sure. Drop him and I kill you. I trust you.” 

Despite the death threat, it meant a lot for Fei to say he trusted him. Phinks couldn’t help but smile. “Alright, deal.” He cupped his hands out like Fei was demonstrating. He held as still as possible while Feitan slowly herded the arachnid into his hands. Once in the center of his hands, the whip scorpion held still on him. His feet were cool to the touch. He hardly weighed anything despite his size. His whip-like forelegs slowly tapped around Phinks’s hands, so softly that he could barely feel the touch. It was a strange sensation, but having Snaggletooth in his hands was a surprisingly soothing experience. 

Feitan smiled with a happy little hum. “He’s so perfect. Stay, I’ll fetch him a snack. If he starts to move, just hold him up to the wall.” 

He nodded without taking his eyes off the whip scorpion. “You got it.” 

A few seconds later, Feitan returned with a large cave cricket carefully captured in his fingers. He started wiggling the cricket in front of the whip scorpion. 

Snaggletooth’s lengthy whips started softly tapping on the cricket. His mouthparts sprung open, revealing the rows of sharp spines. He slowly stepped forward until he was in range, then snapped his claws around the cricket and pulled it against his mouth. The spines kept his prey in place while two petite fangs in the center of his face started chewing on the smaller bug. 

Feitan seemed very pleased that his offering was accepted. “Good boy.” He carefully herded Snaggletooth back into his own hands, which didn’t seem to interrupt his eating in the least. 

Phinks continued to watch as the arachnid fed. “Okay, that was pretty awesome. They move in such a unique way.” 

Feitan nodded in agreement. “Let’s continue the tour. You’ll get to see the worms next.” He kept Snaggletooth in his hands as they continued the trip. Only when the rock texture began to shift again did Feitan pause and hold the whip scorpion close to the wall. “Goodbye, old friend.” He said softly as the arachnid slowly crawled up onto the wall. He turned and resumed their walk. 

Phinks looked back at the whip scorpion as they walked off. He was surprised to find that he missed him already. “I really hope Snaggletooth is still alive the next time we visit.”

“Me too. But it’s alright. He’ll go when it’s his time. The ephemeral nature of life is part of what makes it so precious.”

Phinks smiled softly. “Yeah, that’s a good way of looking at it.” 

Feitan let out a hum. “And besides, he’s had dozens of babies. I can recognize his offspring from the shapes of their spines. They’ll still be around after he’s gone.”

Phinks chuckled. “He’s a handsome boy, it’s no wonder he’s so popular with the ladies.”

Feitan let out a quiet laugh and nodded. Along their trip, he pointed out several fascinating features. Ancient cave paintings, sacred burial grounds for people who had inhabited Meteor City long before it became a dumping ground, and the designated spider molting site. Phinks was tempted to snatch one of the hollow fang shells in the molting chamber, but he resisted his inner thieving instincts. 

They were well into the tour before Feitan made his next announcement. “The time for worms is upon us.” He stated cryptically before leading Phinks through a narrow passage. They both had to crouch to get through. Once on the other side, Feitan snuffed out his fire orb. 

Phinks squinted as his eyes adjusted to the return of darkness. In a few seconds, a new light source made itself abundantly clear. This chamber was filled with gorgeous blue-green bioluminescence. Strings of lights hung from the ceiling by the hundreds. They were every bit as beautiful as the stars, if not more. The cave floor was covered with a softly glowing pool. Yet again, he was taken aback by the stunning scene. “Are you serious? These are worms?”

Feitan chuckled quietly. “Kind of. To be more specific, they’re larval fungus gnats. But close enough. They look wormy to me.”

“It’s amazing. You really do have a whole ‘nother world down here. I’m glad I get to see it.”

Feitan gave another quiet hum. The two roamed the glowing chamber for a while longer before Feitan again herded Phinks off. “Let’s go. Getting late.”

Phinks knew that by “late,” Feitan meant “early.” They were following a mostly nocturnal schedule now, one which he grew more accustomed to each day. He allowed himself to be shepherded down a new path. 

“This was a loop. Lots of other paths, though.” Feitan explained as he gestured to the distant silhouettes of the skulltula family. The closer they got, the better Phinks could see them. The spiders were suspended in giant webs. They were very still, no more skittering about, even from the spiderlings. Feitan pointed at a particular web hammock at a lower level. “This was mine, where I always used to sleep. Seems they kept it clean for me. Kind thought. We will sleep here and leave tomorrow.” 

Phinks nodded, looking around. The entirety of the web structure was massive and extended to the very top of the chamber, somewhere around fifty feet. “Cool. I’d pick the bottom bunk too, much easier.” 

Feitan leaped up into the hammock, which only swayed slightly at his graceful landing. He looked down expectantly at Phinks. 

Phinks shifted slightly. “I don’t think I can jump that… be right there.” He swiftly climbed up the thick ropes of web that supported the structure. When he got close to the hammock, his options for climbing had run out. 

Feitan extended a hand towards him. 

Phinks gave him a grateful smile before jumping over, grasping his hand. Feitan managed to stabilize them effectively even through the clumsy landing, and pulled Phinks up into the web hammock. Once he was in, Phinks plopped down with a content sigh. As Feitan lay next to him, he spoke. “Today has been amazing. Thanks, Fei.” 

Feitan snuffed out his fireball, plunging them back into darkness. In the cover of the dark, he very softly traced a few fingers along Phinks’s arm in a display of affection. “Mhm. Goodnight.” 

“Night, Fei.” 

————-

It was nearing sunset as they awoke, Phinks could sense it even without the light of day. He had woken when the other spiders had descended the web, and Feitan awoke shortly after. “Morning.” Phinks said with a smile. 

Feitan yawned. “Morning.” He replied before rolling to the edge of the hammock and dropping down to the cave floor. 

Phinks sat up and clutched the upward-curved edge of the hammock. “Hey, Fei? I still can’t see.”

“Oh, right.” Feitan said drowsily before reigniting a small fire orb a few feet above his head. 

“Thanks.” Phinks jumped to the main wall of the web and climbed down from there. He gave a slight nod to Feitan when he strode forward to him. 

Feitan gave a small nod back before turning and leading the way after the other spiders. They emerged into the area Phinks recognized from the previous day’s grooming session and Fei’s fire display. He hadn’t even noticed the subtle groove in the cavern wall that revealed the alternative passage. He wondered just how long he would have to spend in Skull Cavern before he managed to map out its entirety. 

When they joined the others, Feitan began to softly speak to his mother in his language. The matriarch emitted a series of trills and rumbles before starting to thoroughly caress him with her mouthparts, in the same way Phinks had witnessed on the day Feitan had first left the cave with him. The other spiderlings soon piled on, crawling over each other to have their turns with Fei.

Phinks smiled softly as he watched. Soon, one of the spiderlings started nibbling lightly on Phinks’s arm. The action was done gently, barely leaving pricks on his skin. Now more than ever, he felt like he might just be a small part of this strange family. 

After a lengthy round of farewells, including both of them receiving a mini round of grooming from the matriarch, they were on their way once more. It didn’t take them long to exit the cavern mouth and resume their travel at a leisurely pace. 

Phinks looked at Feitan as they walked. “Where to next? Got any ideas?” 

Feitan nodded. “To the Begerosse Union. It’s close enough that it’s accessible, but far enough to be interesting.” 

“Sounds like a plan.” Phinks looked through the trash for valuables as they walked. Though he wasn’t aiming to actually collect anything today, the scrapper in him took satisfaction in locating items of value. ‘Old habits really do die hard.’ He paused when he saw what looked like a red parasol poking through some other trash. He quickly trotted over and pulled it out. The edges were slightly frayed, but it was otherwise in good condition. 

Feitan paused and looked over at him. “What are you doing?”

Phinks trotted back with his find. “Just getting a little something for you. You know those things we’ve seen people hold over their heads when it’s raining? This is kinda like that, but for the sun. I think it’s called a parasol. It’ll help keep the sun off you when we travel in daylight.” He offered it over. 

Feitan seemed intrigued. He slowly took the parasol and played with the mechanics until he got it to open. He closed it back up and tucked it away into his coat, on the opposite side of his hip from his sword. “I might customize it a bit. But I like it.” 

Phinks beamed as he kept the surprise gift. “Great! I’m glad to hear it.”

The two continued their journey around the world. Phinks’s favorite stop was where ancient Egypt used to be. The cities built over it were a bit touristy, but he loved seeing the ancient structures such as the pyramids and sphinx statues, as well as the old artifacts and mummies in museums. He snatched a few pairs of Egyptian-style clothing and a serpentine headdress from one of the shops. Feitan indulged his passion with amusement. 

Feitan’s passion project involved the search for new and exciting tools he could use for torture. Phinks quickly grew accustomed to watching Feitan gleefully practice his macabre art on anyone who crossed him the wrong way. 

Traveling together, the time passed far quicker than Phinks had expected. One day, the long-awaited message arrived. The two were lounging in an open field watching the clouds drift by when their phones buzzed. Phinks was the first to take a look at the message. Since both of their phones had buzzed, he’d correctly assumed that the message would be in the Phantom Troupe group chat. He was surprised to see, however, that the text was from Chrollo. 

Phinks excitably tapped Feitan’s shoulder. “Hey Fei, check it out! It’s the boss!” 

Feitan quickly leaned over to read the message with him. 

It simply read: 

‘Meet in the Dolle Harbor in seven days, time 1830.

-Your number zero.’ 

Phinks grabbed Feitan’s shoulder and shook him lightly. “I can’t believe it’s him! I can hardly wait!” 

Feitan maintained the same neutral expression as he was shaken. “Yes, it is a very eventful message. Do you want to lose your hand?” 

Phinks quickly removed his hand from his shoulder. “Sorry, I’m just excited. How long do you think it’ll take us to get there?”

Feitan hummed pensively. “No more than three days. We can take our time.”

Phinks nodded. “You’re right. It’d seem like we were desperate if we got there too early. Can’t have that. We’ll take it slow and arrive the day of.” 

————

By the time they arrived at the scheduled meeting spot, everyone except for the boss and the new recruits had arrived. Phinks and Feitan reunited with the others in their own ways; Phinks was more outward with his happiness to see them, while Feitan simply stood by the others and bumped against some of his favorite spiders. 

The troupe then settled back in for catchup conversation and card games. 

Phinks glanced to the horizon as the sun began to set. He spotted a few vague figures from afar. He squinted slightly, not sure if he was seeing correctly. 

“It’s them.” Pakunoda said. It was clear that Phinks hadn’t been the only one looking. 

The closer the group got to the designated meeting spot, the clearer they became. Phinks counted out the silhouettes. “I only see four… weren’t there supposed to be five?” 

Feitan shook his head. “Look closer. There are five.” 

The rest of the troupe scampered closer to get a better look.

Phinks sulked slightly. No matter how hard he looked, he only saw four. He waited patiently for the traveling group to get closer.

Within the next half hour, the group was close enough that Phinks could see their individual faces. The boss was instantly recognizable. There were three figures beside him: one female and two male. The fifth individual appeared to be attached to Chrollo’s back and was visible only by their head peeking over Chrollo’s shoulder. 

Phinks was trying not to be impatient. Waiting was hard, but not as hard as it had been to wonder for the past year if they would ever truly reunite as a troupe. Finally, Chrollo and his company arrived. 

Chrollo wore a soft smile as he saw his troupe again for the first time in a year. “It’s very good to see you all again. Thank you for your patience. I am pleased to announce that, as you can see, we have finally reached the total goal of thirteen spiders.” 

Shalnark spoke for everyone. “It’s great to see you too, boss! And it’s nice to meet the rest of you.”

Chrollo gave Shalnark a slight bow of his head. “Allow me to make the primary introductions. From there, you all can start getting to know each other.” He gestured to each new member in a line. “Number four, Omokage. Number eight, Shizuku. Number ten, Bonolenov. And last but not least, number twelve, Kortopi. Now, for my new spiders, allow me to introduce you to your senior members. One, Nobunaga. Two, Feitan. Three, Machi. Five, Phinks. Six, Shalnark. Seven, Franklin. Nine, Pakunoda. And eleven, Uvogin.”

Kortopi finally crawled down from Chrollo’s back. He seemed shy, sticking close to the boss. 

Uvogin pointed straight at the timid new spider. “Holy shit, look how small he is! Or she, I can’t tell.” He grinned and started poking Feitan repeatedly. “Hey, Feitan? Guess what? Feitan? Hey, Feitan?”

Feitan bristled as Uvo started poking him. For a few seconds, he tolerated the pestering. After a few pokes, however, he snapped and smacked Uvo’s hand away hard. “What?” He hissed. 

Phinks knew that by now Feitan was strong enough that his hit would hurt even Uvogin, but their largest member just let out a laugh. “You’re not the shortest spider anymore!” Uvo teased. 

Kortopi tilted his head at Uvogin. He had initially recoiled back slightly at the shouting, but now seemed curious. “Perhaps it is not that I am small, but that you are very large. Both are likely true. For, the mouse who seems monstrous to the grasshopper he hunts is minuscule in stature to the cat who stalks him.” 

Uvo grinned down at him. “Sounds about right. Pretty sure I’m the bear who’s hunting the cat, though. Alright, let’s get to know each other like the boss said. What’s your nen type, little dude? And are you actually a dude?” 

Kortopi gave a slight nod. “I do identify as male. And I’m a conjurer.”

Machi lit up. “I’ve been saying this for years now! It’s about time we had a proper conjurer. Good to have you, Kortopi.”

Kortopi bowed his head slightly. “Thank you.”

Nobunaga was the next to ask a question. “I know I’m not the only one thinking this. Kortopi, was it? Do you ever blink?”

Kortopi nodded. “Yes, I do. I’m blinking right now, don’t you see?”

Nobunaga shook his head. “Is that some kind of joke?”

Kortopi tilted his head slightly. “No, I don’t really joke much. Haven’t had the practice. Do you know what a nictitating membrane is?”

Nobunaga furrowed his brows. “Why the hell would I know that? Sounds like something you just made up.” 

Kortopi shook his head. “I didn’t make it up. You have it too, you see. In most humans, the nictitating membrane has been reduced by the course of evolution to those little pink blobs at the inner corners of your eyes. But many other creatures have greater uses for them. For instance, cats as well as many birds and reptiles have a true nictitating membrane. It’s the whitish or translucent film of an eyelid that blinks from side to side rather than up and down. Mine are clear. After all, where I come from, if you blink, you die. Other creatures are very quick to take advantage of any vulnerabilities in Swindler’s Swamp. So, I typically only blink with my nictitating membrane.” 

Phinks exchanged a confused look with Nobu before firing his own question. “‘Other creatures?’ What kind of creature are you?”

