Chapter Text
It'd been three days since Killua arrived and Bisky was quick to find that he was a very early riser.
She usually was up by 7, but he was almost always sitting quietly on the couch with string wrapped around his fingers when she went downstairs for coffee.
He came on Saturday, and now it was Wednesday, Gon was discharged next Saturday.
She could just tell by looking at the kid that he was anxious being here on his own, and she didn't blame him. He had probably quickly gotten used to doing things with Gon since they were forced to rely on each other.
She walked downstairs to the usual sight of Killua on the blue couch, side sitting and almost curled in on himself as he played with the white thread on his hands.
Bisky tapped the bannister at the bottom of the stairs lightly to alert him of her presence.
As soon as Killua heard the noise his head shot up and he quickly looked behind him to where Bisky was.
He always sat stalk still until she gave some sort of sign she wasn't the least bit upset with him.
So, like every morning so far, she smiled and gave a little wave.
And, almost too cute for Bisky's heart to handle, he gave a small wave back and then watched her enter the kitchen.
She started brewing coffee, leaning on the kitchen counter with an eye kept toward the entryway.
Once the smell was strong enough, Killua always slunk through the archway, pausing once he was spotted like a deer in headlights until she waved again and he moved to sit on a bar stool.
The first time this happened she immediately noted it: Killua loves coffee.
"Good morning," she greeted once he seemed situated.
"Mornin'," he said quietly back.
A soft beep behind her told her the coffee was ready.
She turned to it, pulled off the pot and filled two mugs.
The first time, she had asked Killua if he wanted any, and he immediately went defensive and said no, despite her catching him staring whenever he thought she wasn't looking.
So she tried just giving it to him the second day. The little spark of joy in his eye at the cup of black water was something she now strived to give him every day.
She walked around the counter and set the mugs on the bar, one in front of Killua and one in front of the other bar seat next to him.
Like the first time, he looked at her skeptically as she sat down, before slowly reaching a hand out to grab the handle of the mug, checking every few seconds to see if she would react. And once he finally got his hand around the handle, he quickly pulled it towards himself and held it in both hands, that look in his eyes appearing for just a moment before vanishing.
She smiled to herself as they drank their coffee in silence.
After a couple of sips Bisky decided to deliver some news.
"I got a call last night," she said casually, feeling Killua side-eye her from where he sat.
"Gon's up."
A sputtering noise came from next to her and she turned to see Killua looking up at her, midnight eye wide.
He opened his mouth, and then closed it again, turning and furrowing his brows.
Bisky giggled.
"I have to drop the kids off for school, but afterwards I'll come pick you up and we can head over to the hospital," she said softly.
Killua nodded firmly but she could see the hint of hope in his expression.
Leaving Killua alone for a bit would also give him a chance to look around without fear of being in trouble. So that was a plus.
Bisky glanced at the clock and sighed.
"I swear those two are the slowest to wake up," she muttered, finishing off her coffee and walking over to put herug in the sink. "Guess I'll have to wake them up again."
"Uhm-"
She turned to the meek voice and saw Killua looking at her awkwardly from over the counter.
"Yes?"
Killua looked to the right, placing a sheepish hand on his neck.
"Are… are we going to uh, y'know… school?" He asked through nervous stutters.
Bisky smirked. "Eventually, but not until you're ready."
Killua nodded and with that Bisky left to go wake up her sleeping children.
***
Bisky had finally rallied the tired teens out the door and told Killua that he was welcome to anything while they were gone.
So Killua was currently sitting quietly on the couch where she left him.
Killua couldn't believe he'd actually be allowed to roam around on his own. It had to be some sort of test, to see how well he could listen, his… birth… family did things like that to him all the time.
So he would just wait for her to come back and be right where she left him.
After twenty minutes, he heard the door creak open and turned to see Bisky pop her head through the door.
Her eyes widened for a split second, and then narrowed at Killua.
He flinched backwards at the glare and Bisky quickly schooled her expression and walked fully into the room.
"You've been there the whole time? She questioned with cautious weariness, already guessing the answer.
She could see the thoughts in Killua's head turning, trying to figure out what type of answer would get him the least amount of trouble.
