Fixer Upper
Part 17
Perv!Kurapika x Fem!Reader
part 16
part 18
!!REBLOGS APPRECIATED!!
warning: Kurapika is really mean to reader in this chapter :(
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(Name) attempted to snuggle into Kurapika’s chest, only to be met with the absence of warmth where he should have been. Her eyes fluttered open to see his side of the bed empty.
“Pika?”
His satchel was gone, and after a quick around the apartment, she realized he was also gone.
She was worried, after last night he shouldn’t be out alone. (Name) attempted to call him, waiting a moment before a wave of nausea overtook her.
“The number you’ve dialed has been disconnected. Please try again after the beep.”
She stared down at her phone, hand trembling. ‘No… no there has to be some sort of explanation. He wouldn’t…’
(Name) took a deep breath, setting her phone on the counter before taking out the ingredients for breakfast.
“(Name)!”
She jumped, turning to see Leorio, Gon, and Killua walking in. “God I’m starving. Really should have taken you up on th-“
(Name) rushed forward, eyes wide. “Leorio, let me borrow your phone.”
Leorio blinked, handing over his phone without hesitation. “What’s wrong, sunshine? Phone broken?”
She didn’t answer, Killua stepping forward. He watched as she scrolled until Kurapika’s contact showed up, clicking the call button.
Ring…
Ring…
Ring…
‘Hello, this is Kurapika Kurta, the Blacklist Hunter. I am unable to get to the phone right now, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.’
(Name)’s hand trembled, Leorio having to place both of his hands on her shoulders to keep her from falling.
“(Name)! What’s the matter?”
She handed back his phone, unable to look him in the eye.
“I think… I think Kurapika blocked me.”
———————
(Name) sat at the kitchen table, picking at her food as her friends attempted to comfort her.
“I’m sure it’s some kind of mistake, (Name)! Kurapika cares about you a lot. You’re his favorite!” Gon said, patting her back.
“Yeah, he kind of adores you. I don’t think you should worry.” Leorio said in agreement. (Name) held her tummy, staring at the ground.
“I… I want to believe that, I really do…”
‘But there’s too many things adding up that say otherwise…’
Leorio scooted closer, wrapping an arm around her. “Come on, princess, don’t frown. I swear, it’s probably some kind of accident. You know Kurapika, he can be a bit ditzy sometimes.”
(Name) sighed, bringing a hand up to rub at her temple. “Yeah…”
She gave them a tired smile. “Alright boys, what’s on the agenda for today?”
After a quick debriefing on the current situation, the girl got dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. “How’s this?”
“Well.”
(Name) raised an eyebrow at the white haired boy. “Well what?”
“I mean… all I’m saying is that I wouldn’t wear that top with that color of pants…”
(Name) looked down, then sighed. “Aight, I’ll be right back.”
She changed into a knee length skirt and cardigan, throwing on a pair of leg warmers with her Mary Janes. “How about this?”
“It’s… better.”
(Name) snickered. “You know, you could be a little fashion designer, Killua. You’ve got a real good eye for it.”
He blinked. He had been teasing her beforehand, but her comment caught him off guard. “Oh.”
(Name) handed him a box of apple juice. “Here, carry Gon’s too, he always spills his.”
The three found themselves following behind her, even though they were the ones that knew where they were going.
“(Name), do you know where we’re going?”
She paused, glancing back at her friends. “Oh, um…”
She answered by moving to the back and standing behind them. “Lead the way!”
———————
(Name) sipped on her favorite milkshake, Leorio occasionally feeding her pieces of his cake. “Hmm… what are we doing again?”
Killua smiled, his eyes darting to the left. “Hunting them, of course.”
The girl hummed. “Hmm… hunting? You know I forget that as hunters we… hunt. I know it’s in the name and everything, b-“
She glanced between Gon and Leorio, the two looking increasingly nervous. “Gon? Leorio? What wrong?”
“I forget you don’t know how dangerous our targets are. Those two have A Class Bounties.”
“What does that even mean? A class bounties, that means nothing to me.”
“They’re worth a lot of money and have killed hundreds of people.”
“Oh. Well that is quite unfortunate.”
Leorio snickered next to her. “(Name)… what do you know about the Phantom Troupe?”
“… not a lot if I’m being honest, besides them being the ones that…”
She went quiet, twiddling her thumbs.
“The ones that killed Kurapika’s clan.”
The entire table went silent at Killua’s words. (Name) glanced out the window. “So which ones are our targets?”
Killua glanced to a man and woman sitting at one of the tables. The woman had pink hair in a ponytail, and the man had black hair in a ponytail.
“Siblings?” (Name) asked. Killua pinched her cheek.
“Having the same hairstyle doesn’t make people siblings, (Name).”
Leorio pinched her other cheek. “Hey, don’t stare at them, you’ll make it obvious we’re watching them.”
“Guys, I don’t think (Name) can respond with you pulling both of her cheeks.”
They blinked, letting her go. “Ahh…” she rubbed her cheeks, frowning at her friends. “That hurt, you know…”
She poked her tongue out at the two before continuing to sip on her milkshake.
“The moods completely changed.”
(Name) felt a shiver run up her spine, glancing between her friends to see the same frazzled expression on each of their faces.
“There’s so much tension, it’s scary.”
“What, did they spot us?”
“No, they haven’t spotted us yet, so just stay calm.”
(Name) tuned them out, bending down to rummage through her bag. “Hmm… I have a good remedy for this.”
She pulled out a pair of hello kitty sunglasses, shoving them over her eyes. “Now they can’t see where I’m looking!”
The three could only sigh. “I think those will only draw attention to you, sunshine.”
——————
“They’re on the move, so what are we gonna do? And remember, if we fight these guys we’re gonna lose.” Killua said, setting his cup on the table.
“Well, we’re not just going to sit here and let them walk away are we?” Leorio asked, gesturing towards the two. Killua raised an eyebrow at this, the tall man quickly putting his hands down.
“Right, we’ve come this far, we’re not going to come back now.” Gon agreed.
“Okay, you three are going to have to listen and do exactly as I say.”
(Name) listened as he explained his plan, stopping him midway through. “… and where do I come in?”
He clamped his mouth shut, not answering her question.
“Killua?”
“…”
The white haired boy sighed. “Listen, maybe it’s best if… if you didn’t come with us.”
(Name) set her bag back down, pulling her sunglasses off. “Why? I don’t understand.”
“(Name)…”
Gon placed a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t know how to do Zetsu, it’s not s-“
(Name) huffed. “Oh come on. I thought you would all stop underestimating me after the Hunter Exam. Haven’t I proven myself enough?”