Kortopi thought for a few moments before shrugging. “I’m not actually sure. I’ve been exactly like this for as long as I can remember. I imagine I’m the same as you, but I have no proof for or against that theory.” 

Machi quickly barked at the enhancers. “Quit hazing my conjurer! What the hell are you threatened by? Look at this cutie pie, he’s just a kid.” She patted the top of his head. 

Kortopi giggled softly. “You’re too kind.” 

Uvogin spoke curiously. “No hazing here, but are you actually a kid, Korts?”

Kortopi stared up at Uvogin. “Maybe… I don’t think so. I’ve been this same size for about thirty years. That’s the earliest set of memories I have. I seem to have a bit of amnesia... Therefore, I have no idea how old I truly am or what species I belong to.” 

Machi’s brows shot up at the age revelation. She took a small step back. 

Nobunaga shook his head. “That’s clearly a ‘no’ on the kid front. What do you know, the shortest is actually the oldest. Sounds like he’s pretty short on answers. Let’s just move on to the other new recruits.”

Uvogin burst out laughing. “Short on answers! Good one, Nobu!”

Nobunaga lightly smacked Uvo’s arm. “Quiet down, will you? That wasn’t supposed to be a pun.” 

Chrollo’s eyes shone with amusement. “Yes, let’s move along with introductions.” He gestured towards the man wrapped up in bandages like a mummy. “How about you, Bonolenov? Would you like to introduce yourself to the other spiders?”

The man spoke after a few moments of silence. “My name is Bonolenov. I am a member of the Gyudondond Tribe. I am a musical warrior. My people are known to produce the most beautiful sounds in all the world as we battle.” 

Pakunoda looked intrigued. “Sounds like quite the show. Do you battle with an instrument?” 

Bonolenov shook his head. “No, the music I make comes from holes in my body. The way I move determines the sounds that come out.”

Many of the other spiders exchanged looks of confusion. Franklin was the first to speak on it. “I think it’s safe to say that whatever holes you’re talking about, it’s not worth asking about. If it’s more than three, that’s far too many.”

Bonolenov shrugged. “So you say. I get the distinct impression that you simply wish you had holes as beautiful as mine.”

Franklin shook his head. “Again, not interested. Let's move on. How about you?” He gestured towards the new female member. 

Their new number eight gave a curious look as she was addressed. “Who, me? My name is Shizuku. Not much to say here. I just like things to be nice and clean.” 

Machi looked over at Shizuku. “Clean, huh? What do you mean by that?”

Shizuku hummed softly. “Hard to describe, really. But to make it clear, I just can’t stand a mess.” 

Phinks shook his head. “That hardly makes things clear… boss, what can she really do?”

Chrollo chuckled softly. “It’s just as Shizuku said. She can be rid of any mess. Anything inanimate can very easily vanish with her ability. The targeted items appear to be transported into a pocket dimension of her own making. It’s a remarkably rare ability. We’ve practiced quite a lot. It is very useful, I assure you.” 

Uvogin spoke next, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. “That does sound useful, yeah. I don’t know what a pocket dimension is, but it sounds awesome. Too bad you can’t take anything living in there, or I’d love to see it.” 

Shizuku sighed softly. “I know what you mean, Uvogin. I wish I could see it too. I’ve tried to suck myself into it before, but it just doesn’t work. I guess Blinky knew best when establishing the conditions for our main ability.”

Shalnark looked amazed. “Wow, your own pocket dimension? That’s amazing! I can’t wait to see it in action.”

Nobunaga spoke next, sounding a bit bored. “Okay, what about number four? Omokage, right? What’s your deal?”

Their first number four laughed darkly. “My deal…. My deal? What can I say when addressed with such a vague question? Oh, my simple, simple friends… I am a master of puppets. Give me a target, and I can control them. I need only their eyes. I can manipulate with ease. Our dear boss’s wish is my command. That is all I will tell you.”

Nobunaga hummed. His brows had quirked distastefully at the not-so-subtle insult. “Great, I hate you already. You’d better prove yourself if you want to stay.”

Kortopi started shifting slightly at the increased tension. He seemed nervous, a common personality trait for conjurers. He spoke up again, redirecting the subject. “Oh, I almost forgot! My ability is called ‘Gallery Fake.’ I can create a perfect copy of anything down to the cellar level. Granted, my copies disappear within twenty-four hours unless I have a strong tie to my fakes.” 

Chrollo placed a hand on Kortopi’s lean shoulder. “I have seen firsthand just how useful this incredible ability can be. Kortopi has also been kind enough to let me copy his special ability. He is a true conjurer, through and through. His power to create duplicates is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.” 

“Creating fakes is undoubtedly useful,” Machi started, “but what I really want to know is how well you can conjure something just by thinking of it.” 

Kortopi looked back at Machi. “I would say quite well. So long as it isn’t living, I can make anything I set my mind to. Have any requests?”

“Actually, yes. Could you make me a beanbag?”

The conjurer nodded. “Of course. That will be easy.” He held out a hand in front of him and materialized a small cloth bag that looked full of small, smooth objects. He offered it over to her. 

Machi stared at the bag before pinching the bridge of her nose. “Kortopi… are there beans in that bag?”

Kortopi nodded again. “Yes. Pinto beans, to be exact. This is what you asked for, correct? Would you prefer a different legume?”

Machi sighed. “Kind of, but not what I meant. Picture what you’re holding, but make it about a hundred times bigger. Also, make the beans soft and take away the bag opening so they can’t spill out.” 

Kortopi listened attentively. “Interesting… I don’t know if the soft beans will still be edible, but I will do my best.” He dematerialized the bag of beans and held his hands out in front of himself again. After a moment, a makeshift beanbag appeared. For someone who had clearly never seen one before, he did a good job of replicating the appearance. 

“Much better!” Machi flopped down on the beanbag. She hummed, clearly satisfied. “I think you’re my new favorite spider.” 

Kortopi swayed slightly from side to side at the compliment. “I’m happy to assist. I didn’t know people sat on beans out here, but it does sound rather comfortable.” 

Uvogin seemed to have a lightbulb moment. “Hey, if you can make beans, does that mean you can make other food too?”

“Yes. I mostly know raw ingredients, I want to learn more recipes. As of now, the only cooked dish I can make is lasagna. It’s my favorite.”

Uvo grinned. “Sweet! I could eat. Fire it up, lil man!” 

Kortopi could be exceptionally difficult to read with only one of his eyes visible through a narrow sliver of hair, but he seemed intrigued by the enthusiasm. “Certainly.” He held his hands out facing palm to palm and produced a large tray of lasagna. It looked and smelled delicious. He held the tray as high up as his little arms could muster as he offered it to Uvo. 

“Thanks!” Uvo said excitably before taking it. He shoved a hand into the dish and pulled out a fistful of lasagna, then ate it out of his hand. He spilled marinara sauce all over himself in the process. “Damn, this is great! And it’s the perfect temperature. How’d you make it hot?”

Kortopi’s violet eye sparkled with pride. “I’m very pleased you enjoy my signature dish. Heating food is easy; I just jiggle the water molecules a little extra, and it warms itself. So long as it’s eaten within twenty-four hours, the food that I make won’t disappear inside you.” 

Phinks lightly nudged Feitan. “Sure would have been useful having him around in Meteor City.”

Feitan nodded in agreement. 

Shizuku raised a hand slightly. “Hey, Kortopi? Would you mind making another lasagna for the rest of us that hasn’t had a hand plunged into it? I’m kind of hungry, but something tells me sanitation isn’t Uvo’s priority.” 

Uvogin let out another laugh. “Who needs sanitation when I’ve got a killer immune system? If I’m so gross, you’re welcome to send my grime into your pocket dimension.”

Shizuku seemed surprisingly excited by that. “You’d really let me? Great! Okay, Blinky, let’s get to work.” She materialized a bizarre nen apparition that looked something like a handheld vacuum cleaner with eyes and far too many teeth. “Suck up all the food residue, dirt, and old skin cells off of Uvogin.” She said to the vacuum, which responded with a warbled “Gyo gyo!” before starting to suck all contaminants from Uvo. The process only took a few seconds. Shizuku dematerialized Blinky when the job was done. “There, all clean.” 

Uvogin looked down at himself. The marinara sauce was gone from his skin and clothes, and he looked visibly cleaner in general. “Whoa… this is awesome! I’m never taking another bath again!” 

Nobunaga groaned. “That’s not the message you were supposed to take from that, genius! It means you should bathe more often, not that you should pester the woman for a shortcut.” 

Shalnark laughed. “Even if Uvo didn’t get the right message, I’m glad I got to see your ability in action!” 

Shizuku straightened her glasses on the bridge of her nose. “Thanks. I look forward to seeing what you can do, too.” 

Kortopi produced a second tray of lasagna and offered it to Shizuku. “Even if he’s clean now, I imagine you and the others will want this instead.” 

Shizuku accepted the tray. “Thank you, Kortopi. Let’s get this cut up.” 

The evening continued in lighthearted conversation. The time spent on their first night together created new bonds between the new and old spiders. Though many of them were suspicious in nature, almost all of them had a soft spot for their Phantom Troupe kin. 

———-

Now fully assembled, the troupe spent another year together running heists around the world. By the time their second lap was completed, Chrollo vanished once again. This time, he had less of a clear reason to leave. He simply informed the others that he would alert them by group message when the next big job came up. 

This time, when the group temporarily disbanded, Feitan and Phinks stuck with Shalnark and Machi. Phinks could barely handle Feitan alone on his sassier days, but now there was the addition of another transmuter in Machi. Though the two made him suffer at times, he genuinely enjoyed the company. Shalnark was typically very effective at diffusing any arguments or tension in the group. Getting to know the two other spiders more closely was a rewarding experience. Phinks could tell that Feitan had also taken a special liking to both of them. 

There were occasional partial troupe meetups through the months, but the boss was never among them. 

Another whole year later, they finally received the highly-anticipated group message from Chrollo. Naturally, Shalnark was the first to see it. The excitable blonde called their attention to the boss’s message; they were to meet in the Mimbo Republic in one week’s time. 

Phinks knew that he wasn’t the only spider wondering what was next. Chrollo had hinted that most of their future jobs would consist of major heists with larger gaps in between, but he had yet to see what that would look like. 

Another year gone by, another jovial reunion. It seemed that every time they saw each other again, their reactions to the reunions were calmer. They had become seasoned thieves and as such had an image to uphold. Though their emotions were mostly schooled, there was no denying the feelings of joy and camaraderie that accompanied the get-togethers. 

Once the latest round of greetings had concluded, Chrollo began to speak. “It has been quite some time. Though I know very well that we can all afford to disappear back into the shadows, the spider shall never die. We must continue onward. I know very well that like myself, you are connoisseurs of exotic items. As such, I have selected our latest target: the scarlet eyes.” 

When his statement was met with silence, he continued. “The scarlet eyes are a physiological attribute of a group of people known as the Kurta clan. There are allegedly only a few hundred of them. When they feel emotion, their eyes shine a magnificent scarlet hue. Not just scarlet, but something wholesomely unique. It is said to be one of the seven most beautiful colors in the world. The numerous illustrations I’ve seen have fully acknowledged that they barely even scratch the surface of the beauty of the scarlet eyes. We will extract the eyes and sell them as always.” 

Phinks felt his stomach drop as a distant memory resurfaced. He hadn’t dealt with flesh collectors since he had interrogated one to find Feitan years ago. Was that truly what they had come to? He hoped nobody would notice as his heart rate escalated. 

Nobunaga was the first to speak, as he often was. “You want us to steal eyes? Is there actually a market for those?”

Omokage replied before the boss could. “Oh yes, there is an extensive market for eyes. Special eyes such as these would fetch an exorbitant price. You don’t seem to fully realize the significance. When the boss refers to the scarlet eyes as one of the seven most beautiful colors in the world, he means that the uniquely beautiful color of these eyes is found nowhere else. It is such a rare and beautiful shade that buyers will pay a fortune for each pair. Assuming, that is, that the eyes are scarce enough to demand such a price.”

Chrollo nodded. “I had already considered the principle of scarcity in market value. The Kurta clan should have a few hundred members. However, if we only preserve a smaller percentage of their eyes, we will maintain the desirable principle of scarcity without adding additional work. I will let you know on the day of the job how many we will keep.” 

A few of the spiders exchanged looks. Phinks couldn’t be entirely sure what they were thinking. Were they reluctant? He highly doubted it. At this point, they had committed more atrocities than he could count. Still, something about this job felt different at an instinctive level. 

Chrollo continued. “Let’s get into the details. The trip will take three days. It will involve two days of travel by airship, and the remaining day by hike. Uvo, unfortunately, I’m going to have to ask you to sit this one out. Your style of combat is simply too destructive for this precision operation. I know you can kill without severely damaging a body, but you quickly grow excited and tend to lose yourself in the moment. You may come along and patrol the area for kiriko. They are shapeshifting magical beasts who can change themselves to virtually any form. They are known to be very clever, so do be careful. If they or any other magical beast attempts to attack, you may fight them off.” 

Uvogin was clearly displeased to be missing out on the action, but he didn’t protest. 

Chrollo continued. “I only need a few of you to do the bulk of the killing. As stated, it is imperative that the skulls not be damaged. You are free to attack anywhere at or below the neck, which can include decapitation or neck breaking. Nobunaga, Phinks, Feitan, and Machi. Your attacks have enough finesse to easily keep the eyes intact. You will kill as many as you can in the quickest possible manner to reduce escape. You will each be assigned a quadrant of the village. Pakunoda, Bonolenov, Shizuku, and Franklin. I need you to pick off the stragglers. The Kurta will be eliminated entirely, you will see to that. 

“Kortopi, your hands are the perfect size for extracting eyes. I’ll rely primarily on you to pull out and preserve the scarlet eyes. Omokage, I know you’re quite passionate about eyes as well. You will assist Kortopi in the preservation. Shalnark, your role will be to locate buyers. Do make sure to emphasize that the Kurta clan will be extinct; that will drive the value up immensely.” 

Chrollo looked around at the troupe. “That should just about cover it. Are there any questions?” When his inquiry was met with silence, he continued. “Very well. One final reminder, ensure that their eyes turn scarlet before you kill them. If you ambush them, their eyes are worthless. Fear, anger, sadness, or any other strong emotion will activate the color change. We will arrive at the Kurta clan’s village in the evening. We will attack at sunset to ensure there is enough light in the sky to see their eyes.” 

———

The Kurta clan had put up a fair fight. They’d been far stronger than anticipated. Still, the Phantom Troupe slaughtered them with ease. 

Phinks had played his part without complaint. He’d done exactly as told in his assigned quarter of the village. Now that the genocide was over, his role was finished. He sat on the ground and tried not to stare too intensely at his own hands. He had killed them by snapping their necks; there was no blood on his hands, but he still felt the need to obsessively scrub them clean. He also tried not to look at the dozens of scattered corpses that tarnished the former peace of this quiet village. 

