middaeg | [ OPEN ] lethargy got a hold on me

[ If you asked Killua bluntly, he'd say the infirmary was worse than getting tortured. They made him stay for almost two whole weeks on bedrest, barely allowed to get up and walk around the tiny room where he'd been kept in isolation, healers hovering over him day in and day out with their spells and potions and tests. It's lucky they at least allowed Gon to stay and calm Killua in those first few hours, but if he'd been asked to leave after that, he must have thrown quite a fit. Killua doesn't know for sure; he only knows that he doesn't remember any span of time during which Gon wasn't beside him. The single room had turned into a double, even though one patient was significantly less infected than the other.

For how long they'd kept him there, Killua's sure the healers are well and truly happy to be rid of him. Killua has been insufferable the last few days.

Even when they finally return back to their cottage, he finds it doesn't much lift his mood. Killua's hands and forearms are still swathed in bandages, reminiscent slightly of the time he'd injured his hands badly in Greed Island, but this time it's mostly to hide the lingering black bruising and signs of the infection. If he follows the strict instructions to return for regular sessions of cleansing and healing, he was told, then that too should eventually fade, but sometimes the Cwyld leaves its marks on those who suffer a significant enough infection.

He's supposed to be careful using his magic too, and yet also be careful to use it enough that his body doesn't get overwhelmed. His Bonded is instructed to stay with him, to help him cycle the magic safely and lend strength to their Bond.

It's all so... annoying. Even Gon. Killua's tired of being treated like something fragile and broken. He's not used to it, and he hates it. For someone who likes lounging about and having fun on his own whims, he's always hated actual rest. Maybe it's because he simply doesn't know how to achieve it. ]

Uuugh! [ Killua groans loudly as soon as the door is shut behind them. ]

Fucking finally! I was so sick of those crotchety old hags telling me what to do!

[Gon had sensed easily, and also understood, Killua's irritation and exasperation. he'd been beside Killua the entire time, even times Killua wasn't awake—watchful and anxious, of course, to the point of being fussy and fretting. Gon could tell it wore on Killua eventually, and managed to forcibly reign himself a little. he understood the feeling, of course. he didn't want Killua to feel weak, or that he'd committed some big failing. because neither of those things were true—Gon's behavior around Killua's would be his truest affirmation of that, like many of the other things they simply... did...rather than talked about.

that was a little hard, certainly—but so more too was keeping his hands off of Killua. he'd gotten spoiled, so used to curling up with him and...whatever, whenever he wanted. whenever they had down time. it had become routine and so natural, woven into their lexicon and modes of unspoken language, adding to its complexity and depth. but Gon had to be patient, so he was—even if he felt frustrated.

as they headed home, Gon was reviewing all of the stipulations of Killua's recovery in his head where he could, too distracted by the thrill of the two of them being out of the hospital—though Gon was discharged almost two weeks earlier than Killua. he couldn't just leave him behind. so on their walk home, the entire time, Gon's tail was swaying in great (but positive) agitation, though he tried to keep his energy subdued as they walked, keeping his demeanor light and cheery.

once they're finally home, and Killua erupts, Gon blinks. his shoulders lift a little as he laughs, finding it funny Killua held that in all the way home. did he think the Witches had been spying on him on the way home?]

Yeah! Well, now you can relax.

[being bedridden was not the same as relaxing. Gon knew this well. Gon carefully removes his hoof-boots, then hangs up his bag. he can't help the way his eyes snag on Killua, a fluttering in his chest, grateful to be back home with him.]

I can make us some tea? I'm pretty sure our juice has probably gone bad by now.

[which was more Gon's than Killua's, anyway.]

The last thing I want is to lounge around right now and drink tea.

[ Killua snaps back, shooting Gon an offended look. ]

I want to go somewhere. Do something.

Let's go get ice cream.

Oh.

[Gon's such a homebody sometimes, despite also being so wild and adventurous. he feels a little bad for not considering that.]

Right... They didn't really have treats at the hospital.

[Gon laughs a little nervously, and grabs his bag again. he looks content to leave his boots off, though; he wants the keratin to breathe a bit.]

Okay! Let's go!

[Gon blinks, holding the straps of his bag as they rest across his shoulders.]

Ah, unless you wanted to change or something real quick?

Yeah... that's not a bad idea. Gimme a minute.

[ Killua feels so out of place in their own home suddenly. It feels strange, almost new. He knows where everything is, but he has to stop to think about it anyway, still taking it all in with the strange, lingering sense like it might just be another hallucination.

But he doesn't want Gon to catch on.

Killua ducks into the bedroom, digging through the closet and drawers to find more colorful clothing. Gon had brought him some fresh things while he was stuck at the infirmary, but it's still nice to put something on that doesn't have the smell of herbs and antiseptic.