“(Name), it’s not like that. You can’t-“
“I can! Just… just explain Zetsu to me.”
The two glanced at each other before beginning a short explanation.
“Oh, you mean this?”
(Name)’s face changed to a more neutral expression, staring into the wall.
Her two younger friends blinked. “She’s… she’s doing it!”
She laughed. “It’s basically like masking, but adding some nen into the mix!”
“Masking?”
“It’s pretending to not be… me.”
Leorio stared at her, eyes narrowing before going wide. “Wait… masking? Do you mean…”
“I’m autistic.”
The whole room went quiet, all three of them going silent. “Autistic?”
She nodded. “Oh, did I not tell you? I forget some people don’t just… know. Usually they can pick me out like sharks with a drop of blood in the water.”
“I mean, I thought you were a bit odd…”
“I don’t know how to respond to that.”
“Oh shit is that offensive? Sorry, sunshine. You’re just… not…”
“Normal?”
“Oh god.”
(Name) snickered, smacking his back. “Aww, I’m just teasing. I understand you don’t mean anything by it.”
He sighed in relief. “Autism or no autism, I’d still tap th-“
“Okay that’s enough speaking for now, sweetheart.”
Gon piped up shyly. “I’m also autistic.”
Killua and Leorio gasped. “WHAT?”
(Name) laughed. “I knew there was something about you!”
She ruffled his hair. “One of us! One of us!”
Killua, who didn’t know what autism was, groaned. “Ok, ok, she’s got autism or whatever. We’re going to lose them, come on you’re with me.”
He grabbed (Name)’s wrist before they left.
——————
Killua helped (Name) up onto the top of a building, calling Gon to report on their situation. The girl crouched down, putting her sunglasses back on.
They followed the two quietly, (Name) noticing Killua getting more and more anxious by the second.
They waited stood near the window in an abandoned building, occasionally peeking out to look at the two Phantom Troupe members.
They were standing in the middle of the abandoned part of town, staring out into nothing.
“What do you think, Killua?” Gon asked over the phone, (Name) leaning in so she could hear the conversation,
“They’re either waiting for someone, or they’re trying to draw us out.”
“Do you think they’ve discovered we’re following them?”
“There’s a 50/50 chance, but even if they are on to us, they still don’t know where we are. They’re trying to wait us out, acting as though nothings wrong, hoping that we’ll give away our position.”
“So now what?”
“For now let’s just sit tight, who knows, maybe they are just waiting for somebody.”
RING!
RING!
Killua gasped, his hand reaching out to grab (Name)’s wrist. “Gon, I’m going to hang up, so listen carefully. If any of us sees anything suspicious, we don’t even question it, we just get out of here. In fact, the the next time you hear your phone ring don’t answer it, just run!”
(Name) readied her dagger, back pressed against the wall as they stared at the Phantom Troupe members.
The man turned his head slightly, his eye landing on the window they had been looking out of.
Killua grabbed (Name)’s arm and attempted to make a run for it, but a man blocked the entryway.
He pushed her onto the ground and began bouncing off the walls attempting to create enough momentum to be able to attack the man.
He launched himself forward, his leg being caught. Killua held onto the floor and spun out of his grasp.
“Hey Phinks.”
Killua turned his head to see the man from before, arm wrapped around (Name)’s neck. “I certainly didn’t expect see you here. I thought you were helping Chrollo take care of that other thing.”
(Name) choked out a gasp. “Killua, run!”
Killua’s eyes went wide when he squeezed her tighter, causing her to claw at his arm in vain.
“So, kiddo, I have a couple of questions I’d like to ask you.”
(Name) passed out from the lack of oxygen, the man keeping a good hold on her. “Ah, you better answer succinctly, or this little lady will die.”
——————
(Name) woke up to the sound of something slamming against rock. She blinked her eyes awake, yawning. “Mmm… gotta pee…”
She felt someone’s hand cover her mouth. (Name) attempted to struggle, but when her eyes met the ones looking down at her, she stilled.
It was killua, and he looked terrified. Her head was lying in his lap, and her memory was slowly coming back.
“She’s awake. Need to question her too.”
(Name) blinked when she was pulled to her feet, Killua having to be held back from doing anything.
Her brain was still fuzzy from sleep, but they didn’t seem to care.
“What do you know about chain user?”
She blinked at the shorter man, eyebrows furrowing. “Wait… I know you…”
The room went quiet as she gasped, reaching to rummage through her bag. When she did this, the man in front of her grabbed her arm and wrenched it behind her back. “Don’t move, or kill you.”
“H-hey!”
She wiggled against him, the man holding a sharpened claw against her neck. “I said don’t move.”
“Listen to him, (Name)! He’s not playing around!”
She settled down, panting slightly from the pressure of the situation. “Okay, okay. I’m still.”
“Good.”
He tore her backpack from her hands, dumping the contents onto the ground. She stayed where she was, embarrassed to have her butt perched in the air and her face pressed against some rocky surface.
“Knew it, little thief.”
He held up his wallet, pocketing it before pressing down against her lower back. “Thief? I didn’t steal anything!”
“Really? Then why my wallet in your bag?”
“You dropped it, and I picked it up! I was planning on returning it to you in case I saw you again.”
The man scoffed, twisting her arm harder until she cried out in pain. “Tell the truth, girl, before I really break it.”
“I am telling the truth!”
The man glanced to the woman with short brown hair standing nearby. “Paku.”
Pakunoda nodded, walking over before grabbing (Name)’s face. (Name) squeaked as her cheeks were squished between the woman’s fingers.
“Did you steal from Feitan?”
“No!”
She hummed, tilting (Name)’s face with her hand before letting go. “She’s telling the truth. Fei, you should be more careful.”
The man grumbled, letting her go. (Name) glared at him as she rubbed her arm.
“Answer question.”
“Huh?”
She could feel the man’s frustration coming off of him in waves. “Do you know chain user?”
She whispered. “Chains, as in… bdsm? OUCH!”
(Name) was shoved back onto her tummy, arm wrenched behind her back. “Think you’re funny?”
“I mean, somet- AH!”
He twisted her arm, causing her to wiggle around again. “Stay. Still.” he hissed against her ear.
“Do you know chain user?”
“No, I don’t.”
She held her back from saying something snarky, the pain in her arm becoming almost unbearable. “If she’s lying, she’s good at it.” Paku said, leaning against the wall.
Feitan finally let her go, the girl collapsing next to Killua. He didn’t move, only sparing her a worried glance before turning his attention back to Gon.
He had been arm wresting with Nobunaga for a while now, his hand red from being slammed against the makeshift stone table.