Uvogin had carried over the pre-packed glass jars of formaldehyde. Kortopi was actively scooping eyeballs out from the slain Kurta and delicately removing the ocular muscles and ligaments. He was then passing them to Omokage for preservation. Shalnark was photographing the jarred eyes and typing away on his phone. His brows were slightly knit in a way that betrayed distaste.

Chrollo was walking between the troupe members to supervise. He was carrying one of the jars and seemed very pleased with their latest prize. 

Phinks had rather effectively managed to numb himself. Still, the weight of the atrocity they had committed loomed heavily in the back of his mind. He glanced around, seeking something other than his hands to focus on. He accidentally stared straight into the dark, empty eye sockets of a head that was facing towards him. He quickly averted his gaze. He looked instead to where he knew Feitan was. He imagined his friend was taking this as well as he always did, but he still wanted to check up on him.

Feitan and Nobunaga were bickering about who made which kills in the area where their assigned quadrants overlapped. Feitan seemed uncharacteristically irritable. His tone was harsh and his brows were stuck in a glare. Nobunaga, not one to take a tone idly, was retaliating with insults. 

Phinks stood and strode towards them, aiming to shut the argument down before it got physical. Feitan looked like a ticking time bomb. 

Chrollo stepped in before Phinks arrived. “That’s enough. It doesn’t matter who killed who. What matters is that we accomplished the mission. You both did plenty.” His stern expression clearly conveyed his demand that they stop. 

Nobunaga crossed his arms and turned away.

Feitan growled before storming off. 

Phinks quickly trotted to catch up with Feitan as he entered the forest. “Feitan, wait up! Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Feitan replied curtly. He came to a stop but didn’t look at him. His expression was distant. 

Phinks closed the distance to stand in front of him. His worry grew as he saw that distant look. Something told him that Fei wasn’t taking this job as well as he’d expected. “Hey… let’s talk about it.” He wrapped an arm loosely around him and led him off deeper into the forest. 

Feitan had grown quiet and somewhat subdued. He allowed himself to be led off. Once they came to a pause in a small clearing, he pulled out of his grasp and started pacing in circles. The rage had worn off and was replaced with something unexpected. He looked somewhat shaken, almost spooked. “I did something stupid… I couldn’t. I should have… but I couldn’t…”

Phinks watched him with concern. “Hey, whatever happened, it’ll be alright. What couldn’t you do?” 

Feitan was quiet for several seconds before answering. “There was a kid. Probably around ten years old. I couldn’t kill him.” His voice was barely above a whisper. 

Phinks tried not to let his surprise show. He had never seen Feitan hesitate with a kill before. What could be different now? “Do you have any idea why, or did it just happen?”

Feitan sighed. “There were a few reasons… but not very good ones. His soul was so bright. It was the purest I’ve ever seen. And he was so scared. He didn’t fight, didn’t run. Just stood there and stared at me. I couldn’t do it…” 

Phinks caught his friend by the shoulder and stopped his pacing. “You remember how many times I’ve had moments like that? We’ve all hesitated before. It doesn’t make you any less of a spider.”

Feitan looked up at him with a hint of desperation in his eyes. “I feel like… there’s something wrong with me… I defied a direct order. The others would kill me if they found out.” He seemed saddened by the thought. 

Phinks shook his head. “That’s not gonna happen. They would never hurt you for this, you’re unexpendable. You and Nobu were on a similar path, and the boss assigned four others to pick off the stragglers. One of them would have gotten him, so nobody needs to know if you don’t want them to.”

Feitan looked down with a miserable look. “No… they won’t find him. I knocked him out and hid him.” 

Phinks glanced off the way they had come before returning his eyes to Feitan. “Okay… this is fine. There’s two ways we can go from here. First, you could tell me where the kid’s hidden and I’ll finish the job for you. Second option, we could let fate take its course and give him a shot at survival. These forests are infested with kiriko, and a kid all alone doesn’t have good survival chances to begin with. But at that point, it’s out of our hands, and you won’t have to live with whatever guilt that might come from option one. What do you think?” 

Feitan quickly held up two fingers before lowering his hand. 

Phinks nodded. He couldn’t help but feel relieved that he didn’t have to hunt down and kill this unconscious kid. He would have done it for Fei, but it probably would have haunted him for a while. “You’ve got it. You trust me, right Fei?”

Feitan made prolonged eye contact and then gave a slow nod. 

“Then trust me when I say it’ll be okay. One kid won’t try to come after us down the line. He’d be crazy to. We’ll never see him again. So, nobody else will know about this.” He pulled him into a tight hug.

Feitan thumped his head against Phinks’s chest in his usual version of a reciprocated hug. “I… I feel like this is going to come back to bite me somehow… but no use worrying. Thanks for listening.” 

“Anytime. Thanks for telling me.” He gave another soft squeeze. “You ready to go back? The others might start looking for us.”

“Mhm. Let’s go.” Feitan pulled out of Phinks’s embrace and started back towards the rest of the troupe. 

The two were quiet on the walk back. Just as quickly as Feitan’s emotions had emerged, they disappeared into a seasoned poker face. 

As they emerged from the forest, Kortopi was flagging down Chrollo for his attention. “Hey, boss? We have a bit of a problem. We’ve only got thirty-six jar sets, and over two-hundred skulls. Should we put as many eyes as we can fit into each jar?”

Chrollo shook his head. “No need. Thirty-six pairs of scarlet eyes is all the world will ever see. Let the rest rot.”

Kortopi seemed reluctant, but he gave a slow nod. “As you wish. In that case, we’re all done.” 

“Excellent,” Chrollo responded, “then let’s move out.”

The troupe moved on as directed. Uvogin carefully carried the ill-gotten eyes. The spiders were silent on the trek down the mountain. 

———

The scarlet eyes sold well, as the boss had anticipated. Chrollo was quick to vanish once again after they had sold. 

The next few years passed by in a blur. Phinks and Feitan stuck together, whether they were alone or spending time with a few other spiders. 

The time the troupe spent apart was typically only a few months between jobs. However, at one point, a whole year came and went. Then, another year with no word. By the time two and a half years had passed, spirits were low. To make matters worse for Phinks, Feitan had grown a bit distant. Phinks knew that it was simply because Fei missed the rest of their friends. He could read him at least that much by now. Still, it took him by surprise when one day Feitan said that there were a few matters he needed to tend to alone. Phinks had been respectful of his desires, but that didn’t stop him from feeling a crushing sense of loneliness as he watched Feitan go. 

He couldn’t bring himself to spend the lonesome time with any of the other spiders. It had always been him and Feitan; having suddenly lost that was difficult, to say the least. He occupied his time with personal exploration; learning the ancient Egyptian language, researching everything he could find about demons, and keeping up with events around the world to better anticipate when the next big job might arise. 

Eight months later, the message finally arrived. It had been three years and two months since the whole troupe had been together. The boss’s message read: 

‘The time has come once again. Meet in Yorknew City at the old cathedral in seven days. Those flying in by airship are to arrive promptly at 1200. Those walking from Meteor City are to arrive by sunset. Number four has changed. Please welcome Hisoka to the troupe.’

-Your number zero’

A new phone number was then added to the group chat, presumably their new number four. 

Phinks was more excited than he could have anticipated. It had been over three years since the whole troupe had been together. Though he had settled into a reasonably comfortable rhythm alone, he could hardly wait to see the others again. Especially Feitan. The note that number four had changed was a bit alarming since it implied that one of the members had been killed, but he could live with that. He was just glad that it was Omokage instead of someone he actually liked. The self-proclaimed master of puppets had never truly bonded with the other spiders, and he honestly creeped out several of them. So long as the new number four was at least a bit better than Omokage, it would be an improvement. 

Phinks arrived ten minutes early. At the time of his arrival, only Chrollo and Shalnark were there. Chrollo was sitting and reading, while Shalnark was standing and leaning against a stone pillar. 

Shalnark brightened upon seeing him. “Phinks, hey! How have you been?” 

Chrollo simply gave a slight nod. 

Phinks waved. “Hey Shal, boss. Been alright, nothing too crazy. You?” 

Shalnark nodded. “Same here. Nothing huge lately. I’m glad we’re finally getting back together.” 

The three settled into a comfortable silence. Phinks grew slightly agitated as 12:00 pm drew closer. 

At 12 on the dot, Pakunoda strode into the old cathedral. 

Shalnark visibly brightened again. “Pakunoda! Hey, how’ve you been?” 

Pakunoda gave a slight smile. “Long time no see, Shalnark. You too, Phinks.”

Phinks huffed slightly as he looked over. “You sure took your time getting here.” 

Pakunoda looked down at her wrist for the time. “Oh? Right on time, by my watch.”

“You were supposed to arrive here ten minutes early.” Phinks gruffed. “Same for you guys.” He directed at the entrance as he sensed the presence of more spiders. 

“Bonolenov! Kortopi!” Shalnark greeted enthusiastically as they emerged. 

Uvogin’s deep voice resonated as he too made his way into the main cathedral. “Hey. Haven’t seen you in quite a while. Reporting for duty, boss. What’s our target this time? I’m itching for our new orders.”

Shalnark laughed softly. “Easy now, Uvo. Feitan’s group won’t be arriving until evening. We’ll wait until everyone’s here.” 

“Impatient as usual.” Pakunoda remarked amusedly. 

Uvogin looked down, placing a hand on his hip. “Damn, that’s an entire half-day of waiting.” He looked back up as another set of footsteps sounded through the open room. “Hey, if it isn’t Shizuku.”

Shizuku gave a slight nod. “Hello.” She greeted simply. 

Pakunoda looked at Shalnark, the two exchanging soft grins of contentment. “Has the other new addition arrived yet?”

Shalnark shrugged. “Don’t know. You should ask Machi.” 

The group settled back into idle conversation, eventually followed by silence. 

Phinks shared Uvo’s perspective. Another half-day of waiting around was difficult to bear after it had already been over three years. He sat down and daydreamed through the wait. 

———

Right at sunset, Feitan arrived in a group with Machi, Nobunaga, and Franklin. It seemed the four had met up beforehand in Meteor City. In the midst of the troupe greetings, Phinks strode up to the new group. Feitan acknowledged him with a slow blink. While Phinks appreciated the gesture, it wasn’t quite enough for him after they had spent so many months apart. He walked up to Feitan and pulled him right off his feet into a crushing bear hug. 

Feitan let out a strangled grunt as the air was slightly squeezed out of him, but he soon gave a quiet laugh instead. He lightly looped his arms around Phinks’s back and gave him a gentle pat. It was more contact than the usual limp-armed headbutt he usually gave. Fei must have really missed him too. 

When Phinks finally set him back down, the two remained close. By this point, the troupe as a whole had grown more reserved with their affections. Greetings were often made in the form of gripes. As such, Phinks reminded himself to put up a facade of indifference. He knew damn well that Feitan could see right through it. 

Long into the night, much of the troupe had come to the consensus that Hisoka wouldn’t show. Uvogin, who had already struggled to wait so long, was particularly hostile when talking about him. “Dammit, Hisoka… next time I see him, I’ll tear him apart.” 

It was almost sunrise before their new number four finally arrived. Hisoka’s voice emerged as he rounded the corner. “Oh, dear. That sounds quite gruesome indeed. I’m simply terrified.” 

Uvogin and several others stood as he arrived. As with the last several hours, Uvogin was the most outspoken and aggressive. “Hisoka, you bastard!”

Shalnark spoke calmly with his usual friendly smile. “Guess you’re running a bit late.”

Machi spoke with slight resentment. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t show.” 

Hisoka grinned up at his fellow pink-haired member. “Why wouldn’t I? You asked me to come, didn’t you? Had I broken my promise, I would never have the pleasure of seeing your nen stitches again.”

Machi simply humphed in response. 

Shalnark looked at Chrollo as he spoke. “Okay, boss. Everyone’s here.”

Chrollo finally stood and emerged from the particularly dark shadow he had been looming in. 

Uvogin stepped closer, practically vibrating with excitement. “Well, boss? What are we stealing this time?”

Chrollo responded in his usual calm and collected tone. “We will take the treasures of the underground auction.”

“Which treasures do you want?” Shalnark asked curiously. 

Machi spoke next. “Ancient texts, maybe? The boss does like books.”

Feitan seemed intrigued as he chimed in next. “No, but perhaps games? There will be many copies of the most expensive game ever.”

Nobunaga looked at Feitan. “Wouldn’t it be more logical to take precious metals and gemstones?”

Chrollo spoke again, a slight smile reaching his face. “All of it. We will be taking everything that’s up for auction.” 

Uvogin’s voice was practically a shout as he responded. “Hold on, boss, are you serious? The underground auction is operated by gangs from all over the world. Just think about it. If we do that, we’re gonna make enemies of every last one of ‘em.”

“Are you scared, Uvogin?” Chrollo asked with a hint of tease in his voice. 

Uvo grinned wildly. “No way, I’m ecstatic. I can’t stop shaking! Come on, give us the order, boss. I want it now!”

Chrollo’s eyes were intense as he spoke his order. “I give you permission to kill them all. Anyone who dares to get in our way.”

Uvogin let out a roar of excitement that echoed through the cathedral. 

Phinks could tell from the other spiders’ expressions that they were just as surprised as he was. How would they manage to take everything from the underground auction? Though he was unsure about the logistics, he was excited by the prospect of such a big job. It was the great heist that all of them had been craving for years. 

———

The heist should have gone smoothly. Franklin, Shizuku, and Feitan eliminated the first round of auction participants. Uvogin, Nobunaga, Machi, and Shalnark were on standby. However, when the thieves reached the vault, it was empty. Phinks was back at the hideout with the boss and the remaining spiders when the information was relayed to Chrollo by phone. The boss instructed the onsite group to put on a show big enough to draw out the mafia’s shadow beasts, one of whom allegedly had the auction treasures on hand. 

Phinks wished he were onsite. He hated missing out on the action. Finally, a more surprising development called him into action. Uvogin had somehow been kidnapped. Shalnark used his intel and manipulation ability to trick Uvo’s captors to disclose their location and let them in under the guise of mafiosos. Chrollo arranged for Phinks, Shalnark, Nobunaga, Shizuku, and Machi to serve as the recovery party. 

Throughout the years, there had been a few rare instances where one of the spiders had been temporarily captured. Up until now, Uvogin had always been on the recovery party. As their physically strongest member, Uvo’s capture was a first for the troupe. The group entered the secure location where Uvogin was held. 

Uvogin looked at his fellow infiltrating spiders before making eye contact with Phinks. “Clothes really make the man.” 

Just as Uvo’s captor was processing the words, Phinks punched the man straight through the heart. Phinks wiped the blood off his arm with a cloth before chuckling. “I didn’t believe it when I heard. Never pegged you as the sort to get kidnapped.” 