He slowly nodded, hesitant.
She shrugged, though internally she was boiling with rage at the people who made this innocent child so paranoid.
"Alrighty," she said with a smile, gesturing the albino toward her, "you ready to go see Gon?"
Killua bolted up from his seat, nodding rapidly, and then staggered slightly as he blinked a lot.
Bisky giggled as the kid got his bearings from the fast rush of blood to his brain.
Killua went to his room for a moment and came back with his backpack. It was… an interesting design to be sure, but Bisky didn't dare comment on it.
After that they both got in the car and made a silent commute to the hospital.
Killua looked out the widows, eyes flicking from thing to thing like a cat on the prowl, and Bisky smiled to herself.
The ride itself was quiet and peaceful, Bisky having turned the radio to a low hum in the background as radio pop played in the cool morning air as they drove through the town.
Once they made it to the hospital, Bisky parked and they walked up to the large glass doors of the building.
Bisky signed in and gave her I.D as proof she was indeed fostering them, and the nurse led them to Gon's room, Killua's old room.
Killua's injuries were healing well, though he was still stiff and twisting his side to much hurt like the devil. The lack of depth perception was tripping him up too, it took two tries this morning before he was able to grab the strap of his backpack.
He hoped Gon was doing better.
After walking down plenty of boring white and blue halls and riding an oddly large elevator, they finally arrived at a room labeled 432 in the pediatric ward.
"This is it," The nurse said, "try to be quiet, he was out for so long because of a head injury, no doubt he has a headache. Though, we gave him some pain medication this morning, and he's healing well."
Bisky nodded and thanked the woman for the update, and the lady clad in blue scrubs walked away.
Bisky turned to Killua who was fiddling his hands together while rocking on his heels.
"You ready?" Bisky asked, and the kid nodded.
They opened the door and were greeted by a happy green boi gasping.
"KILLUA!?"
Killua turned to his left just in time to get tackled to the ground.
And then they were both hissing in pain.
"Moron!" Killua shouted, growling at the boy next to him, gently knocking him on the shoulder, "You're in bed rest for another three days! And that hurts!"
Gon laughed and turned to Killua. "Sorrry! I was excited to see you."
Killua tisked, and got up, then shakily helped Gon back to the bed.
Bisky felt like she had entered a parallel dimension. She was glad Killua was happy, in fact it's the first time she'd seen him so comfortable, but it was just weird. Good-weird though.
It made her happy too, she hoped someday they would be like this everyday, with or without each other.
Killua hopped on the side of the bed next to Gon and curled up, burying his head in the pillow.
Gon frowned and arched his brow.
"What's wrong?"
Killua groaned, then sat up and whispered something in his ear.
Gon's eyes went wide and then turned to sad understanding.
"Oh," he whispered softly, patting Killua's head.
Killua sat up and Gon took that as an immediate chance to hug the albino.
After a minute the greenette let go.
"Anyway," Killua said, as if nothing had happened, "how ya feeling?"
Gon smiled brightly. Killua couldn't understand how he could still do that, but he would miss it every time Gon wasn't around.
"I'm doing good! They just said my ribs need to heal more and they want to keep an eye on me because of the head thingy."
Killua rolled his eyes. "You would say that. Honestly I'm surprised you remember what they said at all."
Gon giggled and Killua huffed, crossing his arms.
His eyes slid to Bisky and he waved brightly at her, if not a little nervous.
"Who are you?" He asked confidently, head tilting a touch.
Killua’s eyes widen and he immediately punched Gon’s shoulder, an obvious anxiety in his eyes. Gon was such a people person it hurt.
Gonna whined and pouted, "Killuuaaaaa that hurt!"
"Revenge" was his simple response.
Bisky laughed and their gazes were brought back to her.
"Biscuit Krueger. You can call me Bisky, or whatever makes you comfortable." She paused a minute before frowning and adding in a teasing tone, "Except Ma'am. I'm not old."
The brief and serious looks on the boys' faces told her they took that with zero salt.
"Thanks for putting up with us," Gon replied quickly, covering the previous glance with a smile.
Bisky couldn't help but feel a small pang in her heart at the wording, but simply shook her head and smirked back.