“Again.”
(Name) stood, standing next to Killua. She wasn’t as good at hiding her emotion as the young boy was, eyebrows furrowing.
“Hey, he’s had enough. Stop i-“
When she walked forward to try and stop the man, she felt a thread wrap around her neck.
“Don’t move, or your head will be sliced clean off.”
A woman with pink hair stood behind her, hands spread out slightly to hover around her sides. (Name) stayed still, lip trembling. She tuned back into Gon and the long haired man’s conversation.
“I don’t know anything, and even if I did, I’d never tell you!”
“Kid! You too cocky!”
“Gon!”
Gon was pinned to the makeshift table by Feitan. Killua began to step forward, but was stopped by Hisoka placing a card to his neck.
(Name) was kept still by Machi, the girl growling lowly. She seethed quietly as they spoke to each other. Feitan let him go, Machi allowing to her join Gon and Killua.
She pulled them towards her, eyes scanning the room as the two spoke with each other.
“Alright, we’ll let them go since they’re not related to the chain user.”
“Yeah, no point in keeping them around.”
“Wait, we can’t be sure, someone must be pulling the strings behind the scenes. We shouldn’t release them until we figure out who they get their orders from.”
“But even if they are working for someone, it’s not the chain user. Actually, I’m sure that guy works alone anyways.”
(Name) noticed the dark haired man staring at her, quirking an eyebrow in his direction. He looked away when she made eye contact.
“Our objective is to find the chain user, so let’s not concern ourselves with anyone else.” The blonde haired man in purple said.
“Hear that? Good for you. You get to go home to mommy now.” Feitan cooed.
“No, they aren’t going anywhere. Hey kid, why don’t you join us?”
Nobunaga smiled at the boy, who clenched his fists by (Name)’s side. “No way!”
“We could be partners.”
“You gotta be kidding me, I’d rather die than be your partner!”
(Name) pulled him back a little, patting his cheek. “Gon, don’t test him.”
She felt herself being pulled back by strings again. “Speaking of people joining…”
The pink haired girl from before pulled (Name) in by the waist. She squeaked, earning a squeeze from the girl.
“I want to nominate this one.”
The entire room went quiet, Gon and Killua staring wide eyed at their older friend.
“Wow, I never thought I’d see the day where Machi was interested in someone.” Phinks said, kneeling down to get a better look at (Name)’s face. She tolerated the tall man roughly grabbing her cheeks to turn her face in several different directions before he hummed. “She is cute, is this your type?”
Machi huffed. “That’s irrelevant. I have a hunch about this girl.”
“Hunch?”
Machi nodded. “She’s not that strong now, but I have this feeling that she’ll become strong enough to be a great ally to us.”
“Your hunch usually right.” Feitan said, leaning against a wall.
“I’ll be taking her. Do what you want with the kids.”
——————
(Name) walked stiffly through town, Machi keeping a firm hand on the small of her back. The pink haired woman was getting some minor shopping done, and when she stopped by an ice cream shop, she ordered herself a waffle cone and looked to (Name).
“Go ahead. Place your order.”
‘What is this, some kind of date?’
(Name) glanced at the woman before turning to the employee and placing her order. She licked her ice cream as they continued walking.
“You didn’t give me an answer. Do you want to join us?”
“No, I don’t.”
Machi hummed, working on her own serving of ice cream. “You should rethink your answer. Working with us means you would become stronger, be able to do what you want and take what you want.”
“And at what cost?”
Machi paused, glancing to the girl next to her. “Hmm?”
“If getting what I want means I have to kill others, then it isn’t worth it to me. I’d rather live the rest of my life with nothing than kill others for financial gain.”
Machi scoffed. “I bet you’ve never been without basic necessities. You wouldn’t last a day with nothing.”
(Name) pouted, but Machi wasn’t exactly wrong. Even when she had nothing, she still had her friends to rely on. Leorio took her in, feeding and taking care of her even when she was at her lowest.
“… maybe you’re right, but as long as I have my friends, I’ll truly never have nothing.”
Machi was about to continue to persuade her, but all of a sudden a chill ran up her spine, the vision of red eyes coming and going so quickly it nearly made her head spin.
For some reason, keeping a hand on (Name) felt dangerous, as if keeping her captive would only spell her doom.
Machi pulled her hand away, causing the girl to blink. “Huh?”
Machi stepped away slowly. “Go.”
(Name) tilted her head, face scrunching up in confusion.
“Go! Before I change my mind!”
(Name) didn’t need to be told again. She dropped her half finished ice cream cone and sprinted away, the pink haired woman watching her go.
‘That girl… she’s tied to someone dangerous. Maybe she isn’t a good fit for the Troupe after all…’
——————
(Name) was met by Leorio outside her apartment, the man nearly bursting into tears. “(Name), holy shit!”
She groaned when the man pulled her into a bear hug, squeezing her so tight she felt her back crack. “Can’t… breathe!”
He released her, now pressing a kiss to her forward as he cupped her cheeks. “I was so worried, Killua and Gon told me everything.”
“Speaking of… Killua and Gon…”
She took a minute to breathe, the man supporting her so she didn’t fall over. (Name) coughed, Leorio noticing her expression and quickly snatching her bag to rummage through it.
“Here!”
He held up her inhaler, letting her take a puff before pulling it back. She took a second to breath before pulling her inhaler back to take another puff.
“Deep breaths, (Name).”
She nodded, calming down finally. “Take me to the boys.”
He carried her up the stairs to her apartment, texting the boys on the way. Sometimes (Name) forgot how strong her silly, lovable friend was. He was carrying her with one arm, using the other to open up her apartment door.
“(Name)!”
Both of the boys rushed out to greet her, jumping into Leorio’s arms. “Hey!”
He grumbled, allowing them to pull her towards them. Gon was tearing up, Killua shaking the girl. “How did you escape? What the hell happened?”
“Well… escaped isn’t the right way to put it.”
After an explanation and a lot of hugs, (Name) collapsed onto the couch. “Leorio, love, can you order takeout? I’ve got a bad case of noodle legs.”
“On it, sunshine.”
The two boys joined her on the couch, Killua poking at her cheek. She ignored this, soon passing out.
——————
(Name) woke up to the sound of the TV turning on. Killua and Gon sat in front of her couch, still in their pajamas as they munched on bowls of cereal.
She sat up and rubbed her eyes before shuffling to the kitchen. A box of takeout from her favorite restaurant sat on the counter, her name written in Leorio’s handwriting on the front.
‘I love him.’
She glanced out the window, seeing the sun rising in the sky. ‘Morning already? I really passed out.’