Shizuku efficiently sucked the paralyzing poison from Uvo’s body. 

Uvogin then easily broke from his restraints. The rest of the spiders quickly covered their ears as they sensed him drawing a particularly deep breath. “DAMMIT!” He screamed painfully loudly. “I’m gonna find that chain user. And when I do, I’m gonna make him pay for this!” He broke through a wall before shouting again. “Where is he?!” 

Shalnark commented calmly. “I think he just ran away.” 

“Probably because you were so darn loud.” Shizuku added. 

Phinks spoke next. “We’re heading back. Our job here is done.”

Machi was the next to comment. “We took care of the shadow beasts.”

Shalnark spoke again with a smile. “Oh yeah, and we got the treasure, too!”

Even as the other spiders walked off, Uvogin stood resolutely. He was trembling with rage. “No! You tell the boss… I’m not leaving. I can’t go back until I settle the score with that damn chain user!”

Shalnark reluctantly herded Uvo off to help him fulfill his revenge quest. 

Later that night, when Uvogin failed to return to the hideout, the other spiders anxiously huddled around the boss. Chrollo gave away very little, other than referencing an alternative plan he was contemplating. 

Phinks was in denial that Uvo could have been killed. Even after Nobunaga and Machi started referring to Uvogin as dead, Phinks clung to the hope that he could still be alright out there. 

The next few days passed by quickly. The troupe captured a few kids that they had reason to believe were affiliated with the chain user Uvo had referenced. Paku cleared them as suspects, and the kids broke away before Nobu could complete his surprising nomination of them as troupe members. 

During their investigation into Uvo’s disappearance, Phinks and Feitan were paired together. In the midst of their interrogation and murder of mafia members, the boss gave an unusual order: “Make it a big show.”

Phinks and Feitan both knew what that meant. Uvogin truly was dead. They had little time to grieve; after all, they had Uvo’s last wish to fulfill. The pair, along with the rest of the spiders, embarked on a ruthless revenge quest of carnage and destruction. 

Their slaughter was a mass killing of over a thousand mafiosos. Together, the troupe ensured that their slaughter was one Uvogin would be proud of. 

At one point in the chaos, Chrollo was even targeted by the two top-tier members of the Zoldyck assassin family. Phinks didn’t know how the assassins had managed to catch their boss alone, but it was clear that Chrollo had it handled one way or another. The boss only alerted the rest of the troupe of the development after the Zoldyck assassins had left, apparently called off by unknown circumstances. 

In a small consolation, Shalnark managed to regain control of the underground auction by hacking the new auctioneer. He rerouted the proceeds from the auction to the troupe’s joint bank account for later redistribution. Kortopi replicated each item with complete accuracy down to the cellular level before the items were sold. In the meantime, Kortopi’s Gallery Fake ability came in handy yet again as he created replicas of several of the spiders’ corpses in an effort to throw off the chain user. 

The quest for revenge furthered by the time their massacre had ended. The boss had stolen a new fortune-telling ability that allowed him to vaguely depict individual spiders’ futures so long as he could gather enough information. Phinks, Feitan, and Kortopi were the only troupe members who lacked the required information: birthday, blood type, and full name. The information from the fortunes suggested that half of the Phantom Troupe was to die in the coming week. 

Yet another bombshell was dropped when Hisoka was revealed to be a spy for the chain user. Chrollo had trusted so completely when the new information was betrayed by a fortune. 

Yet again, the spiders found themselves intertwined with the kids they had apprehended before. The boss, Machi, and Shizuku recaptured the kids. 

Much to everyone’s surprise, the chain user and his allies somehow captured the boss. By the time Phinks, Feitan, and Kortopi had joined the rest of the group, Chrollo was long gone. 

All that was left of Chrollo was a note, threatening to kill the boss if any of the troupe didn’t adhere to the chain user’s conditions. A hostage trade was arranged; the boss would be traded for the two kids the chain user held dear. Phinks and Feitan had spoken on behalf of the spider; as the boss had said long ago, the survival of the spider was more important than any individual. The two had proposed an ambush amidst the hostage negotiations, but their desires had been rejected by the rest of the troupe. 

Phinks and Feitan knew that between the two of them and the rest of the troupe, it was too much trouble to put up a fight. As such, their only choice was to remain complacent as the tense hostage negotiation continued. Pakunoda left completely alone.

It wasn’t until Paku returned that the founding members truly grew to understand what had happened. 

Pakunoda primed her Memory Bomb: six bullets in the chamber, six remaining founding members. Nobunaga, Feitan, Machi, Phinks, Shalnark, and Franklin. Despite his suspicious hostility, Phinks trusted Pakunoda. He knew that her unusual behavior was the result of an imposed condition. And he knew that, when she primed her Memory Bomb, it would somehow spell the end. Even before Paku fired off the shots, a profound sadness washed over him. 

He had little time to process the implications before the shots were fired. Pakunoda implanted her memories into her dearest troupe members, and the moment after she did, she collapsed to the floor. 

The spiders rushed to Paku’s side, even as they reeled from the information they had been gifted. Shizuku was the first to reach Pakunoda and check her vitals. Her expression fell as she did. She softly brushed a rogue lock of hair from Paku’s face. “She’s dead… what’s going on here?” She asked sadly before looking to the others. 

“I’ll explain everything.” Phinks said before beginning the long, strange story. 

——-

The loss of their friends was a hard pill to swallow. In the many years that the Phantom Troupe had been together, they had never truly known the consequences of loss; there had been a few close calls, but nothing quite like this. So suddenly, they had to cope with the deaths of two dear members and the disappearance of their boss for the foreseeable future. It really was a lot. 

The surviving spiders held a solemn, heartfelt funeral for Uvogin and Pakunoda. When they had accepted their roles in the Phantom Troupe all those years ago, they hadn’t expected this depth of heartbreak. Back then, they’d been young and dumb. As with many youths, they’d had a certain degree of immortality complex. Even after the cruel fates had punished that mindset out of them, there had still been a comfort in knowing that the Spider would live on no matter what happened to any individual. 

Now, that optimistic view felt like a bitter dream of better times past. The founding members had seen through Pakunoda’s eyes as she undertook the ultimate ethical dilemma. When it came down to it, she had chosen to save her friends rather than abide by the rules of the Spider. In doing so, she’d sacrificed herself. 

Paku hadn’t possessed any feelings of ill will toward the chain user. She’d even been thankful to him and the kids they’d exchanged for the boss. Her precious memories diffused much of the rage and resentment the other spiders had held for the chain user. 

The spiders went their separate ways after the auction, with plans to meet back up soon. Most went home, but Phinks and Feitan stayed in Yorknew City to watch the rest of the auction as harmless spectators. 

Unexpectedly, in the auction house, they crossed paths with the chain user’s kids. The interaction had started out awkward but concluded positively. Phinks wasn’t sure why, but he felt the need to express Paku’s thanks to the boys. They then went their own ways once more, Phinks and Feitan returning to their seats.

The auction was interesting to watch, but half of the time Phinks’s thoughts were occupied by the recent events. He hoped that wherever Uvo and Paku were, it was a much better place than this world. 

Uvogin, Phinks’s endearingly enthusiastic enhancer coach and cheerleader. He was boisterous and affectionate, with a laugh that could echo all the way through any building and instantly lighten the atmosphere. He was as honorable as he was fearless. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his friends. 

Pakunoda, their kindhearted informant with a surprisingly gentle soul. She had a soft spot for animals, especially cats. She was incredibly intelligent, level headed, and brave. Above all else, she was undyingly loyal until her very last breath. Throughout the years, she had done so much to take care of the others without taking credit for any of it. 

Phinks’s heart ached for his found family. 

After the auction, the two walked back to their hideout in relative silence. Phinks could tell that Fei was also caught up in recent memories. He wondered if getting a copy of that game Feitan had been talking about, Greed Island, would lift his spirits. He wished he could do more to help him feel better. 

Phinks couldn’t help a slight smile as they entered the hideout; it was full of dozens of beanbags, evidently a parting gift from Kortopi. They wouldn’t last more than a day, but it would make their last night here more comfortable. “Gotta love that little gremlin.”

Feitan exhaled a quiet laugh and nodded. 

The two went to their respective rooms to get changed out of their suits and back into their comfortable attire. Feitan was already in the beanbag maze by the time Phinks emerged. He was standing by a window, looking out distantly. Phinks joined him at his side. The night had grown stormy; there was a sense of serenity in watching the rain fall. 

Feitan spoke in a quiet voice. “I miss them.” He said with a simple, raw honesty. 

Phinks looked down. He felt his friend’s pain. Knowing that Uvo and Paku were truly gone was incredibly difficult. “I miss them too… but as a very wise spider once told me, when it’s their time, they’ll go. It’s the ephemeral nature of life that makes it so precious. And I just know we’ll see them again someday.”

Feitan looked back up just as Phinks did, and the two made eye contact. “I would like to agree with that. But there’s something that bothers me above all else… when Uvo died, Shalnark never got the chance to tell him he loved him.” 

Phinks felt his heart break yet again. He had talked to Uvogin about his feelings for Shalnark, and it was now clear that Feitan had talked to Shal about the same. The fact that both had shared the feelings without ever getting the chance to fully express them was all the more tragic. “I didn’t know Shal felt that way… Uvo did too.”

Feitan sighed softly. “Thought so… I wish they had been able to say it to each other. The chain user killed Uvo so suddenly… it could have easily been you. It could have very, very, very, very, very,-“

Phinks cut him off. “Yeah, I get it. It could have very easily been me. Can we please get to what you were really trying to say?”

Feitan averted his gaze, growing squirmy. “I… I don’t want that to happen to us. To have certain things unsaid. We could die any day, and then what? All that’s left is regret for the survivor.” 

Phinks’s heart skipped a beat. The puzzle pieces began to fall into place. His gut knew what Feitan was trying to say, but his brain was in denial. “What do you mean…?” 

Feitan sighed. “Idiot… I mean that I love you. I always have. It’s why I saved you from the skulltula on that day. Why I’ve spent so much time by your side. Why I’ve always protected you.”

Phinks’s whole world shattered around him. After all these years, could it really be that his feelings had been reciprocated? It felt unreal. Yet, here they were. Feitan had bravely bared his soul, and all he was doing was gawking. He quickly snapped himself out of it. It was now or never. “Fei… I love you too.” 

Feitan’s breath hitched slightly. He gave him a few slow blinks before moving a bit closer. 

Phinks slowly moved closer too, the two steadily cutting down on the distance between them. For the first time in a long while, he slowly reached a hand towards Feitan’s cheek. 

Feitan emitted a very quiet whine before closing his eyes and pressing into the touch. The action conveyed a strong combination of affection and trust. 

Phinks’s other hand softly wrapped around Feitan’s waist and rested just above his hip. He pulled him a little closer. 

Feitan growled softly. “Just do it.” He demanded, leaving no room for negotiation. 

Phinks couldn’t help the slight grin. Fei was even cuter than usual when he was bossing him around. He softly tugged the other spider’s scarf down to his neck. He then leaned down and gently pressed their lips together in a kiss. 

Feitan gave a slightly louder whine as he pressed into and returned the kiss. 

The action was a bit clumsy, but it was clear that they were both pouring years of suppressed passion into it. After a solid minute, they slowly broke apart. Both were panting softly and insistent on remaining close together. Even after all the recent tragedy, Phinks felt the strongest sense of warmth and fulfillment that he’d ever had before. He was finally as close with his true love as he’d wanted for so long. It felt too good to be true. After a while, he let out a soft laugh. “Is this really happening?”

Feitan let out a quiet hum and leaned his cheek against Phinks’s chest. “That depends on what you mean by ‘this.’ I’ll need to procure some equipment before things go any further.” 

Phinks was too caught up in the bliss of the moment to fully analyze Fei’s words. After all, it was just like Feitan to say something cryptic and leave it at that. 

The two spent the night snuggling on an unreasonably large pile of beanbags, listening to the sounds of rainfall and each other’s heartbeats. 

Chapter Text

The night’s storm had cleared by the next morning. Or rather, the next afternoon. Phinks was the first to wake, as usual. He smiled as Feitan’s perfect face was the first sight of his day. His mind was still catching up with how much of the previous night had actually happened; part of him thought it had all been a dream. 

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden realization that his hand was on Feitan’s hip. How did this always seem to happen when they slept close together? He quickly withdrew his hand from the more intimate hold, not wanting to irritate Fei. 

Feitan let out a sleepy, displeased growl. Without opening his eyes, he started lightly smacking an arm around until he found Phinks’s hand. He grabbed the hand and firmly placed it right back on his hip. 

Phinks felt the warmth of a blush creep up to his face. This was certainly a different dynamic than before, but it was one he could gladly get used to. Feitan’s action had confirmed it in his mind; they really had confessed their feelings to each other last night. He gently pulled Fei closer so that they were flush up against each other, and softly kissed the top of his head. 

Feitan snuggled his cheek against Phinks’s chest and lazily wrapped an arm around him, before settling fully back into sleep. 

Phinks had never been in a relationship before. It was a bit scary to suddenly be in one that meant so much since he wasn’t sure how to do it properly. The last thing he wanted was to disappoint Feitan. He’d known for years that he loved him. Perhaps, even without all the relationship traditions, that would be enough. 

Another two hours later, Feitan slowly started to writhe. He mumbled a few incoherent words before shaking himself awake with the cutest slow blinks. He smiled when his eyes met Phinks’s. His scarf was still down to his neck, revealing his whole face. His smile was so unguarded and genuine, it damn near took Phinks’s breath away. “Morning.” He said sleepily. 

Phinks gave a dopey smile back. “Morning. You seem like you slept pretty well.”

“Mhm. Good sleep.” He started slowly stretching his limbs out, making little squeaks as he did. 

Phinks couldn’t help a soft chuckle at those endearing little sounds. He waited for him to settle back down, then used a hand to gently tilt Fei’s chin up. 

Feitan gave a few rapid blinks of surprise at the action, a new sort of glimmer in those eyes. 

“You’re beautiful.” Phinks said reverently, before leaning in and kissing him. 

Feitan let out a soft, happy hum as he kissed him back. He slowly slid the hand he’d been resting on Phinks’s back upward until he was able to dig his fingers into his hair. He held him firmly by the back of the head and made sure he stayed right there until he was done with him. He licked Phinks’s lower lip before suddenly plunging his tongue into his mouth. 

Phinks gave a slight hum of surprise at the unexpected invasion. He opened his mouth a bit more to facilitate the action. He experimentally slid his tongue along Fei’s while his mouth was being explored; the action was met with a pleased little whine from the smaller spider. 