"My pleasure, I hope your stay with me is alright, and when we get you home, let me know if you need anything." She locked eyes with Killua, "both of you."
They both nodded firmly, but were quickly back to the earlier banter as Killua poked gently at Gon's injuries.
Bisky could tell he had no real intention of agitating them, and that Gon's high pitched shrieks were all show.
For a while after that, Bisky sat on the other side of the room with a magazine and let the two talk and catch up.
She was glad they were finally able to see each other again, but it saddened her too. Gon smiled at Killua and the albino would smirk back, but the light behind their eyes was dimmed and burnt out.
“You look like a pirate Killua!” Gon giggled, placing a hand over his own as if to mimic the bandage.
Killua pouted, “I'm way cooler than any pirate could ever be. And probably more skilled to.”
Gon laughed as Killua made a show of pretending to ward off enemies with a sword.
"How's the house?" Gon asked curiously, lowering his voice a little.
Killua shrugged. "It's big. Our room is on the first floor, got a window."
Gon lost some tension in his shoulders, the smile on his face softening.
“Cool!”
Killua's eyes lit up and he turned around.
"Oh yeah! I brought this," Killua said, digging through the backpack he brought.
(Bisky still hadn't said anything but the thing had three straps and was insanely impractical. She has no idea where it even came from.)
Killua pulled the small green and orange bear with a slightly singed ear out and placed it next to Gon.
Gon gave a soft gasp and quickly hugged it to his chest.
"Thanks, Killua," he muttered into the plush's head.
Killua smirked. "No problem, knew you'd be worried."
"Oh I bet you were too," Gon teased.
Killua blushed. "Was not!"
They went on like that for a while, the hours passing seamlessly until they heard Bisky stand up and clear her throat.
"I hate to cut this short, but we have a few other things to do before we pick up the others."
Gon quirked a brow, and Killua waved him off.
“She's got kids,” he clarified, and formed a silent ‘O’ on his lips, nodding.
"Well… see ya later Gon," Killua waved, "And don't jump on anyone else!"
Gon giggled and waved back. "Don't worry I won't. You’re the only one worth it anyway. See ya! Bye Ms. Bisky!"
Bisky waved goodbye and with that they left the hospital.
The change in Killua as they left the room was visible. He immediately tensed and kept a good foot or so away from Bisky.
The blonde sighed and led the way out of the hospital. Progress was still progress, she supposed.
They got back in the car and Bisky checked the time.
11:42.
They'd stayed longer than she thought they had.
"Well," Bisky said, turning the key to start the engine and pulling out of the parking lot, "It's almost noon, and we have a little time before we get the others… So how about some lunch?"
She side-eyed Killua to see his reaction without turning away from the road.
He looked… stunned.
She treaded forward cautiously.
"Any ideas on where?"
Killua stayed silent for a long minute before muttering, "I don't know about any of the places," He gestured out the window, "here."
Bisky nodded, pretending to act like it was normal conversation in hopes of making it less awkward for Killua.
"Well, we probably don't have time for something fancy… There's a Wendy's over there, and a sushi shop near the school, a Subway on 5th…"
Killua shuffled slightly. "We really don't have to eat somewhere, we can wait till we get home.."
Bisky blew out a puff of air and took one hand off the wheel to quickly wave it off.
She was hungry, so even if he didn't want to, she was going to eat somewhere.
"It's no trouble, and I need something to eat anyway. Subway is the closest, is that fine?" She asked, stopping at a red light and turning to look at the tween.
She didn't know how but he had somehow made himself as small as possible in the passenger seat, and nodded a weak 'yes' to her question.
She wondered if she came off too strong or oppressive, she hoped not. The kid didn't need any more problems.
"We won't stay long, promise," She said assuredly, turning to the street with the restaurant on it, "And once we leave, we can pick the kids up right away and head home, alright?"
Another silent nod, but a touch less tense. Good, that eased him a bit.
She turned into the parking lot and they got out of the car and went inside. There were plenty of tables and only two were taken. One by an elderly man and his wife and one with a mother and her young daughter.
It was quiet, which was good seeing as she had Killua with her.
"Alright," Bisky turned to Killua, "you can find a table you like and I will get food okay? Do you know what you want?"