She ate her takeout, not caring that her two friends stared at her with raised eyebrows. She plopped down onto the couch and watched them play video games while she ate.
“Ah, Killua, we need to get dressed soon if we’ll be ready in time.”
The white haired boy nodded, stretching. “Yeah, and I still need a shower. Are you taking one first, (Name)?”
She raised an eyebrow. “A shower? I can take one later. I don’t have any plans.”
Killua and Gon glanced at each other then back to her. “… (Name)…”
“What?”
“Didn’t you… didn’t you get a text from Kurapika saying to meet him in the park?”
From her expression, they assumed that was a no.
“…”
(Name) looked down at her box of takeout, slowly closing it and standing up.
“Hey, (Name), I’m sure it’s some kind of mistake! Maybe he assumed we’d tell you, so he didn’t bother asking!” Gon said, following her as she brought her plate to the kitchen. Killua was close behind, giving his older friend a worried look.
“… maybe.”
Her answer was a lot less hopeful than her previous ones had been. The two glanced at each other again.
“Hey, why don’t you get ready and leave with Leorio later? We’ll meet up with Kurapika and test the waters. Then we’ll meet with you and Leorio at his hotel!”
Gon held her hand with both of his, giving her that kind smile that she just couldn’t say no to. “Alright, alright. That’s a good plan, Gon.”
(Name) stared at herself in the bathroom mirror after her shower, looking over her makeup. ‘… a little bit of makeup will be fine. It’s a special occasion after all, I’m seeing my friend again properly.’
Her face heated up when she thought about their night spent together with him in her arms. Did he regret it? Was that why he’d blocked her?
Her heart felt heavy, but she pushed her feelings aside. ‘He’ll need my support, so I can’t think about trivial things like that.’
(Name) looked over her reflection, smiling. She looked nice, better than she had in a while.
She wore a soft blue sundress, paired with a white cardigan that hid the nasty bruise Feitan left on her arm. (Name)’s makeup was light, complimenting her natural features.
“Sunshine you look…”
Leorio stared at the girl as she excited the bathroom, cheeks turning pink. “You look amazing.”
(Name) blushed and waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, thanks. Let’s get going.”
Leorio escorted her by the arm to the hotel, opening the door for her. She laughed, leaning her head against his arm. “Thank you, Leorio. You’re really sweet.”
“Nah, I’m not sweet for everyone. I’m just sweet on you.”
He playfully booped her nose, the girl breaking out into giggles. “Careful, you’ll smudge my makeup!”
“(Name)!?”
The two turned to see Kurapika standing near by, Gin and Killua at his side.
He looked both excited and nervous to see (Name) there, eyes scanning her form.
It was quiet for a moment, the only sound Kurapika was able to hear was his thumping heartbeat.
Before he could process what was happening, (Name) wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tightly. “I missed you, Pika.”
He didn’t respond, didn’t even hug her back, but didn’t push her away either. When she pulled away, he could only think of one thing.
‘She’s gorgeous.’
“It’s been a while since we were all together!” Gon said, smiling at the pair.
——————
(Name) gave Kurapika a peck on the cheek before she left the group to make some snacks in Leorio’s kitchen. He watched her go, eyes soft as she hummed to herself.
“She missed you a lot, Kurapika.” Gon said, giving Kurapika a shy smile.
“I… missed her too.”
(Name) walked back in, handing out cups of tea to everyone. Kurapika caught himself staring at her, looking away, but not quick enough.
“Pika? Need something?”
He shook his head, feeling his heart soar when she pulled him close again. “You sure? I’m here if you need me. I always will be.”
He allowed his hands to reach up and grasp the fabric of her soft cardigan. “…”
He didn’t say anything, just taking in her warmth as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. “It’s been a tough few days, huh?”
“Yes. Yes it has.”
The group smiled at this, internally cheering their friends on. ‘They’re finally reunited! Now Kurapika can watch over her again!’ Gon thought, beaming at the two.
“I’ll make some snacks, okay? You four just relax.”
She leaned down to press a few kisses to Kurapika’s cheek, the blonde leaning into her touch. “I’ll be quick.”
It was happening again, he was losing his will to leave. His eyes stayed glued to her form until she was out of sight, a familiar ache settling in his heart when he could no longer see her.
(Name) hummed as she chopped up some fruit, preparing a bowl of mixed fruit along with some crackers, cheese, and deli meat. ‘I bet Gon won’t even make a little cracker sandwich, he’ll just shove it all in his mouth.’
She giggled at this thought, but her small moment of joy didn’t last long. (Name) felt a shiver run up her spine, the girl running out of the kitchen.
“The corpses were fake. The ones we thought were dead weren’t! Of course, a conjurer could have pulled that off easily! Damn it, why didn’t I realize this sooner?”
(Name) flinched at his tone, inching forward. “Pika…”
She placed a hand on his shoulder, only for it to be harshly slapped away. (Name) gasped, pulling her hand back and holding it against her chest.
“The situation has changed. Now what? We’re here to help.”
“Right!”
“Yeah…”
Leorio glanced at (Name), taking note of her hurt expression. She tried not to take it personally, but she felt the atmosphere surrounding her Pika change. Instead of the warm, protective aura that made her feel safe, all she felt was a cold, violent rage.
——————
(Name) sat across from Leorio, shrugging her cardigan off.
“Yeesh, that’s a nasty bruise, (Name). If you told me before hand I would have gotten you some ice.”
She sighed, poking her lip out. “It’s not that bad, it barley even hurts.”
Leorio stood up. “How’d it go?”
“I couldn’t get a straight answer. I asked the community for any updates regarding the auction today, but no luck.”
(Name) turned her head slowly, giving Kurapika a sweet smile as he continued speaking. He didn’t return her smile.
“You have it all wrong, Leorio. I’m not counting on the mafia, far from it.”
(Name) stood up, attempting to give Kurapika a comforting touch, but he dodged her.
Unfortunately, as he did, he spotted the hand shaped bruise on her arm.
“…”
He felt his eyes turn scarlet, glad that he had his contacts in. “(Name)…”
He stepped foward, grabbing hold of her arm. “Who did this to you?”
For some reason, (Name) felt… frightened. The intensity of his tone had her unable to speak.
“She was captured by the Phantom Troupe when Gon and Killua were. She was hurt then.” Leorio answered for her, staring at Kurapika’s hand that gripped (Name)’s arm.
He felt his heart thump against his chest, bile rising in his throat. “…”
“(Name), I need you to listen to me carefully.”
He pulled her closer, staring into her eyes. “You need to leave, and never speak to me again. Do you understand? The path I walk is dangerous a-“
“No!”