Feitan gave a slight suck to Phinks’s tongue before trying to get closer still. His effort was met with the unceremonious clashing of their teeth, at which point he finally pulled back. The two shared several more sloppy, panting kisses before Feitan eventually broke apart. The glimmer in his eyes was more prominent now; it finally clicked in Phinks’s head as lust. “You’re beautiful too.” Feitan spoke softly. He slowly licked up Phinks’s jawline, lapping up the small trail of saliva that had spilled out through their messy kissing. “I’ll eat you up, I love you so.”

Phinks chased Feitan’s lips into one last, much softer kiss. He tenderly caressed his cheek during and after the kiss. “I love you too… so much that it’s hard to describe.”

Feitan closed his eyes and pressed their foreheads together. “Try anyway.” 

Phinks also let his eyes drift closed through the gentle press. “I’ve never been the best at words, as you know, but I’ll give it a shot. I’ve been kind of obsessed with you since the moment I first saw you. Even though I didn’t exactly know what it was at the time, I was completely drawn to you. I felt such a strong connection with you, even without knowing you yet. And the more I’ve gotten to know you, the stronger it’s gotten. Never taking a step back, even on the hard days. Every day I know you is another day I get to adore you. If it were up to me, your face would be the first thing I see every morning, and the last thing I see every night. You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, inside and out. You’re just perfect… I don’t even know how that’s possible. I think we’re soulmates. And I really, really love you.” 

Feitan pulled away enough to look at him. 

Phinks opened his eyes again when he felt him pull back. The look in Feitan’s eyes was like nothing he had ever seen before. It was a profoundly soft, adoring look. It was open, vulnerable, and trusting. There was a slight mistiness in his eyes. 

Feitan looked down not long after they made eye contact, letting out a soft laugh and quickly blinking the traces of tears away. “You call that not good with words? You’re making me look bad.”

Phinks chuckled softly. “No way, nothing could ever make you look bad. Even if you don’t gush like I do, you’re the one who had the balls to admit your feelings first. Which was definitely the hardest step.” 

Feitan let out a quiet giggle. “True, I’ll be sure to always hold that over your head. I have the superior metaphorical balls.” He grew a contemplative look. “Oh, and on the note of anatomy; I think you’re finally old enough for me to answer all those spider biology questions you asked a while back.” 

Phinks couldn’t help but laugh. “I thought you’d forgotten about all that! I definitely won’t turn it down if you want to tell me. Let’s see, what was the first ‘I’ll tell you when you’re older,’ again?”

Feitan grinned. “This one’s easy. I mentioned in the tattoo shop that spiders don’t have dicks. You asked what they have instead.” 

Phinks nodded. “Oh yeah, I remember now. I’m still curious about that. Can I add another part to the question?”

“Sure. Like I said, you’re old enough now.”

“Cool. So, after the first question, my follow-up is whether or not the explanation you give applies to your personal biology.” 

Feitan snorted. “Follow-up answer first. I do have a dick, Phinks. So, no, this doesn’t apply to me personally. Now, back to the first question. Male and female spiders simply have a genital opening. Just a hole. Different positions on the abdomen, but similar. Males make a ball of web, and deposit gametes from their opening onto the web. They move the web ball to their pedipalps. You know, the sort of finger-like projections by the mouth. If he passes the female’s tests, she allows him to mate. He passes it to her via the pedipalps. It’s sort of like oral mixed with the version of mating you know of.”

Phinks was slightly red throughout the explanation. It was interesting to learn about. He also couldn’t help but wonder how much of that might carry over into Feitan’s physical desires. “Got it. You mentioned a female has tests, what kinds?”

“Oh, depends on the species. For instance, many tarantula females test males by seeing if they’re strong and large enough to effectively lift them without getting stabbed by their fangs. Sometimes they actively try to bite down on him to see what he’s made of. If he fails, he gets eaten. 

“Peacock jumping spiders perform an elaborate dance to impress females. He must perform exactly as she expects, and strike her fancy depending on her particular mood. If he doesn’t dazzle, he gets eaten. 

“Male black widows attempt to wait for a female to be actively eating before they court her, and do their best to placate her with strums on her web, and pheromones in their own webbing, which they cover the female with. If he’s too slow or makes a wrong move, he gets eaten. 

“Male redback spiders must launch their bodies into the mouth of the female as they mate; he gets eaten as he passes his gametes along. If he runs away without sacrificing his flesh, he won’t father many eggs and will die on his own as a failure. So, he’s most likely going to do things right and get eaten. 

“Oh, I seem to be rambling… Last example, skulltula. Males strum a serenade into the female’s web. They must be large and old enough to impress. If their web song and stature pass the first test, they move on to strum a similar pattern along the female’s legs. If she’s interested, she will rise up enough to expose her underbelly. Last test involves a precursory mating motion. Best way I can describe it, it’s like the oral part of spider mating but without the gametes on the pedipalps. And if he disappoints, can you guess what happens?”

Phinks rubbed at the back of his neck a bit nervously. “Yeah… he gets eaten. Have you ever… I dunno, eaten someone for something like that?” 

Feitan tilted his head slightly. “I’ve never let anyone that close. Wasn’t interested. But to answer your question, I have killed all who have made insistent advances. Sometimes eaten. Have you done that sort of thing with someone?” 

Phinks gave a sheepish little smile. Somehow, hearing that Fei hadn’t been physically intimate with anyone was a comfort. “Honestly, no. Same here, just wasn’t interested in anyone other than a certain spider. I’ve gotten teased a bit for it, but I don’t care.”

Feitan gave a slight hum of approval. “Good. You are mine. It’s only fitting that I should be your first.” 

Phinks could feel himself growing redder again. Hearing Feitan say something like that was more exciting than it probably should have been. He gave a candid smile. “Yeah, I’m yours. Hey, how about the other ‘when you’re older?’ I remember this one pretty clearly. We were talking about the differences in bathrooms while we figured out who’d take the men’s and women’s bathrooms. At that point, you said you’re ‘kind of both internally.’ Implying both male and female. But you didn’t say if it was physical or mental. What’d you mean by that?” 

Feitan wiggled slightly, seeming to grow a bit bashful. “As far as obvious features go, I’m entirely male. However, there are some extra organs in me that are a lot like a female’s. In theory, I can make eggs. I know this because of the pheromones I produce. Apparently, it’s pretty common for demons. My personality type is also most commonly associated with female spiders. As a spider, I feel more like a female, while as a humanoid I feel more like a male. Since I spend most of my life in this form, male is my primary gender.” 

Another old memory surfaced as Phinks processed his words. The day they had arrived in Yorknew City for the very first time, he had been curious about Feitan’s senses and asked him a question: 

‘Kinda curious, what do I smell like to you? Like food?’ Phinks had asked. 

‘Like you’d make pretty kids.’ Feitan’s response had come instinctively. 

He recalled that they had both been very flustered by the subject back then. Feitan had been so cute as he’d hidden his whole face in his scarf after that comment. It was nice to be more mature now, and able to talk openly as adults. Even if they were still a little shy. “Got it, that’s really neat. I appreciate you telling me.” 

Feitan gave a slight quirk of a smile. “Sure. Thanks for not being weird about it.” 

“Hey, there’s nothing there to be weird about. Since female spiders are clearly the dominant gender, it makes sense that you partly identify with that. Besides, I’d still be just as into you if you were a chick.”

Feitan had an amused look. “Good answer. Anyway, let’s head out. The beanbags will disappear soon, and I’d rather not be on top of them when they do.” 

“Good point.” Phinks released his hold on Fei, and together they climbed down the beanbag mountain. They grabbed the few items that they had packed and departed from the abandoned cathedral. As they walked, Phinks looked over at him. “Got anywhere in particular where you’d like to go? I’m open.” 

Feitan nodded. “My house.” 

“Sounds like a plan. Meteor City, here we come. Let’s stock up on some food and water before the trip.” 

Feitan shook his head. “We can go to the spider nest later, want to go to my place first. It’s a house in the Republic of Padokea. Not too far from the Zoldycks.” 

Phinks did a slight double-take. “Wait, you have an actual house? Since when?” 

“About six months ago. Had too many items in my collection to carry with me, and didn’t feel like using storage. Figured I’d get a place so I’d have room to put my collections and rest comfortably at the same time. Was strange actually using money, but I don’t think I could effectively steal a deed. Used an alias, of course. Guess there’s nothing wrong with using some of the vast wealth we’ve accrued.” 

Phinks rubbed the back of his neck. “Man, now I’m starting to feel like a bit of an underachiever... I’ve been as nomadic as always. Maybe I should get a house too.”

Feitan shrugged. “Why bother? I’ve already got one, you’ll stay there with me when we’re not traveling.” He stated matter-of-factly. 

Phinks felt his heart flutter at the statement. He hadn’t even considered that Feitan would want to live together so officially. It meant a lot to him. “You really want to move in together already? It’s not moving too fast for you?”

Feitan tilted his head at him. “Too fast? Don’t be stupid. We’ve already lived together for seven years. Of course I’m sure.” He hummed quietly in thought before continuing. “I suppose you could pick your own location, get another house, and we could move back and forth between the two. Could be more convenient to have another option ready.” 

Phinks grinned brightly and wrapped an arm snugly around Feitan’s shoulder. “You’re right, as always. Sounds good to me.”

Feitan leaned his head softly against Phinks even as they walked. “Correct. Don’t you forget that.” He spoke in a slightly mischievous tone. 

Phinks chuckled. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” 

The two traveled together to the Yorknew Airport. The airport was a short trip away, just an hour’s walk. From there, they caught an airship to the Republic of Padokea. After they landed, they continued their journey on foot. They walked through cities and ran through forests. It was only a few hours longer before they reached a remote house at the top of a small mountain. By that point, night had long since fallen. The moon, a waning gibbous, provided a beautiful source of dim light. From the mountain, they were far from any other lights. The sky was lit in a gorgeous mural of constellations. 

The house they approached was rather large. It was by no means a mansion, but still bigger than just about anything they would find in Meteor City. Phinks nodded in admiration as he observed the two-story structure. “Very nice. What are the specs on it?”

Feitan fondly bumped against him. “If I recall correctly, five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Wanted to make sure there was room for the other spiders whenever they may wish to visit. As of now, only Shalnark knows. But I’ll invite the others over soon.” 

Phinks let out a whistle. “That’s pretty impressive. Definitely plenty of room for the whole troupe.”

Feitan unlocked the door and led the way inside. As he started turning on the lights, Phinks could see how pretty the place was. The decorations were sparse, but the house itself was clearly new and absolutely gorgeous. The poverty mentality that he had grown up with made it difficult to imagine them living here. It didn’t help that the boss insisted on choosing decrepit hideouts and preventing Kortopi from making the common areas more comfortable for the sake of impressions and dramatics. “Damn… this place is really nice, Fei. You chose well.” 

Feitan grabbed Phinks’s hand and started pulling him along. “Just wait til you see the rooms.” He sounded a bit excitable, and it was unreasonably adorable. Fei pulled him up the staircase and led him through one of the open doors. The room was large, with dozens of torture devices and medieval weapons adorning the deep maroon walls. At its center was a bed, neatly made with blood-red sheets and a black blanket. 

Phinks looked around the room, taking the time to absorb every detail. The aesthetic was almost vampiric. The whole atmosphere just screamed Feitan. “This has gotta be your bedroom, right? It looks great.”

Feitan hummed happily. “Mhm! You’ve seen enough for now. Next room.” He yanked him along by the arm. 

Phinks had been knocked off his balance by the strong pull but managed to recover with a quick stumble. He couldn’t help a little laugh. “Easy, Fei! We’ll get there.”

“Shh.” Feitan shushed him before dragging him into the next room over. This one had mostly yellow-gold walls, with some blue accents.

Phinks’s attention was quickly captured by the decorations. There were several ancient Egyptian artifacts, which looked to be genuine relics. Among them, a small sphinx statue sat atop the nightstand, a papyrus scroll depicting the underworld god Anubis judging a mortal’s soul was framed in protective glass and hung on the wall, and a series of canopic jars lined the dresser. It was absolutely gorgeous. 

“Yours.” Feitan spoke as Phinks was still absorbing the scenery. 

Phinks looked over at him incredulously. “You… you designed this for me?” 

Feitan nodded. His eyes held a soft look. “Now that we’re dating, I expect you’ll move at least some of your things to my room. But this was meant to be yours.” 

Phinks turned to face Feitan and pulled him into a sweet kiss. “I love it.” He spoke just above a whisper. 

Feitan had a slightly dazed look as he closely held him back. “Good, you’d better. I stole these artifacts from famous museums myself.” 

Phinks let out another little laugh. “To be honest, the museums stole them from Egypt in the first place and won’t give them back, so it’s fair game! Do those canopic jars actually still have the organs in them?” 

Feitan nodded happily. “I checked. Delightfully mummified, nice and crispy.”

Phinks leaned their foreheads together. “God, I love you.” 

Feitan practically purred. “I love you too...” After a long, tender moment, he slowly pulled away. “Feel free to roam wherever you please. I need to go get a few things, you stay.” 

Phinks furrowed his brows slightly in confusion. “We just got here. You need to go already? And you don’t want any help?”

Feitan shook his head. “No help this time. It’s a surprise. While you wait, help yourself to the pantry. I stocked it up with all your favorite cans of semi-food substances. But I will be back with proper food too, in two hours or so.”

“This has already been a huge surprise. You know you don’t need to do anything special for me, right?” Phinks asked in a gentle tone. 

Feitan giggled quietly. “I know, but I want to. And this is for both of us. Just trust me.”

Phinks gave a slow nod. “You know I do. Alright, Fei. Travel safely. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

“Mhm. See you soon.” Feitan pulled away and scuttled off. 

Phinks heard the distant sound of the front door opening and closing. What could Fei possibly have in mind? He could only imagine. Now that he was home alone, he eagerly inspected the artifacts in his designated room. They were all amazing to see, and in fantastic condition considering their age. Feitan had clearly taken great care to ensure their preservation without damage. Yet again, Phinks felt his heart swell with love for his beautiful, unique little spider. 

———

Before he’d even had the time to look over every artifact, he heard a faint jiggle of the front door handle. Had it really been two hours already? He supposed it was easy for him to get carried away when it came to Egyptian artifacts. He exited the bedroom and headed for the living room. At the top of the staircase, he was already able to see Feitan setting down a few miscellaneous bags. Like a puppy seeing his master again after any amount of time spent apart, Phinks was delighted to see him. He really was a classic enhancer. “Hey, welcome back!” He said as he trotted down the stairs. 

Feitan gave a slow nod and blink as he saw him. “Hasn’t been long, but good to see you again.” 

Phinks grinned and pulled him into a tight hug. 

Feitan more softly looped his arms around Phinks as he returned the hug. “I missed you too, sap.” 

Phinks grinned. “Doesn’t that make you a sap too?”