After a few minutes, he emerges in a different outfit with a bit more color to it, even if the colors don't all match.

It's still fairly early in the day, and warming up outside. It'll be nice to be in the sun. ]

Ready! I wanna go to the shopping district. I saw an ice cream parlor over there once but it was closed then because of the snow... But the snow's gone now! I bet they're open now.

[Gon fidgets, busily fussing with the positioning of his straps as Killua goes to change, keeping his mind sharp on not thinking about that.

when Killua returns, Gon beams, straightening his legs a little bit, similar to a human rolling onto their toes. it's nice to see Killua in something different, after all that.]

—Oh! What kind of flavors do they have?? That kind of stuff is pretty simple here, right?

[not that Gon even likes sweets all that much, but even he has his moods... he wonders if there's pistachio... vanilla is fine, but less easy to eat...

Gon opens the door, peering over his shoulder for Killua to follow him.]

I dunno. I told you it was closed. I sure hope it's open now. Maybe I can figure out how to freeze hot chocolate if not.

[ Would that even work?? A chocolate icicle? That's like a popsicle right? ]

I think they'd have chocolate, at the very least... But we can't find out until we get there! Come on-- go, go.

[ It's unusual for Killua to be the one acting antsy, but he's clearly still not feeling himself and desperate to do something to remedy it. He still feels all sorts of weird and wrong about the things he'd done when not in control, and the hallucinations he'd seen that made him do it. It's obvious he still has some unresolved issues about his family, especially Illumi, controlling him... but he actually hasn't shared any of those details with Gon, either. And at least for now, he doesn't plan to.

So. Distraction ice cream it is! ]

Um, I don't think you can do that...

[Gon doesn't even question Killua's anxiousness to get going, so he doesn't bat an eye at it, either—though, of course, a part of him is a little concerned... and he knows that isn't unwarranted, per se, but also that fussing isn't going to help anything in either direction.]

Yeah!

[so Gon just smiles, grabbing Killua's hand as he swings open the door, yanking him along behind him as he bounds forward. is it reasonable to be going so fast for such a trivial errand? no, but]

[ Gon grabs his hand so casually, it leaves Killua's face suddenly hot in his surprise. He almost stumbles, only instinct keeping him following easily, even though it feels like his heart misses a step.

Instead of trying to pull away shyly this time, Killua squeezes his bandaged fingers around Gon's and holds on, letting himself be led. ]

What're you running ahead for? Do you even know where it is?

[to Killua's first question, Gon just laughs. he turns and slows down to a jog, then walk, beaming at Killua.]

Nope! But I bet it's not close, so a little run is okay!

Where is it?

[ Gon's stupid smile is no better for his heart rate than the warmth of his hand. Killua huffs slightly, looking away. ]

It's in the shopping district.

[Gon laughs.]

Okay! I know where that is.

[and Gon begins running again, dragging Killua along with him. he'll relent if Killua complains enough, or once they get to the district, and Killua will need to take the reigns from there to direct Gon.

even on his way, Gon's already excited by some of their earlier memories at the entertainment district—but with new appreciation, because Killua's okay, and so is he. it feels different. even without the recent close-calls.]

[ Oddly enough, Killua doesn't complain even once. At least not while they're en route. He even lets Gon hold his hand and drag him along, indulging him whenever Gon gets distracted by something in a shop window or if they both want to wander down a certain street that seems more interesting than the shorter path there might have been. They chat about nothing as they walk, placing meaningless bets on what kinds of ice cream flavors might be available, until they finally get close and Killua takes the lead. ]

Right after the next block. It's just around the corner from that hat shop. What are those called? Millers...? No, that's something else. [ ... ] Milliner!

[Gon doesn't even notice how many times he's distracted along their detour, as is his won't; time tends to be a funny thing in general, when he's with Killua—nebulous and almost unquantifiable, even besides his curious nature snagging on this and that as his general proclivity as a person.]

Milliner...?

[hats??? Gon follows Killua, eyes rolling up thoughtfully, frowning thoughtfully. it sounds more like some kind of food, or a kitchen thing, like... mortar and pestle or something? Gon's eyes suddenly light up, and he laughs, smacking his fist against his palm.]

Oh! Those funny fancy ones?

[Gon doesn't know a lot about fashion, but he definitely is pretty perplexed and amused by Aefenglom's, though not per se offended by it.]

Maybe we can get you a silly hat after we get our icecream, [he jokes.]

You think I'd look good in it?

[ Killua goes along with the joke, trotting along beside Gon without ever taking his eyes off him for more than a few moments. ]

Ooh, maybe one with some biiig feathers. A tiny hat with giant fancy feathers, I heard those are 'in' lately.