He faltered, eyes widening.
“No..?”
She huffed, pulling her arm away. “I don’t care if it’s dangerous, Pika, I won’t leave you. You’re important to me, and I want to help you as much as I can!”
His heart sank. Within moments, his world can crashing down around him. ‘No… no I can’t let her…’
His hands began to shake, breath coming out in uneven pants as he imagined her attempting to fight against one of the Troupe members. The only outcome he could think of would be her death.
And he couldn’t let that happen.
‘I didn’t want it to come to this. Anything but this.’
He took one last look at the woman in front of him, steeling himself.
“Do you honestly think you could do anything that would be of use to me?”
(Name) blinked, the tall man behind her not knowing if he had heard his blonde friend correctly.
“Excuse me?”
“Oh don’t play dumb, (Name). Everyone here knows how weak you are, how much of a burden you’ve become to us. Tell me, what exactly do you bring to the table besides being the equivalent of a little house wife?”
She stepped back slightly, looking confused. “Pika… pika why are you saying these things to me?”
“Why?” he laughed bitterly, staring at her with those cold, unforgiving gray eyes. “Because I’m tired of pretending you don’t make me sick to my fucking stomach, (Name).”
Tears began beading at the corners of her eyes. “You don’t mean that!”
“I don’t? You’re even more of a moron than I thought you were. Can’t you put two and two together, (Name)?”
“Kurapika.” Leorio warned, stepping forward. The blonde shot him a look before turning his attention back to (Name).
“I’ve always had a soft spot for pitiable creatures like you, (Name). When I saw you struggling to do the simplest tasks during the Hunter exam, I couldn’t help taking pity on you. And look, you did something right for once! You sure did keep me warm during the fourth phase. Looks like you are useful for something, even if all that is, is being a warm body.”
Leorio was about to charge forward, but (Name) stopped him. “Pika, you don’t-“
“Again with the ‘Pika’. God you’re annoying. It’s been so fucking hard pretending to be okay with that stupid nickname of yours. If I hear it one more time I’m going to puke.”
He stepped forward, grabbing her chin and tilting her face up to look at him. “You know, I thought maybe after getting your license, you’d become stronger, become something other than the pathetic loser you’ve been since the first phase.”
He let her go, walking past her. “Look like I was wrong, though. I feel stupid for thinking you could have been of some kind of use to me.”
One more time, (Name) attempted to stop him. “Pika, please-“
“Don’t you ever call me that again. The next time you do…”
He trailed off, his eyes growing wide at the sight of her face. His tactic had worked, maybe a bit too well, she looked absolutely broken, her makeup running down her face along with her tears.
“But… but I love you. I don’t want to leave you.”
He turned back away, fighting the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her tears away.
“Maybe one day someone will love you back.”
Kurapika left then, Leorio chasing after him. (Name) was left to her own devices, only able to stare at the floor in shock.
Her Pika, the person that gave her a new reason to live, had just shattered her heart. As she attempted to pick up the pieces, she tripped, scraping her knee. “Ow!”
She glanced up to see Kurapika walking away. He didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge her yelp of pain in anyway.
“I’ll always be there to catch you.”
‘Liar…’
(Name) sat in the hotel lobby, placing a bandaid over her knee. She thought back to the look on Kurapika’s face.
She’d never seen him look at her like that before, with eyes so cold, so angry that she could barely recognize the man she loved behind them.
Leorio ran back in, eyes scanning the room until he saw her. “(Name)! Are you… no of course you’re not okay.”
He pulled her close, almost more worried that she wasn’t sobbing into his chest than he would have been if she did.
“I can’t believe him! That behavior is unacceptable, I won’t be friends with someone who-“
“Leorio.”
He stopped, looking down to see (Name) giving him a big smile. “I’m alright. I’m sure he’s just taking out his anger on me. People say the worst things when they’re angry, you know?”
Leorio hesitated. “I get that, but-“
She shook her head. “But nothing. You should get back to him. He needs your help, Leorio.”
“…”
He took a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll do it, but only because you asked me to, okay?”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
Leorio glanced back several times as he left, almost as if he was scared that once she was out of his eyesight, she’d disappear.
(Name) watched him go, only relaxing when she couldn’t see him anymore.
‘…’
—————
(Name) walked down the street, a pink umbrella in her hands. She hummed to herself, trying to keep her mind off of the incident that happened only an hour before.
‘He’s just having a bad day. Things like this happen. It’s normal.’
That’s what she kept telling herself, but every time she attempted to rationalize the way he spoke to her, she felt a part of her ache.
(Name) paused when she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. “Leorio?”
“(Name), quick, head towards the hotel! You have to stop Kurapika before he does something stup-“
Leorio didn’t have to finish his sentence, (Name) began sprinting towards the hotel, dropping her umbrella in the process.
‘I need to maintain Zetsu. If he’s trailing the spiders like I’m assuming he is, they’d be able to sense my presence without it!’
As she ran, she felt her head spin. She didn’t want to think of Kurapika getting himself hurt, the thought of him dying nearly bringing her to her knees.
(Name) felt a hand cover her mouth as she was dragged into an alley. She struggled for a moment before she met the eyes of her beloved.
“Mmph!”
He held a finger to his lips, glancing out before pulling his hand away. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Coming to prevent you from doing something stupid.”
The blonde cursed. ‘Leorio must of called her.’
“Well the only stupid one here is you. Leave before you cause me any more headaches.”
She shook her head, grabbing his sleeve. He attempted to swat her away, but she grabbed his other hand. “I’m not leaving you, not until you’ve calmed down!”
He growled, glancing back out to see the spiders were on the move. Almost instinctually, he pulled her closer to him, pushing her behind his back to shield her from anything. ‘She can use Zetsu, that’s good… I can’t let her out of my sight, she’d be a liability to me and herself.’
He sighed before scooping her up into his arms, almost sighing in contentment at the feeling of her weight against him. It felt nice to hold her again, but he couldn’t indulge in that feeling for long. “Don’t speak, don’t even whisper after this. I won’t hesitate to drop you.”
It was a bluff, and he was hoping she wouldn’t notice.
She couldn’t help but nuzzle into his chest, sighing softly. (Name) could remember a time when he’d hold her whenever she wanted, always kind and gentle.
But the harsh grip her had on her was far from gentle, almost causing her pain. She tried to ignore it, but would whimper every time he squeezed her thighs as he peered out to watch the Phantom Troupe.
They chased after the group, (Name) spotting Gon running next to them. She was going to wave, but Kurapika suddenly dove into the alleyway when the Phantom Troupe turned to look at them.