Killua nervously rubbed his hands close to his chest, looking around.
He kinda looked like a lost kitten.
"Uh… whatever is cheapest?" He asked-more-than said.
Bisky held back a sigh but nodded, and asked him if a turkey and cheese on white was fine.
He nodded and she left to order.
Meanwhile, Killua was looking around. She said to choose a table he liked but he didn't know what that meant.
Did she want to be near a window? In the back? Both? There were the high tables and then the booths and then the normal ones, which one did she want?
He wandered around aimlessly, and noticed the little girl watching him, his anxiety only amping up.
He eventually resigned to standing in an aisle as his breath quickened with his slow panic of whatever Bisky would do when she found out he couldn't do a simple task what's wrong with you it's just a table-
Killua nearly jumped out of his skin at the shoulder tap he got and spun around lightning fast to see the short blonde looking at him with mild surprise.
“Whoa, it's okay, just me,” Bisky said gently, food in her other hand, “Are you okay?”
“I- I didn’t know where you wanted to sit or what type of table so I tried to find a medium but there was a little girl and-”
Bisky held up her hand, gently telling him to pause and take a breath. She was disappointed to find he just held it instead.
“It's alright. How about we just eat in the car? Then we won’t have to be in the store, ‘K?”
Killua’s shoulders slumped with the release of anxiety and self disappointment as he bobbed his head up and down solemnly. Bisky gave him a warm smile and once in the car, gave him his sandwich and started eating.
They ate silently, radio providing pleasant background noise as Bisky listened to Killua's breath slowly return to normal, and he finally ate something.
He took a small bite and glanced at Bisky, worry on his face as Bisky nodded softly and went back to eating.
Killua didn't like eating. It never went well for him. He didn't want food because he didn't trust food.
Almost every time he'd been fed as a kid his family did something to make it what most consider inedible.
His original family weren't good people, and wanted him to be the same. He couldn't, wouldn't meet their gruesome standards of human, if they could even call it human.
Everything between poison and blades or heavy drugs would be in whatever small amount of food he did get, only getting anything okay when he was on the verge of starvation.
That was when he was even allowed to eat. Most of the time they'd put off feeding him and his sister as an excuse of "needing to learn to survive without food." He still isn't quite sure what the point of all their "training" was, but all Killua knew at the time was that he'd do anything to keep his little sister safe. Anything.
So when Bisky nodded he felt dread gather in his stomach. He slowly nibbled away at the sandwich, planning to eat the same amount as Bisky.
In the end they both finished them off, and Killua wanted to simply die from the stress of having eaten anything and the wondering of what would happen this time.
He curled up on himself and looked out the window, feeling sick and wanting to be anywhere but here. Or anywhere that Gon wasn't for that matter.
Gon always knew how to somehow make it okay, Killua was a natural pessimist, and Gon's overwhelming optimism was the only thing that ever got through Killua's miasma of gloom.
He decided to focus on his breathing and tried to keep it from working up into panic.
He listened as Bisky checked the time and realised it was still too early for pick up. She never was good at estimating time, it usually didn't matter and she just spent the half hour in the pick-up line.
Something told her Killua wouldn't like that, and yet she knew with a tinge of salt that he would never protest.
And then she remembered it was wednesday and brighted as she realised she was to get them half an hour early anyway.
So she kept her course and paused to steal a glance at Killua every other stop light.
She was worried. He wasn't talking and he hadn't moved since eating. She let him be, but made a mental note to check in later, he might just be needing space. She hadn't meant to upset him in the restaurant, but apparently the poor kid had terrible decision paralysis.
She'd try and improve that, maybe giving specific options would help? She’d have to do some research.
The wait in the school line was as monotonous and long as usual, but it was always nice when her kids ran up to the door with smiles on their faces and tumbled into the car.
She glanced nervously at Killua, who was curled up in the front seat, eyes out the window and posture tense.
She decided that maybe not acknowledging it would give a sense of normality? She wasn't sure…. So she focused on the older pair.
"How was school?" She asked in the same way she did after every day.
Kurapika did a typical deadpanned "Fine." While Leorio gave an exasperated gasp.