Feitan hissed quietly. “Don’t push it.” 

Phinks let out a little chuckle. “Right, sorry.”

Feitan pulled out of the hug after a little longer. He gestured towards the countertop of the granite kitchen island. “Food.” 

Phinks looked over to where he was gesturing. There was a large pizza box there. He knew they had similar culinary tastes. “Cool, thanks! Do I get to find out what the surprise is now?” He glanced towards the other bags that were sitting not too far from the kitchen. 

Feitan quickly scurried over and grabbed the bags. “No. Not yet.” He stated simply before running up the stairs with the new bags. Phinks vaguely saw as Fei chucked the bags unceremoniously into his room before descending the staircase again. 

Phinks grinned again. “I can wait. Let’s eat.” 

The two shared the meat lover’s pizza while discussing unrelated matters, continuing to catch up. Everything felt so natural. Phinks was relaxed and happy, and Feitan clearly was, too. Now that the pressure of a heist was gone, things were back to normal, except for the development of their deeper romantic relationship. 

Eventually, after the food was gone, Feitan stood. “Surprise time now.” He declared cryptically before walking off towards the staircase. 

Phinks hopped to his feet and followed close behind Fei. “Ready when you are.” 

Feitan grabbed Phinks’s hand once he’d caught up enough and pulled him up the stairs quicker. 

Phinks watched Fei with a profound endearment. He knew Feitan was faster than him, and when nen was factored in he was clearly stronger than him, too. Despite the evident advantages, Feitan only exerted clear force over Phinks when he was excited to show him something. It was such a sweet, gentle factor. 

Feitan continued to pull him along until they were back in Fei’s room. Feitan finally released Phinks’s hand and shoved him firmly down onto the bed. “Stay.” He commanded before scuttling off. 

Phinks was thoroughly captivated by Fei’s dominant energy. As demanded, he stayed exactly where he had been left. He curiously watched as his friend and lover brought the baggage he had come home with closer to the bed. “Hey, Fei? You gonna tell me what’s going on?”

Feitan merely gave him a slow blink before leaning down to root through one of the bags. He pulled out a pair of handcuffs. “Know what these are?” 

Phinks could feel the blush rise to his cheeks. “Yeah… pretty sure I do. They’re handcuffs.”

Feitan hummed and crawled closer to him on the bed, carrying the tool. “Yes. But more specifically, they are nen-fortified cuffs. Stole them off a hunter. You won’t be able to get out of them even with all your strength.”

Phinks’s eyes drifted between Fei and the cuffs. His heart hammered with an excitement that was still largely foreign to him. He knew he wasn’t as sharp as Feitan, but he liked to have as much clarification as he could. “Those are going on me? What for?” 

Feitan didn’t answer verbally. Rather, he closely crouched over Phinks in a straddling position. The look of lust had returned to his eyes. “What for? Do you really need to ask?”

Phinks felt a shiver run through his body. His mind and body were suddenly inundated with powerful desires, but he didn’t dare assume that Feitan was thinking along the same path. “I guess I… I just want to be sure. Fei… whatever you want, I’m yours. Just show me what you want.” He spoke earnestly.

Feitan met eye contact with him for a second before leaning down and kissing him hard. Through the kiss, at one point he secured one of the handcuffs snugly around Phinks’s left wrist. 

Phinks kissed him back with equal vigor. The cold metal around his wrist was a strange sensation, but he was gladly down to try this new dynamic. 

Feitan grabbed both of Phinks’s hands and pushed them up over his head. Due to their prominent height difference, he had to break the kiss and crawl a bit up Phinks’s body to finish pushing his arms up. He looped the cuffs around one of the headboard beams and then secured Phinks’s right wrist in the other cuff. They were tight enough that there was no chance of slipping out, but not so tight that it was uncomfortable. He emitted a pleased little hum as he observed his handiwork. 

Phinks looked up to observe the state of his captivity. He gave a soft, inquisitive tug to the cuffs. He sensed that they were indeed substantially stronger than a standard set of bindings. If he really wanted to, he could probably break out of them. Alternatively, he could pull the chain straight through the headboard beam to free himself. However, this was a prison he didn’t want to be freed from any time soon. 

Feitan crawled back down at face-to-face level and passionately kissed Phinks again. 

Phinks gently broke the kiss after several more seconds. He gave Fei a few slow, trusting blinks before speaking again. “Okay… I think I get it. Can’t say I know exactly what to expect, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m yours.” 

Feitan emitted a low growl and ground their hips together. “Does this answer your question on what to expect?” 

Phinks drew a shaky breath. That simple motion alone felt tantalizingly good. As usual, Fei effectively left no more room for doubts. “Yeah, it’s pretty clear now.” 

“Good.” Feitan sharpened his nails into talons and started cutting through Phinks’s shirt. He started at the collar, slicing all the way down to the bottom of the fabric. He then made quick work of cutting a few more neat incisions into the sleeves. 

Phinks was mesmerized as he watched him. He hadn’t expected to sacrifice this shirt, but it was easily replaceable. He was fascinated by how well Fei controlled his nails; he sliced just deep enough to completely go through the cloth without nicking his skin even once. 

Feitan grabbed the torn-up shirt from the side and swiftly yanked it out from under Phinks. His cuts allowed the shirt to easily come off, leaving his torso fully exposed. 

Phinks had been shirtless around Fei plenty, but this time felt very different. Fei’s eyes had a sense of hunger in them; it was intoxicating to witness. 

Feitan placed his hands on Phinks’s chest, starting around the collarbone area and slowly stroking downward. 

Phinks practically shivered with anticipation as Fei’s touch delved ever lower. He wanted to touch him back, but with his hands bound that was currently out of the question. 

Feitan’s hands finally stilled just above Phink’s hips. He directed a sultry look up at him, eyes half-lidded. “Phinks... You trust me, right?” 

Phinks answered without even thinking about it. “Yeah. With my life.” 

Feitan gave a satisfied little hum. “Good. I’m going to try some things I’m confident that you’ll like. But if you don’t, safe word is ‘stop.’ Sound good?” 

Phinks gave a slow nod. The anticipation was still killing him. “Sounds good.” 

Feitan’s eyes grew an impish twinkle before he suddenly yanked down Phinks’s pants. The fabric was bunched at his feet, prevented from coming all the way off by his shoes. 

Phinks blinked in surprise. He hadn’t been expecting such an abrupt progression in his undressing. 

Feitan quickly removed Phinks’s shoes before taking his pants the rest of the way off. His eyes landed on his boxers next. “Looks like I missed something. Better fix that.” He looped his fingers under the hem of the boxers. He pulled them down a bit more carefully, but still quickly. 

Phinks bit his lip lightly as he was fully exposed. Between the nudity and the handcuffs, he felt a bit vulnerable. But Feitan hadn’t been wrong; he was certainly enjoying this dynamic. Feitan had been a tiny powerhouse for as long as he’d known him. Any time he exerted some kind of force was an alluring experience. 

Feitan’s eyes again raked over the newly exposed skin. He softly trailed a few fingertips down one of Phinks’s thighs, then straddled him again. He kept his body elevated over Phinks rather than pressed together as they had been before. He started raking a hand down his lover’s chest again. 

Phinks savored every touch, but a pressing curiosity was on his mind. “Hey, Fei? Aren’t you gonna undress some?” 

Feitan let out an amused hum. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” 

Phinks wasn’t quite sure how to respond. He felt like it would be a bit silly to say ‘yes, I would.’ Therefore, he kept quiet and waited for Fei to continue. 

Feitan shook his head slightly. “To answer your question, no. I won’t be taking anything off until you earn it. Want to know how?” 

Phinks gave a shaky little nod. “Yes. Um, please.” 

Feitan leaned down and licked up the side of his neck. As he finished at the jawline, he whispered into his ear. “You must do everything I tell you to. Understood?” 

Phinks felt a shiver run through his body. “I understand.” 

“Good boy.” Feitan purred before continuing. “My first order abides by dominatrix tradition. You will call me mistress.” 

Phinks’s mind was going wild. ‘Dominatrix?! Damn, that’s just like Fei.’ He was finally getting a better picture of what was happening. He gave a slow nod. “Okay.” 

Feitan sharpened his nails and gave a scratch down Phinks’s bicep. “Wrong answer.” He growled. 

Phinks had exclaimed slightly in surprise at the sudden sting of his scratch. Fei had left four red marks where his claws had raked. Phinks quickly rerouted his approach. “Y-yes, mistress.” 

Feitan followed the scratch with a soft caress to Phinks’s cheek. “There’s a good boy. You like it when I hurt you, don’t you?” He spoke seductively. 

Phinks dazedly nodded. His reaction wasn’t to placate Fei, it was instinctive and genuine. Somehow, Feitan knew him better than he knew himself. He probably never would have known how much of a kink this was for him if Fei hadn’t taken the initiative, and he was glad he had. “Yes, mistress. Please do it again.” 

Feitan lowered his hips so that they were pressed together again, the return of contact being quite the reward. “Your wish is granted.” He said before sharply clawing both hands down Phinks’s chest. 

Phinks inhaled with a sharp hissing sound. He reflexively ground his hips up against Fei’s. 

Feitan let out a soft squeak at the grind before raising his hips up again. “Tsk… I don’t recall giving you permission to do that.” 

Before Phinks had time to apologize, Feitan dismounted from his straddle and was now kneeling beside him. Phinks looked over at him, wondering if he had done something wrong. More prominently, he wondered what was next. 

Feitan’s hungry eyes again looked over Phinks’s body before returning eye contact. “I hope you know, you’ll be punished for stepping out of line.” 

Phinks’s breath hitched. Whatever punishment Fei had in mind, he wanted it. 

Feitan crawled off to the side of the bed and started rooting through one of the bags he had brought home earlier. Though Phinks couldn’t see the bag, he could hear the crinkling of plastic. When Feitan turned to face him again, he was holding a riding crop. “You know what you did… you acted without my permission. You will bleed for your error.” 

Phinks could feel his heart rate picking up. “You’re right… it’s my fault, mistress. Please, punish me.” 

Feitan’s eyes shone with lust. “Good boy.” He praised, before lashing the crop against Phinks’s right thigh. 

Phinks grunted at the sudden sting. Fei had whipped just hard enough to break skin. 

“Have you learned?” Feitan purred out. 

“Not yet… I might need some more punishment.” Phinks said automatically. 

“Oh? That can be arranged.” Fei said with a grin. He delivered several more whips to his thighs, as well as a few to his sides. Fei then used the handle of the riding crop to gently stroke Phinks’s cheek. “Such a good boy.” He praised softly. 

Phinks shivered slightly at his words. His body was on fire in all the best of ways. He knew that he’d gotten hard somewhere through the lashing, but he was too absorbed in the mesmerizing experience to feel any shame. “Th-thank you, mistress…” 

Feitan pressed a soft kiss to his lips before pulling away again. “You liked that, didn’t you?”

Phinks gave a shaky nod. “Very much, yes.” 

Feitan hummed and set down the crop. “Of course you did. Do you know why? It’s because you’re a measly little mud grub who belongs in the dirt and needs to be stepped on. You’re just my pathetic little pig boy, aren’t you? Say it.” 

Phinks felt it as he blushed yet again. It seemed a degree of humiliation was another unexpected kink of his. “I-I’m your little pig boy.” 

“There’s a good piggy.” Feitan purred before giving a firm stroke to Phinks’s cock. 

Phinks let out a shaky moan at the touch. He needily pushed his hips up into Fei’s hand. 

Feitan gave him a few more solid strokes, then abruptly withdrew his hand, leaving him with a hungry sense of loss. “Such a good piggy. Tell me what you want.” 

“I want you, mistress. All of you.” He spoke with genuine yearning. It was difficult to keep himself under control through Fei’s ministrations. 

Feitan let out a pleased little hum and straddled him again. “I’ll think about it… if you can be good and wait.” 

“I’ll be good, mistress, I promise.” Phinks said both desperately and resolutely. 

Feitan leaned down and gave several hungry nibbles to his neck. “We’ll see about that… you must be still. Do you understand?”

Phinks gave a shaky nod. “Yes… I understand, mistress.” 

Feitan suddenly gave him a harder bite to the neck. It wasn’t enough to break skin, but it would certainly bruise. 

Phinks let out a strained groan. He fought his impulses and with much difficulty managed to keep his hips still through the stimulation. 

Feitan vibrated with what Phinks could only describe as purrs; it must be a demon thing, he reasoned. Fei softly ground their hips together through the purr. Phinks could feel through the fabric that Fei was about halfway hard. 

Phinks struggled to keep still. He started clenching and unclenching his fists, trying to keep his body focused on something else. As his mistress had ordered, he would stay still. After all, the last thing he wanted was to disappoint Fei or fail one of his tests. He stayed strong for a good long while, but eventually, he felt himself start to cave. “Please… I can’t hold it any longer.” He strained to speak. 

Feitan emitted a soft growl. The sound wasn’t threatening, but it had quite the effect on Phinks. “Is that so? You will hold on for as long as I say you will.” He crawled back to the side of the bed and again rooted around through the bag he had brought home. It wasn’t long before he returned with a circular device. He pressed his knees hard into Phinks’s thighs to keep him still, then secured the device to the base of Phinks’s cock. He tightened it until it was just a little bit painful. 

Phinks found that with the device Fei had added, he couldn't come to a proper release even as further contact gave him the need. He hadn’t realized until now what a ravishing experience it was to be tortured by Feitan. He looked up at him with intense desire. 

Feitan grinned as he looked back down at him. He seemed quite pleased. Now that he had Phinks stuck on the edge, he continued to give him a torturous series of whips, scratches, and bites all over his body. He alternated between giving him stinging pain, and soft, gentle pleasure. 

Phinks let out strained grunts and moans through the agonizingly good punishment. His senses were on overdrive, and everything in him screamed for more. 

After the better part of half an hour, Feitan stopped the latest round of lashing quicker than the ones before. The desire in his eyes was palpable. He let out another low growl, his expression more ravenous than ever. He quickly shrugged off his coat and continued disrobing from there. “This was supposed to last a lot longer… but I suppose there’s no helping it. I will have you.” 

Phinks looked up at Feitan with all the reverence of a deity. He could finally see Fei’s spider tattoo for the first time in years, right on his inner left thigh where he remembered it. As his lover stripped out of the last of his clothing, he was almost frozen in place by the beauty before him. “Fei… I’m yours.”

He set down the riding crop and gave another long lick up Phinks’s neck. “Are you prepared to die?” He spoke against his neck in a low, sultry voice. 

Phinks shivered. He doubted that Fei would actually kill him, but if it did come to that, it sounded like the best possible way to die. With that in mind, he gave a shaky little nod. “Yes… I’m ready.” 