Maybe!! Like the long fluffy ones. [Gon laughs at the imagery,then grins, his response, as usual, maybe a touch too sincere.]

Killua, you'd look good in anything. Even stupid stuff.

[which, you know, Gon doesn't understand anything about fashion—as far as he's concerned, he's already seen Killua in some unjustifiably stupid stuff, so it's not....really all that different. but Gon at least gets that hats are, objectively speaking, goofier than most accessories on principle.]

You'd look cute in a more simple style witch's hat, too...

[ He'd look... cute? Dammit, Gon. Killua scratches the back of his neck, ducking his face away to hide the heat creeping up his cheeks.

For all he'd been making fun of Jaskier's hat, if Gon really thinks he'd look cute in one......

He clears his throat, a scoffing noise accompanied by a nonchalant shrug, as if Gon's adorable answer didn't just give him the most fluttery butterflies in his stomach. ]

Don't be stupid, Gon. Like a black pointy one? What, and you want me to get a cat too? Pssh.

Yeah! Black pointy one.

[Gon laughs and leans into Killua's space, grinning cheekily. he was hoping for this reaction, though it's not always as predictable as it used to be. Gon takes and squeezes both of Killua's hands while he's willfully distracted, glanced off and fidgety like that. let your guard down, and suffer the consequences!

Gon's tail lifts and curls a little bit, his ears flipping straight up.]

I think any animal can be a familiar, [Gon jokes, and shamelessly, he takes a step or two forward, tilting his head to give Killua a chaste, gentle kiss on his lips, still smiling. then he gives him another, even slower.]

[ Killua tolerates having his hands grabbed, even if he grunts moodily about it. He scoffs again, rolling his eyes, and turns to tell Gon that he's a cow familiar and maybe also that black point hats are dumb--

Except he doesn't get more than a syllable out before Gon shocks him by leaning well into his personal space and closing the distance between them. Killua stops walking so fast, one can practically hear the cartoonish screeching to a stop inside his mind at the same time. ]

G-Gon!

[ he yelps, hands gripping hard and suddenly yanking Gon off to the side to press them both against the wall of a nearby building. ]

W-we're in the middle of the street! [ At least, they were. This time, he hisses this out much quieter, though no less intensely. His heart is hammering and his ears feel like they're going to burn off. He can still feel the warmth of Gon's lips, resisting the urge to run his own tongue over the lingering feeling. ]

[Gon makes a startled little sound with the force of Killua's grip on his poor hands when he's dragged off to the side and slung against the wall, like they were trying to avoid being spotted by a bloodthirsty threat.]

Mm?

[Gon blinks, genuinely confused. he tilts his head, then smiles again. Gon still holds Killua's hands, brushing his thumb across his knuckles with a playful little laugh in the back of his throat.]

It was just a little kiss, Killua. No one cares about that.

[ Killua gapes at him, scandalized. No one cares?? He cares! He's still so unused to kisses, and Gon's not allowed to just kiss him out of nowhere in public like this! It's bad for his heart!! ]

It's still embarrassing, you idiot! What if someone saw us?

[ Someone like... who, exactly?? he has no idea. ]

I- I mean... [ oh my god what does he mean???? he's sweating. ]

At least warn me first or something. Jeez...

Why's it embarrassing?

[Gon tilts his head, nothing but terribly earnest, as usual. he knows Killua's easily embarrassed in general, but Gon still feels the impulse to ask about it—Killua was okay with holding hands in public, even if it was a little easier for him in thinner crowds.]

Because it just is!

[ Killua has no idea how to answer that. Affection is embarrassing. In public, it's even more embarrassing. Places have rules about PDA and everything! ]

I don't know! Stupid!!

[ now who's causing a scene. ]

[Gon leans forward again, cupping Killua roughly by either of his cheeks, grinning ear to ear as he laughs.]

Maybe I just need to do it enough that you get used to it!!

[and Gon gives Killua a clumsy, joking kiss—then another, and another, terrorizing the lethal tsundere.]

Shit! Gon!

[ Killua could break free. They both know he can. But instead, he flails uselessly and shoves without any real strength at Gon's chest, tipping his chin this way and that to 'avoid' the kisses. At least, for a few attempts, before he decides to retaliate, reaching up to grab Gon by his long fuzzy ears before Gon can give him a heart attack from being overwhelmed by too much affection. ]

Cut it out, you dumb cow!

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freecshow - 2021-03-28 22:20 (UTC) - Expand

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killuwatt - 2021-03-28 22:59 (UTC) - Expand

[ OPEN ] lethargy got a hold on me

closed to gon, late feb.

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