He pressed himself against her, shielding her body from sight. His hand was over her mouth, eyes glued to the entryway of the alley.
She watched as chains manifested on his hands, quickly grabbing his hands and pushing them down. They were cold, much colder than the last time she held them.
Gon leaped out of his hiding spot, (Name) barely holding herself back from following behind him. Out of nowhere, Killua appeared next to them. He took one look at (Name) before walking out to join Gon’s side.
Kurapika kept a good grip on her, pulling her so close she struggled to breath. She felt his warm breath against her neck, his lips brushing against her shoulder as he attempted to calm himself.
——————
A short, balding woman met up with the two. Kurapika set (Name) down on her feet, gritting his teeth.
“Now that they’re on high alert, we have to keep our distance, otherwise they’re bound to notice us. Make sure you conceal your presence.”
“Damn it!” Kurapika growled.
“We just have to be patient!”
“I’m aware of that!”
“I don’t think you are! Your reckless pursuit exposed them to needless danger. Do you even know why they allowed themselves to be captured? If you get captured here, then no one will be able to stop the troupe.”
He glanced at (Name), eyes narrowing. “If I didn’t have to protect you, then maybe I could have gone after them.”
She frowned, once again reaching out for him. “Don’t touch me. You make me sick.”
Melody seemed confused by this statement. ‘But… his heart…’
“P-… Kurapika, I’m not trying to be a burden, I just want t-“
He cut her off with a scoff. “You’re not trying hard enough, it seems.”
Melody glanced between the two. The girls heart thumped against her chest, a confused and heartbroken song. It combined into a duet with Kurapika’s, that played a song of anger, determination, and overwhelming love.
(Name) stayed quiet as the two spoke, letting the rain soak into her clothes. She stared at the ground, eyes blurry with tears. She was almost grateful for the rain, it hid her tears well.
Though, Melody could tell just from her heartbeat alone that she felt great sadness. She couldn’t help but reach a hand out to comfort the girl. Kurapika noticed this, his fingernails digging into his palm.
Leorio finally caught up with them, parking beside them and getting out.
“We have to come up with a plan to get them back.” Kurapika said. (Name) began to speak up, but the blonde stopped her. “You need to go. You’ll only slow us down.”
She frowned at him. “I want to save Killua and Gon! I’m coming with you!”
He grabbed her wrist, squeezing it. “No… no (Name), you cant. I won’t let you.”
The girl pulled, Kurapika only increasing the pressure on her wrist when she did. She gasped, Melody covering her ears at the sharp CRACK!
Kurapika’s eyes went wide, immediately loosening his grip on her wrist. The girl wrenched her wrist away from the rage filled blonde, wincing at the pain blooming beneath her skin.
“I can, and I will. Why won’t you let me help you? You had no isssue with Gon and Killua-“
“That’s because they aren’t fucking weak like you!”
She flinched, using her arm to shield herself out of fear of him hurting her. Leorio was quick to rush forward and create a barrier between the two, shielding (Name) from Kurapika’s anger.
The blonde felt his stomach sink. ‘They… they think I’m going to hurt her.’
“Oh my god… your wrist, (Name)… it’s fractured.”
Melody covered her ears, whimpering at the mournful sound Kurapika’s heart was making. (Name) eyes prickled with tears. “H-hurts!”
“I know, I know sunshine. Just breathe. Shit, we need to get her to a hospital.”
“We don’t have time for that right now.” Kurapika steeled himself, casting his feelings aside.
“What the fuck do you mean? I-“
“He’s right. We have to save Gon and Killua first.”
(Name) held her arm to her chest, crying out in pain at the slightest of movements. Kurapika visibly flinched at this, having to use all of his willpower to remain calm and collected.
“If you can’t keep quiet, then we’ll leave you behind.” Kurapika said, smoothing out his disguise.
“You heartless bastard. How could you say that to her after everything she’s done for you?” Leorio said, eyes brimming with angry tears.
“Leorio, it’s okay. Just concentrate on the plan, I’ll be fine.”
They got into the car, speeding towards the hotel. Kurapika tried his best not to steal glances at the girl sitting next to him.
His instinct was telling him to do anything he could to help her, to ease her pain, but he couldn’t do that. Kurapika didn’t want to waste his nen when he knew he’d be needing it later.
It was hard to ignore her sniffling, even when she tried her best to hide it. “Can you shut up already?!” Kurapika snapped. His nerves were shot, the sound of his dearest friend in pain only worsening is state.
Her lip trembled as she attempted to keep quiet. Kurapika stared out the window so he wouldn’t see her hurt expression.
———————
(Name) sat in the backseat of their car as Kurapika and Leorio left for the hotel. Melody fidgeted with her coat, glancing back at the sullen girl while she thought of what to say.
“… dreadful weather, huh?”
The girl gave a small nod, wincing at the pain in her wrist. Melody’s heart ached for the poor girl. She was obviously in love with Kurapika, but the blonde had been unnecessarily cruel the entire night, and by the way the other two reacted, Melody assumed it was unusual for him to act in such a way.
And when it was quiet, all Melody could hear from the angry man was a melody of unbridled rage, with a undertone of a fierce and protective love. Kurapika definitely cared for this girl, so his actions confused the older woman greatly.
“My name is Melody. What is yours?”
The girl looked up, swiping at her tears with her uninjured hand. “I’m (Name).”
Melody smiled. “That’s a pretty name, perfectly fitting for a gorgeous woman such as yourself.”
This drew a giggle from the girl. “Ah, that’s better. Even your laugh is pretty. I know it’s hard, but try to dry up those tears, okay?”
(Name) nodded, sniffling a bit before wiping the rest of her tears away.
They would be back by 7:01, meaning they had around five minutes until Kurapika and Leorio would return with the leader of the Phantom Troupe in tow.
She busied herself with grabbing some painkillers from Leorio’s briefcase, glad she packed a juice pouch in her bag.
By the time she finished taking her medicine, the door on the other side of her opened, a man being shoved in the other side.
He was tall, with black hair and a handsome face. He glanced her way, seemingly taking every feature of hers in before looking back to his captor.
Kurapika was deadly silent, slamming the car door as Leorio sped off. (Name) glanced between the man next to her, to Kurapika, and to Leorio.
“… did it go well?” she asked, leaning forward a bit to look at Kurapika.
He didn’t answer her, didn’t even look at her. (Name) slumped back into her seat, a pout on her lips. The man watched her intently, eyes moving from her face, to her body, then to the bruised wrist she kept close to her chest.
“It’s okay. A number of the enemies were injured. They won’t move until reinforcements arrive.”