Feitan let out a low, rumbling growl. “Good. Think back to the lesson I gave you earlier on skulltula mating rites. Skip straight to step three.” 

Phinks tried hard to remember what step three might be. The best his mind was able to come up with was a vague outline of the lesson. First should be web strumming, second was some sort of leg tapping, and third… it clicked into place. The third phase was oral foreplay. Was that what Fei meant? His question would soon be answered. 

Feitan turned around so that his back was facing Phinks. He then straddled him backward and lowered his hips over Phinks’s face. “Impress me, or die.” 

Phinks could feel his heart hammering against his chest. Seeing Fei presented before him like this, his desire was overwhelming. After so long of rough foreplay where he hadn’t been allowed to touch Feitan, this was a sudden but very appreciated change. He refused to disappoint him. He gave a long lick between Fei’s cheeks before teasing his tongue around his rim. He was intrigued to find that the surface was already slick; he suspected this was another demonic trait. His taste was surprisingly alluring; it might be the pheromones his spider demon was producing, but he found himself needing to taste him more and get ever closer. 

Feitan’s breaths grew shaky through the teasing. He crouched down closer over Phinks’s face, making it easier for him to reach. 

Phinks took the lowering as a positive sign. After just a few more brief moments of rimming, he wriggled his tongue into his entrance. He couldn’t help but feel a small sense of victory as Fei let out a shaky little moan. He pressed his tongue in as far as it would go, before starting to flex the muscle around. 

As he steadily moved his tongue in swirling and thrusting motions, Fei started to move his hips slightly up and down. Feitan seemed to sense the reach restrictions put in place by his shapely glutes; he reached back and pulled one of his cheeks further apart. 

Further encouraged by the signs, Phinks delved his tongue deeper still and started curling it around inside him. As someone with nen mastery, especially as an enhancer, he was able to channel a good amount of strength into each writhe of his tongue even through the friction-cutting wetness. He took great care to note Fei’s squeaks, moans, and hip motions, adding all the signs to his growing knowledge of Fei’s preferences. With every bit of new observation and knowledge, he fine-tuned his approach to increase his lover’s pleasure. 

Feitan’s vocalizations grew more frequent the longer they went. His muscles started twitching slightly from within, his breaths growing ever more rapid. Finally, at one of Phinks’s harder tongue curls, he let out a broken cry and tightened within. 

Phinks felt a warmth across his chest as Fei spilled his seed onto him. At the same time, Fei grew all the more alluring. Whether it was the cause of love, pheromones, or internal hormonal cues, he did not know. The origin of their shared ecstasy was hardly relevant. Phinks didn’t stop; after all, his mistress had never told him to. Not that he would ever complain; this experience was exhilarating. 

Feitan’s squeaks and moans grew louder through the overstimulation. He let it go on for a good while longer, before raising his hips off Phinks’s face. He panted as he crawled off of him, getting back next to him. He quickly removed the restricting cock ring from Phinks. “You passed.” He spoke almost dazedly. Phinks was thrilled by that simple statement. Even without entirely knowing what he was doing, he was delighted that he had managed to please his lover. 

Feitan didn’t sit still for long. He straddled Phinks and gave several sharp little bites to his neck and chest. He then positioned himself more deliberately against Phinks’s hips, lining them up. He ground slightly against him until he found the perfect position. He then started slowly lowering himself down onto Phinks’s cock, his breaths growing shaky as he did so. 

Phinks resisted the strong urge to thrust into him. Fei had made it clear that this was happening on his terms, and he would respect that no matter how hard it was at the moment. He relished the look on Feitan’s face as he continued to lower down onto him; his eyelids had fluttered before closing, and he was biting softly onto his lip. As he got down further, he gave occasional reflexive contractions of his inner muscles. 

Phinks took to tugging on the handcuffs again to distract himself from the sensory overload. Through a substantial struggle, he managed to keep himself still. 

Feitan let out a shaky breath as he finished taking in all of Phinks. He gave a slight swivel of his hips as he adjusted. He let out a soft grunt through the motion. “That's a lot. Okay… you can move now.” 

Phinks didn’t need any further invitations. He bucked his hips up in a series of rapid-fire motions. 

Feitan let out a loud squeak at the first thrust but quickly got into his own rhythm. He started raising and lowering his hips in time with Phinks’s thrusts, the motions quickly turning into rapid bounces. His breaths turned back to pants, coupled with the occasional whimpers. “Harder.” He growled out after a few minutes. Even now, it was clear that he was in complete control of the situation. 

“As you wish, mistress.” Phinks panted out before intensifying the pace further. He started angling his thrusts more precisely, aiming for the direction that had made Feitan fall apart during his test. 

Feitan’s whimpers grew more frequent and evolved into sharp cries when he hit a certain spot. He dug his talons into Phinks’s shoulders as he matched the pace and bounced harder. Within a few minutes, his inner muscles began giving twitching constrictions around Phinks. A subtle sheen of sweat had reached his face, and his breaths were more erratic than ever.

Phinks knew that Fei was getting close; considering how hard he had been fighting not to come first, it was a relief to see Fei there. He gave even sharper thrusts into his lover’s most sensitive spot. 

Feitan threw his head back and let out a loud cry that was almost a scream in volume. He curled his body slightly, bringing himself closer to Phinks. As he reached his climax, he simultaneously spilled his seed onto their stomachs and tightly clenched around Phinks’s cock. 

Phinks’s sensory overload was like nothing he’d felt before. Everything about the moment was amazing, and he was so close himself. He gave a few more strong thrusts through tightly constricted muscles before also coming undone. He felt a secondary tightening within Feitan and heard a delightful gasp as he came into him. The sensations that washed over him were utterly intoxicating; they could best be described as pure, unadulterated bliss. 

Feitan slowed his bouncing motions to a stop, taking a break to breathe heavily. He met Phinks’s gaze; his expression was surprisingly soft. After a few more moments of recovery, he straightened back out into a proper sit, before the devilish expression returned to his angelic face. “You didn’t think I was done with you, did you?” 

Phinks blinked up at him in surprise. He wanted to go again? It was surprising, yes, but also relieving. Phinks hadn’t been done with him yet, either. Not that he would ever say it like that. He shook his head rapidly, then started thrusting hard up into him again. 

Feitan let out another cry and started bouncing once again. 

Phinks got the exciting feeling that they would be here a long time. 

———

Several rounds later, Phinks could tell that he and Feitan were finally both getting tired. He had no idea of exactly how long it had been, but it must have been a few hours judging by his internal clock. 

Feitan was panting on top of him, no longer bouncing but not getting off either. “Think you… could go again?” He asked between pants. 

Phinks grinned, also breathing heavily. After the last release hadn’t been followed by vigorous motions from Fei, he was only half-hard inside him. Even so, he felt he could easily be ready for him again. “For you, anything.” 

“Good. One more time, then.” Feitan suddenly pulled his hips up and disconnected them. He fetched the small key to the handcuffs from the nightstand before unlocking Phinks’s bindings. He then rolled next to him with a soft grunt and laid still on his back. 

Phinks rubbed at his wrists now that he had them back. He was looking inquisitively over at Fei where he lay next to him. “Fei? Uh, I mean mistress? You okay?” 

Feitan let out a quiet little laugh and looked back at him. “I’m more than okay. I suppose I should clarify. You’ve done very well. You have earned this.” He slowly parted his legs in a classic missionary position. “Want it?” 

Phinks was thoroughly surprised for what felt like the millionth time of the day. He knew how much Fei valued control for his comfort and security; the fact that he was willing to let him be on top after all that felt very meaningful. “If you’re sure, I do.”

Feitan snorted softly. “Don’t be stupid. Would I offer if I wasn’t sure? Come here.” He beckoned him over with a hand.

Phinks smiled and carefully rolled on top of him. “You know, you never cease to surprise me.” 

Feitan bit his lip softly and wrapped his thighs around Phinks’s waist. He used the thigh grapple to lift his hips slightly off the mattress. “Just mate me already.” 

Between Fei’s lusty eyes and his words, Phinks quickly hardened back up. He ground between Fei’s cheeks for a few moments before repositioning to the place he was getting to know so well. He slowly pushed through the ring of muscle that had been considerably relaxed by their lengthy prior antics. 

Feitan’s eyelids fluttered shut and he let out a series of short, soft moans as he was entered. His arms wrapped firmly around Phinks’s neck. 

Phinks kept up a steady, gradual pace until he was fully back inside him. His breathing had returned to quiet pants as he struggled to restrain himself. He didn’t want to rush Fei. 

Feitan let out a whine and tightened his muscles firmly around him. 

Phinks reflexively thrust into him, which was met with a soft cry from Fei. Of course, what had he expected? They had waited long enough. He began to thrust at a rapid, almost bruising pace. 

Feitan threw his head back with a series of loud cries. His thighs tightened around his waist, and the arms around Phinks’s neck may as well have been one step short of strangling him. 

After a while at the punishing pace, Feitan removed his hold around Phinks’s neck and instead dug a hand firmly into his hair. Using his grasp, he pulled Phink’s head down just enough to suddenly sink his teeth into the meat of his neck. The bite was hard and deep; Phinks could feel Fei’s teeth easily slice through him. 

Phinks grunted at the bite and thrust harder still. He was getting tantalizingly close. Feitan clearly had other plans, however. Fei finally released the bite and then used his grip on Phinks’s scalp to next drag the man’s face down into his neck. 

Phinks slowed his thrusts slightly as his face was shoved into the side of Fei’s neck. It didn’t take him long to process what was being asked of him. He bit into Feitan’s neck just as hard as Fei had bitten him; something told him that anything less would be an insult. 

Feitan screamed and tightened around him stronger than ever. 

Phinks couldn’t take the pressure anymore. He picked up the pace to their fastest yet and soon came hard into him. 

Feitan’s body shook as he too reached a sudden, intense climax. He whimpered through the shared motions between their hips as they both steadily came back down. 

Phinks leaned down and kissed Fei deeply. It was a sloppy, breathy kiss, but one they both held for quite some time before slowly pulling apart. 

Feitan looked about as exhausted as Phinks felt. “We sleep now.” He stated decisively even as his voice was slightly slurred through his drained state. 

Phinks nodded in understanding before slowly pulling back out. He relished the soft whine Fei produced as he did. He carefully laid back down next to him, before pulling his favorite spider into his arms. 

Feitan hummed contentedly through the snuggle. He reached up and very tenderly caressed Phinks’s cheek. His smile was remarkably soft. “So it is; you are mine, and I am yours.” 

Phinks fondly kissed his forehead before returning the gentle smile. “I like the sound of that. I love you, Feitan.” 

Feitan pressed a short, soft kiss to his lips. “I love you too, Phinks.” 

Within minutes, the two fell asleep in each other’s warm, loving embrace. 

————

The next morning, Phinks’s first sight was Feitan’s perfect, sleeping face. 

A soft smile instantly made its way to his face. Without a doubt, this was the best way to wake up. He just knew it would be a great day. He started very softly petting through Fei’s hair. He greatly enjoyed both the silky feeling of his hair and the soft sounds Fei made in his sleep once the caresses started. 

Feitan’s eyes lazily blinked open about an hour later. His sleepy face was so adorable, but it was hard to beat the loving look Fei gave him when he met his eyes. “Morning.” He spoke softly. 

“Good morning.” Phinks answered fondly before kissing his forehead. “I love you.”

Feitan seemed uncharacteristically bashful at those simple words. “I know… what are you telling me now for?”

Phinks chuckled softly. “Just because it’s true. You should try to get used to it, I won’t ever stop saying it.”

Feitan gave a quiet giggle before burying his face into Phinks’s chest. “I think I can get used to that.”

Phinks softly stroked Fei’s back. “You’re beautiful.” His comment was met with a happy hum from his love. His eyes soon fell to the prominent bite mark that he had placed on the side of Fei’s neck. A notable trail of dried blood had evidently spilled from it. The wound was partially inflicted over the scar from Fei’s old throat slash injury. He gently caressed the spot on the spider’s neck. “I hope I didn’t bite you too hard…” 

Feitan shook his head slightly and looked back up at him. “No, you did perfect. Yours was just as hard as mine.” 

Phinks watched him curiously. “Was there some sort of special meaning behind the biting?” 

Feitan seemed to grow a bit bashful. “It’s like I said… you are mine, and I am yours.” 

“So… is that a yes?” He pried. 

Feitan sighed quietly before nodding. “It’s called a mate mark. Demon thing. Means we’re officially mates now.” 

Memories of his research in demonology came flooding back. Now that he knew the name for it, he could put the pieces together. According to the texts he’d acquired, demons typically only delivered deep reciprocated bites in a visible location when they were incredibly close. The mark was meant to form a scar, which would show the world they belonged to each other. Mateship was a lifelong bond which was essentially the demon version of marriage. 

Phinks was stunned at the thought. Did Feitan really want a lifelong romantic commitment so quickly after they’d entered a relationship? He took a moment to reflect on his own desires. A rapid sequence of memories popped up as he did: meeting Fei for the first time, the victorious feeling he got every time he made the little spider blush, and traveling the world together. Bonding so closely with Fei after he’d had far too many beers in a drinking contest, growing and maturing together, and having the privilege of seeing his cavern world’s natural beauty. 

The panic and terror he had felt when he’d found his best friend chained and drenched in his own blood, and thought he would lose him forever. The profound sense of loss when they went their own ways, which felt like a hole in his heart that only his other half could fill. Losing Uvo and Paku was heartbreaking, but losing Feitan felt like it would be the end of the world. 

Feitan’s every smile sent his heart soaring. That impish look he frequently got when feeling mischievous was every bit as marvelous. Fei was his best friend and his truest love. He knew that he would always want to be with him. 

With all that in mind, it became clear to him that this was, without a doubt, exactly what he wanted. He lightly traced his fingers over the bite on his own neck. “I’ve gotta be honest, at the time I didn’t realize how important it was. But I’m glad that’s what it was. I’ll always be yours.” He softly pressed their foreheads together. 

Feitan pressed back through the gentle contact. After a few moments, he pulled back a bit and kissed him. The kiss was brief but sweet. When he pulled away again, his lips held a soft smile. “Good. And I am yours, for eternity.” 

Phinks let out a happy little sigh. “Man, I still can’t believe everything that’s happened over the course of a day. By the way, where’d you learn to do all that BDSM stuff?”

“Made friends with a dominatrix. His name’s Levi. Turns out we have a lot in common. He let me sit in on sessions he had with his clients to learn. Things didn’t get sexual with the clients, but they did with his boyfriend, Eren. He let me watch that, too. I’m not a professional, by any means. But I think I picked up enough to be an effective dom with you.” 

Phinks smiled sheepishly. “You’re more than effective, you’re amazing. Man, you really have been busy in the eight months we spent apart.” 