"Ughhh Mum, chemistry is the worssttttt! Whoever invented it did NOT consider us not so mathy folk."
Bisky giggled, glancing at him through the rearview mirror.
"Aren't you the one always telling me you want to be a doctor? I suspect you’ll reconsider if you think Biochemistry is gonna be any easier," she arched a brow at the tall 16 year old.
Leorio spluttered and gasped. "Mom! I said it was HARD! I never said I couldn't DO IT!" He put a dramatic hand to his forehead, leaning back onto Kurapika who grimaced, "My own mother, no faith in me, the wound, it hurts!"
"Get off of me you big lug," Kurapika announced calmly, easily pushing their brother the other way.
She always forgot how much strength her second child held.
Leorio scoffed, arms crossed. "Rude."
"Loud."
"MOOOMMM"
She catched the small figure next to her flinching hard. She tsked and tapped the steering wheel.
"Leorio, Kurapika, settle down," she turned her gaze to Kurapika, "You're being mopey, what happened."
The blond went wide eyed and huffed, looking away with a slight blush. "I am not moping. And besides. It's nothing big, just a- thing…"
Bisky gave the kid a disbelieving look through the mirror. "Uh-huh. This ‘thing’ wouldn’t have happened to be in Mr. Chrollo's class, would it?"
Kurpika’s reddish brown eyes met hers in the mirror with a glare. "I don't like him. He's hiding something. And today he told me that he likes spiders."
They spat the arachnids' title like it was poison.
Leorio rolled his eyes. "You need to lighten up, man. This guy is obviously playing with you, get him back!" He punched his palm with his fist, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
"Hey, hey! Leorio, no one is going to be getting back at anyone. Kurapika, is that all?"
The car was silent a moment before Kurapika lowered his head, bangs covering his eyes as he muttered, "He said that I wasn't a real person, that my life was a lie… cause.." The child gestured to themselves.
Bisky hit the brakes hard. "HE WHAT?"
“Mom!”
Kurapika braced himself against the seat, eyes wide, and from the front passenger seat there was a squeak.
Bisky turned on the brake lights and pulled over, then turned back fully to face Kurapika.
“Kurapika, that is not true. Your an amazing person who is living an amazing life and I know I wouldn't want to relive my life without you in it,” Bisky declared.
Killua looked up from where he was in shock- both mentally and physically, the sudden breaking kinda really hurt . But also that someone could love someone so much.
Kurapika stared at Bisky a moment before turning his head away. “Yeah, I know.”
Leorio snorted, “She’s right you know, what you identify as and what you look like change nothing about who you are. And I can say after knowing since we were like 7 that your a pretty cool dude.”
Leorio then turned his gaze to Bisky, “BUT MOM WHAT THE HECK!? Road safety! You could have killed us!”
Bisky sighed, and puffed out her cheeks. “I just don't like the idea of my kids being belittled for something so stupidly easy to understand! You best bet I'm calling the principle after this! I will not tolerate it!”
Both Kurapika and Leorio groaned at the hassle that would bring, but, if it got Mr. Chrollo fired, neither were completely against it.
Bisky took a deep breath and then looked around the car again.
“I am sorry about the sudden stop though, is everyone ok?”
Leorio and Kurapika nodded.
“Yup!”
“Mhmm”
Bisky looked over to the passengers seat, “How about you Killua, you alright? Oh my- that jolt didn't tear any stitches did it!?”
Killua was still kinda blankly staring at her, baffled by her affection. He quickly realised he'd been asked a direct question and shook his head, wincing slightly, and then scrunching in on himself.
Bisky pursed her lips suspiciously, “Ok… but if you do need anything or something starts hurting let me know. I think today is the day the doctor told us to change your bandages, so we can talk about maybe doing that tonight.”
Killua nodded. Gosh, he was exhausted. Was talking to people always this exhausting?
Leorio quickly filled the miniscule silence of Bisky’s question.
“DUDE?? You’ve been here the whole time!?” Leorio exclaimed, peering around the front passenger seat to look at Killua, who was still very much curled up against the window.
The albino sent a glare at the older boy before turning his head. Leorio’s brows furrowed at the action, but with a small head shake from Bisky he simply let it go.