Kurapika’s eyebrow twitched when he noticed the man staring at (Name).
“What are you looking at?”
Chrollo turned to face forward. “Nothing. I didn’t expect the chain user to be a woman.”
“Did I say I was? You shouldn’t let appearances fool you.”
He pulled his wig off, sighing. “Anyway, you should mind what you say. Since it may be the last thing out of your mouth.”
“You won’t kill me. You left your precious friends behind.” He said softly, sending a charged look (Name)’s way. The girl shrunk under his gaze, Kurapika’s blood pressure rising.
“I’m not so composed that I will ignore your taunts!”
“Kurapika! That’s enough.” Leorio said, more for (Name)’s sake than anything. She looked rather uncomfortable, forced to sit next to the leader of the Phantom Troupe, who kept leering at her.
“The girl’s fortune didn’t mention this. Therefore, this event isn’t significant enough to matter.”
“YOU BASTARD!”
“Kurapika!”
(Name) leaned over Chrollo, putting a hand on the blondes arm to try and calm him.
“If you kill him, I’ll kick your ass!” Leorio yelled from the drivers seat.
Kurapika seethed, slowly leaning back into his seat, seemingly placated by (Name)’s touch.
Chrollo took note of this. “Do you need further explanation? I consider this situation the same as an afternoon coffee break. A peaceful outing.”
(Name) gasped when chrollo slammed into her. Kurapika had decked him right in the face, the girl crying out at his weight pressing into her hurt wrist.
“Calm down, Kurapika! We’re on equal footing, now. Nothing has changed.”
“Equal footing? You are sorely mistaken. First of all, you’ve made the wrong assumption. I have no value as a hostage.”
Chrollo leaned off of (Name), giving her a small smile that she couldn’t judge the sincerity of.
“If you insist on babbling-“
“He’s not lying. Everything he says is true.” Melody said, interrupting the blonde.
“There you go. This is reality. You people are the ones on the ropes.”
(Name) couldn’t hear or process anything, the throbbing pain of her wrist making her ears ring. She could see them speaking, see Chrollo say something that made Kurapika’s eyes go red with rage. (Name) felt Chrollo crash into her, this time with more force.
The side of her face made contact with the window, blood spurting out of her nose as she heard Leorio scream for Kurapika to stop.
And that’s when she blacked out.
——————
“Kurapika, what the fuck is wrong with you? Did you think of anyone else but yourself when you fucking launched Chrollo into (Name)? For Christ’s sake she’s bleeding! She could have a concussion!”
“I know! I know…”
Leorio placed (Name) on her back, using his suit jacket as a pillow. Kurapika was knelt at her side, wiping the blood from her nose and trying to calm his racing heart. ‘(Name)… I’m so sorry.’
As Leorio left to grab his brief case, Kurapika knelt down to press a kiss to her lips. For a moment, all he felt was pure bliss, unable to stop himself from indulging in her warmth.
He pulled back, ashamed of himself. Kurapika couldn’t understand why he kissed her, why he wanted to do it again and again. His cheeks turned red, the pretty shade of scarlet that only (Name) ever got to see returning to his eyes as he gazed down at her.
“It’s not gentlemanly to kiss a woman when she’s unconscious.” Chrollo said, leaning back in his seat.
“Shut up, I don’t want to be lectured by a murderer.”
Kurapika glared at him before returning his gaze to the woman below him. He licked his lips, wincing at the metallic taste of blood on his tongue.
‘You deserve so much more than this, (Name). A happy life, where the man you love would never even think of hurting you, accidentally or not.’
He brushed the hair out of her face, moving to cup her cheek. ‘I’ll have to hurt you, over and over again. It’s for the best, I promise. Just forget about me, and find someone who will treat you like the angel you are.’
Leorio arrived, using his sparse medical tools in his briefcase to check over the girl. “God, sunshine, all beat up…”
He sent a glare in Kurapika’s direction, the blonde shrinking under his gaze. “… will she be okay?”
Leorio sighed. “I think so, but her wrist may be completely broken now. Before, it seemed like a fracture, but…”
Kurapika glanced down at her wrist, his eyes going wide at the sight. It was bent at an unnatural angle, his stomach heaving at the sight of her bone jutting against her skin.
“Oh god…”
Leorio did the best he could, wiping the sweat from her forehead. “After this, she’ll need to go to a hospital. You may have just fractured her wrist, but Chrollo landing on her did a lot of damage.”
“Fuck. FUCK!”
He hit the wall of the airship, Leorio sighing in exasperation at his friends temper.
If Kurapika had kept his rage under control, none of this would have happened. He was dangerous, the woman laying in front of him visual proof.
“Leorio… please listen to what I have to say.”
The man raised an eyebrow, looking up at him. “Go on.”
——————
(Name) blinked her eyes awake, groaning at the harsh light against her eyes.
“(Name)!”
“Oof!”
(Name) grunted when something collided with her, gasping out in pain when she was squeezed tightly. “Ow!”
“Gon!”
SMACK!
She groaned, opening her eyes again to see Killua, Gon, and Leorio surrounding her bed. Despite her pain, (Name) felt tears of joy well up in her eyes. “Gon! Killua!”
She attempted to pull them closer to her, put her left arm felt… heavy.
“Easy! You broke your arm, (Name).” Leorio said. “Gon, you can hug her, but you have to remember to be gentle.”
“Yes, Leorio!”
The two hugged her, Leorio joining in soon after. They all laughed, (Name) pressing kisses into their cheeks and foreheads. “I’m so glad you’re all safe. Where’s Kurapika?”
Leorio stiffened, his eyes looking everywhere but her. “He’s… recovering at a hotel near here.”
“Recovering? Oh god, he wasn’t hurt, was he?”
“No, he’s okay, his nen just took a lot out of him.”
(Name) straightened up, attempting to leave her hospital bed. “Okay, let’s go to him then.”
“Woah, slow down sunshine!”
He pushed her back down, eyes wide. (Name) struggled against him, a frown on her face. “I want to see him!”
Leorio glanced at the other two, thinking back to Kurapika’s words.
“Leorio… please listen to what I have to say.”
The man raised an eyebrow, looking up at him. “Go on.”
Kurapika sighed, staring down at the girl. “You may think I’m cruel, but I’m acting this way for her benefit. You’ve seen what happened today, what my anger can do, how dangerous being connected to me can be.”
Leorio nodded. He’d thought about the same thing. (Name) wasn’t like them. She didn’t have overwhelming strength like him, or unique powers like Gon or Killua. Leorio didn’t want her to be in a situation like this again.