Feitan gave a somewhat bashful little grin. “Mhm. And I was only able to play with a few of my new toys this time. Course I’ve been busy. Told you there were things I needed to do. Most of the time apart was spent planning surprises for you. You didn’t think I left you just to leave, did you?” 

Phinks’s heart felt so warm. It was amazing to hear that Fei had been thinking so much about him too in all the months they had spent apart. “Whatever you left for, I never doubted you. I’m just glad we’re back together now. And that I wasn’t the only love-sick one.” 

Feitan shook his head slightly with an amused smile. “I suppose our degree of pining was likely similar. You were probably worse off though, since you are the pathetic one.” 

Phinks chuckled. It may be strange that Fei’s use of the word affected him so much, but he was alright with strange. It worked for both of them. “Yeah, I guess I am. Hey Fei, mind if I ask a personal question?” 

Feitan had a curious look as he answered. “Sure. We are mates now, you may ask as you please. Still can’t promise I’ll answer, though.”

Phinks gave a fond little grin. “That’s fair. Do you want kids?” 

Feitan produced a notable squeak and his eyes widened in surprise. “You’re thinking about kids already?”

Phinks gave a slight nod. “Yeah, just thinking. We’ve moved so fast in every other way so far, I figured I may as well bring it up.”

Feitan looked contemplative. “Maybe someday… I’ll have to think more about it. It’s not a ‘no.’ Do you?” 

Phinks couldn’t help a lopsided grin. “Cool. Take your time. As for me, I’d love to have at least three kids. I’ll ditch the idea if you’re not interested, but where I’m at now, I think it’d be a really great experience. And hey, you did say a while back that we’d make pretty kids.”

Feitan felt around at his own neck for a moment, clearly trying to locate his scarf for hiding as his face grew ever redder. When he realized he didn’t have the scarf on, he let out a little huff and buried his face into Phinks’s chest. “Thought you said you didn’t hear a thing.” He grumped out in a muffled voice. 

“Yeah, but you know I just said that so you wouldn’t be as embarrassed.” Phinks said with a grin. “Anyway, a lot has changed since then. I figured it was something that would be good to talk about, but no pressure. If you’re not interested, telling me sooner rather than later would be helpful so I can adjust my expectations.”

Feitan sighed quietly. “You’re still prying? Fine… it’s likely a yes. I just don’t know when yet.” 

Phinks stroked down Fei’s back, doing his best to mask his inner excitement at the thought. “Again, no rush. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, no problem. Let’s just do our thing and keep open minds.”

Feitan seemed calmed by the lack of pressure and gave a slow blink. “Sounds good. On an unrelated note… there’s something that’s been worrying me for a while. I need you to be honest about it. Do you… do you blame me for the chain user coming after us? Having seen his face through Paku’s memories, it’s crystal clear… he’s that kid I just couldn’t kill on the day we massacred the Kurta clan.”

Phinks shook his head resolutely. “Not a chance in hell. It’s not your fault, Fei. I’m every bit as guilty since I didn’t pressure you into letting me kill him. I… I know he’s done some horrible things that have really hurt us. But I can’t help but think that, one way or another, he survived for a damn good reason. Don’t think of your choice as condemning our friends. Think about it for all the potential this kid really has. Who knows? Maybe someday, he’ll abolish all flesh trade around the world. That would sure be something amazing. And if that’s his greater purpose, it would have happened one way or another. If the young chain user had been in anyone else’s assigned quadrant of the village, we probably would have failed to kill him just out of clumsiness. I think that’s just how fate works.

“You were the only one who wouldn’t kill him because you made the choice not to. Trust me, I know… I know it feels terrible that the one kid we let live came back to bite us in the asses like you said, and kill two of our best friends. But that doesn’t make it your fault. If anything, it’s on the boss. I’m sorry to say it, but before you fight me on that, it’s true. If he hadn’t ordered the total genocide of that clan for the sake of cornering the market on scarlet eyes, none of this would have happened. It’s not your fault just because you had the humane decency to let one scared kid live.”

Feitan let out a slow, quiet breath akin to relief, before snuggling tighter against Phinks. “Thanks… I believe you.” 

Phinks gave him a soft squeeze through the embrace. “Sure thing. Any time you want to talk, I’m here for you. And my delicious flesh is always available for you to bite if that’s what you need.” 

Feitan purred and gave a very soft nip to Phinks’s collarbone. “Delicious indeed.” He said with a grin. 

“Hey, Fei? I’ve got another question too, if you don’t mind.”

Feitan gave a slight incline of his head. “Go right ahead.” 

Phinks shifted slightly. “Would you have actually killed me if I didn’t pass that test?”

Feitan let out a quiet giggle. “No, of course not. That was just part of the foreplay.” 

Phinks gave a sheepish smile. “Thought so, thanks for clarifying. It definitely did spice things up.” 

Feitan winked with a self-satisfied grin. “Of course it did.”

Phinks couldn’t help a slight feeling of insecurity suddenly overtaking. Feitan was gorgeous, bold, cunning, protective, and kind. His presence was simultaneously the greatest adrenaline high and the purest sense of peace. Phinks wondered whether he was truly enough for such an indescribably amazing being. “Can I be honest about something?”

“You can be honest about everything. You’d better.” Feitan responded casually. 

He chuckled softly in response but looked down as he thought through his words. “You’re incredible, Fei. In every way. Part of me is worried that you’re bound to get bored of me at some point. I don’t feel like I deserve you.” 

Feitan grabbed him by the back of his head and pulled him closer until their faces were only an inch apart. He stared intensely into his eyes. “Don’t insult my taste. You’re perfect, dummy.” He pulled him into a rough kiss, which he suddenly turned soft for the second half. 

Phinks smiled through the kiss. Just like that, his fear and concern melted away. When they parted, he placed a gentle hand on Fei’s cheek. “Thanks for being patient with me. I know I’m a dumbass.” 

Feitan gave a cheeky grin. “Yes, but you’re my dumbass.”

He chuckled. “Always. I love you, Fei.” 

Feitan gave a happy little hum. “I know. I love you too. Now, let’s get cleaned up for the day. When we are ready, we will fly back to Yorknew to meet back with the others. I’m determined to get a copy of Greed Island.”

“Right, I almost forgot about the reunion. How are we gonna get the game?”

Feitan quirked a brow slightly. “Do you even need to ask? We’re thieves. When we want something, we take it.” 

He let out a little laugh. “You’re right, that much should have been obvious! We’ll figure out which of the buyers is closest, and get it from them.”

Feitan nodded, looking satisfied. “That’s the plan. Now, come on.” He pulled out of Phinks’s hold and rolled off the bed. 

Phinks followed. He couldn’t help but stare at Fei. Seeing him calmly strutting around without any clothes on was completely new to him, and it was quite a lovely show. 

Feitan led the way into the bathroom. He suddenly grabbed Phinks’s hand and yanked him into the shower. 

Phinks stumbled to recover his footing after the abrupt pull. He felt the heat rise to his cheeks as Fei had performed yet another little dominance move. It really was unfair how attractive he was. 

Feitan turned the water on, only giving a happy little hum when it was scalding hot. “Here, get my back.” He ordered Phinks as he handed him a bar of soap then turned around. 

“You got it.” Phinks started scrubbing down Fei’s back, first using the soap bar and then rubbing it in with his hands. Seeing him from behind like this, and practically massaging him, was a very tempting situation. But he knew himself. There was no way he had the balance or grace to pull off shower sex, so he didn’t propose it. He could be patient. There was always next time, whenever that was. As he diligently scrubbed down his favorite spider, Fei emitted happy little hums. That in itself was plenty rewarding. 

———-

Within a few hours, they were cleaned, fed, packed, and ready to go. They made their way to the Padokea airport and caught an airship back to Yorknew City. The trip went smoothly; they had managed to get seats on the airship that were far away from other people, which Phinks knew was important to his introverted soulmate. For a substantial portion of the journey, Fei had been insistent on holding Phinks’s hand, a caring action that Phinks would never protest. 

By the time they got back to their hideout, the others had already arrived. They could hear several voices engaged in active conversation as they made their way through the abandoned cathedral. 

Once they entered the wide, open room with shattered stained glass, they came into view of the others. Shalnark smiled and waved as he looked over. “Boy, you two sure took your time getting here.”

“Hey, we’re not late!” Phinks barked. “Pretty sure we’re right on time.”

Shalnark laughed. “Now, where have I heard that before? You sure gave Paku and the others a hard time when they were right on time. Don’t worry, I’m just teasing.” He gave a playful wink. 

Phinks looked away with a little huff. 

Feitan strode forward on his own and thumped softly against Shalnark. 

Phinks and Shal were both clearly surprised by the open affection. Phinks wondered if Feitan was doing his best to comfort Shal after the loss of Uvo. 

Shalnark smiled and wrapped Feitan up into a warm hug. “I’m happy to see you too, Fei.” 

Phinks moved over to the rest of the troupe, giving Fei and Shal their moment alone. “Hey. Has anyone heard from the boss yet?”

Nobunaga sighed. “No, nothing yet. It’s only a matter of time, but damn, every day that goes by feels like an awfully long time.” 

Phinks sat down with the others. “Yeah… I can’t wait til the boss finds the nen exorcist like his fortune said.” 

Franklin chuckled quietly. “They say patience is a virtue, but it applies to Satanists, too. We’ll have each other to keep us all sane in the meantime. We’ve agreed to stay together for the most part until the boss gets back.” 

Phinks smiled. “Sounds good. It’ll be nice spending time together again just for the hell of it, instead of just anticipating a job.” 

Machi nodded. “Agreed. It’s been way too long since we’ve all hung out just for the sake of friendship. Are we at a point where we can actually call each other friends again without shattering our image as heartless thieves and killers?” 

“My vote is yes.” Kortopi stated resolutely. “I must confess, it’s been quite difficult restricting myself to calling you spiders, rather than friends. And since we’re not on a job, I doubt the boss would mind.”

Franklin nodded. “Kortopi makes a good point. We’re not on a job right now, so there’s no need to appear any more calloused than we already are. I agree that it’s acceptable to be open with each other.” 

One by one, the rest of the spiders stated their agreement in their own ways. Phinks looked to Feitan and Shalnark as they rejoined the main group. 

Shalnark spoke last. “I think you all knew this already, but Feitan and I agree too.” 

Feitan nodded in confirmation. 

Machi cracked a slight grin. “Alright, then. We’ll be both spiders and friends. Cool.” 

Phinks perked up as he recalled something he wanted to tell the others. He looked at his lover. “Hey, Feitan? Can I tell them about the ‘us’ stuff?”

Feitan let out a soft breath of a laugh. “Go right ahead. I didn’t intend to keep it secret.” 

Phinks smiled brightly. “Great, thanks! So, me and Feitan have a bit of an announcement. We're together now. As in we’re dating.” 

Shalnark was the first to react with a delighted gasp. “That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you guys!”

“It’s about damn time.” Nubunaga mused with a little grin. 

Machi chucked. “I second that. Which of you had the balls to fess up first?”

Phinks sulked slightly at the question. “What’s it matter? What’s most important is that we’re together now.” 

Shizuku spoke next. “From that reaction, I’d guess it was Feitan who confessed first. Oh, and congratulations to you both.” 

Kortopi was bouncing from foot to foot in excitement. “What a joyous occasion! When’s the wedding?”

Phinks could feel himself growing flustered. “Hey, who said anything about a wedding? We just started dating yesterday, pump the brakes!” 

Kortopi tilted his head slightly and pointed at Phinks’s neck. “Oh? I see that you already have mate marks. A wedding is sure to follow soon, if you’re aiming to be more traditional about it.”

Phinks looked over at Feitan, who was hiding his face just a little more than usual under his scarf. Phinks noticed then that the bite mark he had given to Fei was slightly visible above the scarf. 

Nobunaga furrowed his brows. “Mate marks? What the hell does that mean?”

Machi’s eyes were locked on the bite marks. “Sure as hell looks like that’s what it is… Paku was the one who knew the most about demons, followed closely by the boss. But I’m pretty sure it’s the demon equivalent of marriage.” 

Shizuku looked perplexed. “Wait, Feitan and Phinks got married? No way, I would have remembered that!” 

Shalnark smiled over at their most forgetful member. “They didn’t get married in the traditional sense, Shizuku. It just means that in the eyes of demon law, they’re eternally bound to each other. Granted, they could still theoretically choose to separate. But I don’t see that happening with these two.” 

Nobunaga chuckled. “I can only imagine what Uvo would have said right about now. Probably a combination of a hearty ‘congratulations’ and an obnoxious ‘I told you so’ to anyone who didn’t see it coming. He and Paku would both be glad to see that you two have taken that step. We're happy for you.” 

Franklin nodded. “Takes guts to start a relationship. Hats off to you two.” 

Phinks wiggled slightly, getting a bit bashful. “Thanks, guys.”

Feitan gave a silent nod of appreciation. 

Kortopi enthusiastically chimed in again. “Oooh, if you do decide to have a wedding at some point, may I please make the cake?” 

Feitan gave a quiet chuckle and nodded. “Of course, you may. We’ll let you know when we have something planned. I want one of the cake layers to be blood-flavored.” 

Kortopi did a few more excitable bounces. “How exotic, I like it! If I may make a suggestion, blood and chocolate make for an exquisite flavor combination.” 

Shalnark raised a hand. “I’d be more than happy to help with the planning! Date, venue, scheduling, all that good stuff.”

Bonolenov spoke next. “I can cover the music. It’s very important to the atmosphere of an event, as you know.” 

Shizuku was next to contribute. “I can do flower arrangements. I probably never mentioned it before, but it’s actually a hobby of mine. Oh, and of course, I can also make sure everything is sparkling clean at the venue.” 

Franklin chuckled. “Can’t say I’m as talented as the rest of you guys, but the least I can do is help with setup.” 

“I call dressmaking!” Machi practically shouted. “You all know I’m the best tailor around. What do you think, Fei? You’d look so much cuter in a pretty white dress than a boring old suit.” 

Feitan’s eyes shone with amusement. “Sure. I trust your instincts.”

Phinks felt himself blush as Feitan gave such clear indicators that he wanted a more traditional wedding at some point. The troupe continued enthusiastically chatting about wedding plans and who would do what. 

Feitan caught Phinks’s gaze. He directed a soft, fond smile his way. 

Phinks dazedly smiled back. Feitan’s sweet look thoroughly distracted him from any embarrassment he had been feeling before. When he saw that smile, he was reminded that everything would be okay. For the first time in his life, he had just about everything he’d ever wanted. He had stability, great friends, and most importantly, he had love. He had the fiercely devoted love of the spider he had been fawning after for so many years. And they had their whole future together. 

He truly looked forward to seeing what they would do, discover, and create together. Through all the chaos, uncertainty, and confusion of the world they lived in, they had something so very precious. They had each other. Now, and forever.