Kurapika sighed, “Leorio you really just now noticed? It’s not like mum would leave him at home alone all day.”
The blond rolled his eyes, and Leorio scoffed at him, a fake grumpy expression on his face, “It’s not my fault he’s quiet as a cat. Dude could be an assassin if he wanted-”
Killua’s breath hitched from the front seat, eyes suddenly wide with fear. Every muscle tensed as he tried to make himself even smaller in his chair, as though he could phase right through the car if he just pressed up against the window enough.
Bisky quickly took note of the change in her newest addition to the household. She grimaced, remembering the reason he was put into the system to begin with.
“Killua, hun, Leorio was joking, you're safe.”
The kids in the back looked at each other and then up front again, sharing confusion.
“Uh? Mum? What-”
Bisky put a finger to her lips as she looked at them through the rear-view. She then sighed, and decided to try and make it home so the kid could be at least somewhere he wanted to be instead of trapped in a car with three people.
“We’re almost home, Killua,” She reassured him.
If she couldn’t see him right next to her she’d think he’d have disappeared. Killua’s breathing had become quiet and slow, and his small frame was tense as if ready to bolt at any sign of danger.
True to her word, they arrived home in five more minutes, Bisky keeping up conversation with Leorio and Kurapika so Killua didn’t feel watched.
Not that it helped. All Killua could think of right now was blood on his hands, his little sister behind him, and his older brother's glassy eyes staring into his soul. Someone was laughing too.
He just wanted to protect Alluka. Where was Alluka? Where was his sister? Where-
He startled, two hands on him arm and shoulder. He turned to see Bisky, not him never him again they promised, supporting him as she opened the car door so he didn’t fall out from his leaning position.
Killua quickly pulled away, eyes still bleary and wide from memories fading. Bisky’s hand stayed firm on his shoulder, forcing his mind back into the car. He glanced behind her, and realised they had at some point gotten home, and her other kids were nowhere to be seen. When did they get home?
It took Killua a moment to notice that bisky was trying to talk to him, and after some amount of time of just staring at the garden behind her, he was finally able to focus on her face, her voice coming through as something other than white noise.
“-illua? Killua, you with me now? Can you nod or move your hand if you can hear me?
Killua immediately nodded, not wanting to know what would happen if he disobeyed a direct order. He didn’t know Bisky yet. He’d been deceived before and he was sure his past houses weren't his last.
Bisky did look relieved though. In a… Concerned way. That was new. But Killua wasn’t sure how to deal with that, so he just stared.
“Ok good, that's good. We’ve been home for about ten minutes now, do you want to get out of the car? I think you might have been having a flashback. You’re probably exhausted, it's been a long day,” Bisky smiled calmly at him, hand still an almost comforting weight on his shoulder.
Killua took a minute to process her words, but then slowly went and undid his seatbelt. Bisky let go as soon as he started moving and shuffled back a respectful amount.
Killua peered into the back while he pressed the release, finding it empty.
Bisky answered him without asking, “I sent Leorio and Kurapika inside, they have some homework anyway and I didn’t think crowding you was the best idea.”
A kind smile was on her face as Killua nodded, and gingerly slid out of the car. He winced slightly, the wound in his side smarting as the stitches pulled, and he took a deep breath to steady himself. Bisky was right about one thing, he was exhausted. He felt like a train ran him over. Twice.
He quickly closed the car door and waited for Bisky to lead them inside, which she did immediately.
Once in the door he B-lined for him and Gon’s room, and locked the door. He grabbed his sister’s hair clip, all of the blankets from the bed, and padded over to the small indent that was their closet.
Killua plonked the stuff down, went over to the window to open it (he’d removed the screen yesterday and hidden it between his bunk and the wall), before going back to his corner, wrapping up in the blanket, and sinking to the floor with the hair clip in his grasp.
Tears stung his eyes, the salt burning the injured one, as he tightened his hold on the smiley clip. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep like that, wondering where his sister was now, and how he wished Gon was here.
Killua hated being alone.
He slept dreamlessly, and if Bisky came in to tell him she needed to check his bandages and decided it could wait for tomorrow, well, what the doctors didn't know wouldn't hurt them.