“I… I’m going to cut contact with her after this. It’s the only way I can see her continuing to live her life safely.”
Leorio held onto (Name)’s uninjured hand, frowning. “It’s going to hurt her. She really loves you, and not just in a friendly way. She’s in-”
“Please, don’t say anything else.”
He glanced up to see Kurapika holding onto his shirt, tears beading in his eyes. “I… I think she’s a dear friend, and to keep her safe, I can’t be near her.”
‘No matter how much I want to be…’
Leorio sighed, rubbing his forehead. “I understand. I don’t like your methods, but…”
He cupped (Name)’s cheek, staring down at her with soft eyes. “I don’t want her to suffer like this ever again.”
Kurapika tried to ignore the unpleasant feeling blossoming in his chest at the sight of Leorio’s eyes. Those weren’t the eyes of a worried friend, they were the eyes of a worried man in love.
“… I’m still angry at you, Kurapika. You hurt her, and there will never be an excuse for that.”
The blonde lowered his head. “…”
“… but if I didn’t help you, she would cry. You’re the most precious person to her, after all.”
He almost sounded bitter, thumb rubbing against her cheek lovingly. Kurapika stood up.
“It’s time. Pakunoda should be here shortly.”
(Name) looked at Leorio expectantly, holding onto his sleeve with her free hand. “Please, Leorio.”
Leorio’s lip trembled. “Sunshine…”
“He doesn’t want to see you, (Name).” Killua spoke up, surprising (Name) and Gon.
“Huh? Why not?” Gon asked, glancing between the three.
Killua’s eyes narrowed when (Name) placed a hand over her cast at Kurapika name.
“He… he’s just not feeling well, (Name). He’s been asleep since-“
“Please.”
(Name) looked up at Leorio, tears streaming down her face. “P-please take me to my Pika! Please!”
And god, with her begging him like that, pawing at his shirt with her uninjured hand, Leorio couldn’t say no to her.
—————
(Name) sat down next to Kurapika’s bed, humming softly as her fingers ran through his hair. Even in his sleep, her touch seemed to calm him.
“How long has he been out for?”
“Around twelve hours.”
(Name) nodded, a single tear falling to land on his cheek. “Pika… I hate seeing you like this. I wish I could see you smile at me again.”
Leorio felt his heart break in two for the girl, Gon by her side. “It’s going to be okay, (Name)! I’m sure he’ll wake up soon!”
Killua blinked, pulling back Gon to whisper to him. “Gon, use Gyo.”
The boy did as he was told, gasping. “(Name) is…”
She was using nen, a faint aura surrounding her and Kurapika. They could feel Kurapika’s aura grow stronger slowly, a far cry from the weak one they’d sensed just moments before.
“Her nen ability… is she an enhancer?” Gon asked. It was obvious that she was healing him, the nen surrounding the blonde having a gentle and sweet feeling to it.
“Maybe… it seems she’s unaware that she’s using nen right now…” Killua felt his frown deepen.
‘I don’t understand why she’s still helping him, why she still loves him after everything he’s put her through…’
Leorio had trusted Killua enough to tell him some details, but Killua being the smart boy he was, pieced together the rest.
“Kurapika… he’s being harsh towards her to push her away, it seems.”
Killua scoffed. “While I think being near him is dangerous, hurting her is unforgivable.”
“I agree… but…”
Killua’s body stiffened when he finally put the final piece in place.
‘Kurapika is the one that broke her arm.’
(Name) stayed by Kurapika’s side for nearly two days, only leaving to use the bathroom. She slept with him in bed, Leorio sighing as he covered her and the blonde up after checking on them in the middle of the night.
—————
When Kurapika awoke, (Name) couldn’t help but cry out in joy. “Kurapika, you’re-“
“What the fuck are you doing here!?”
(Name) flinched at his harsh tone, eyes gone wide. “I wanted to make sure you were okay, I-“
“Leorio, I told you I didn’t want to see her! Why the fuck is she here!?”
“Kurapika, calm down, it’s-“
(Name) wrapped her arms around him. “Kurapika, please! I don’t understand, why do you keep saying these things? Y… you’ve never treated me like this before! What did I do to make you hate me so much?”
She cried into his shirt, blubbering out apologies. Kurapika didn’t have to pretend to act sick this time, he felt like he was going to throw up. ‘She’s… she’s apologizing to me…’
“Don’t touch me.”
He pushed her away, having to hide his eyes with his hair. “You disgust me. Being near you makes me sick to my stomach. Can’t you just leave me be? You’re like some kind of stalker.”
(Name) shook her head, holding onto his hand. “You don’t mean that, Kurapika. We’re friends, and I know-“
“(Name).”
She blinked, his cold, brown eyes staring into hers.
“My mission will always come before you. Always. If, for some reason, your death could benefit me in some way, I’d let you die without hesitation.”
(Name) stared at him for a second, in shock.
“Kurapika, you’ve said too much!”
Leorio slapped him, pulling (Name) away. The blonde took the hit, not even lifting a hand to cradle his now red cheek.
He stared at his hands, tears dropping onto his clenched fists. ‘Hopefully… hopefully that was enough.’
(Name) was completely quiet, allowing Leorio to lead her outside. “What a fucking dick. (Name), are you…”
His breath hitched in his throat at her expression. It was painfully familiar, the same look she had when sitting on the edge of the platform during the third phase.
“He…”
She stared at the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“He really meant that.”
Leorio pulled her into his arms, holding onto her tightly. He wanted her to sob, to be angry, she deserved that, but the only indication of (Name) still being alive was the tears that stained his suit and her beating heart.
“… I want to go home.”
——————
BACK IN THE PRESENT TIME
Kurapika glanced down at (Name) smiling softly as she leaned against his shoulder in her sleep. The smile slipped from his features when he remembered the image of her face falling when he yelled at her.
‘(Name)…’
He pulled his suit jacket over her form, looking out the window as the train continued on its journey to York New.
‘The last time we were in York New, I broke your heart.’ he thought, hand caressing her cheek. His gaze moved from the window and back to her, eyes softening when she nuzzled against him.
“Pika…”
His breath hitched. (Name) hasn’t used that name for him once since he’d returned to her life. He knew that was his own fault, but it didn’t change the fact that he missed it.
“Right here, angel.”
He pulled her a little closer, allowing himself to enjoy her comforting presence. She was still asleep, mumbling random things as she cuddled into him. ‘Is she… dreaming of me?’
His cheeks turned a light pink.
Kurapika was almost grateful for the long train ride. He’d get to spend that much more time with her, that much more time holding her, being in her presence.
And that’s all he could wish for.
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