Chapter Text
The afternoon sun filtered through the turning leaves of Yorknew Park, casting dappled shadows across the bustling stone entrance. Leorio practically skidded to a halt a few yards from the iron avenue gates, his breath hitching as his eyes locked onto a familiar figure waiting by the stone pillar.
It was Kurapika.
He was already there, leaning casually against the ironwork with a rare, soft smile playing on his lips. Surprisingly, the rigid, high collared black suit of the Nostrade bodyguard detail was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he was dressed in something far more relaxed, a beautifully tailored, cream coloured knit sweater and dark trousers that made him look remarkably young, stripping away the harsh weight of the underworld he usually carried.
Leorio felt a familiar, frantic flutter in his chest. Raising a hand, he waved and quickly made his way over, trying his absolute best to smooth down his suit jacket and walk with a confidence he absolutely did not possess.
"Hey! Glad you could make it," Leorio said, his voice a little louder than intended as he reached the pillar.
"Good afternoon, Leorio," Kurapika replied gently, his eyes bright and welcoming.
Keen to get moving before his nerves completely paralyzed him, Leorio gestured toward the open archway of the park gates. "Shall we?" he asked, stepping slightly to the side and extending his arm to indicate he was letting Kurapika walk through the entrance first.
But before Leorio could even finish the gesture, Kurapika stepped closer, tilting his head slightly. "You smell nice," he murmured.
The compliment hit Leorio like a physical blow. He could instantly feel the dark heat rushing up his neck, his already flushed face turning a brilliant, highly noticeable crimson. He froze, his arm still awkwardly extended in mid-air as his brain completely stalled out.
Looking down to meet Kurapikas gaze, Leorio opened his mouth to stammer out a reply, but the younger boy caught him completely off guard yet again. Kurapikas eyes narrowed slightly, tracing the contours of Leorio's face before a soft, amused glint took over.
"And what is with those eye bags?" Kurapika added, his voice dropping into a rare, delightfully playful tone. He crossed his arms, tilting his head up. "I thought you said you had amazing sleep."
Leorio’s posture stiffened instantly, his extended arm dropping to his side as he forcefully cleared his throat. He looked everywhere but at the blonde boy, his eyes darting frantically toward a nearby hotdog cart.
"Oh, these?" Leorio blustered, waving a hand dismissively in front of his face. "Pff, nothing! Just a—uh, a really intense cardiovascular anatomy chapter. You know how it is. The blood vessels, the chambers... they just keep you up at night! I was so focused, I barely noticed the time. Real dedication to the medical craft, Kurapika!"
Kurapika didn't say a word. He simply raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching upward into a knowing, highly amused smirk. He could read Leorio like an open textbook, and right now, the older teens loud voice, frantic hand gestures, and burning red ears were screaming the truth loud and clear.
"Anatomy," Kurapika repeated softly, his voice dripping with gentle skepticism as he turned to walk through the gates. "Fascinating. I had no idea medical studies left someone looking quite so thoroughly haunted, or that the chambers of the heart required such an uncoordinated stumble over the curb just now."
"Hey! I did not stumble, the pavement is uneven!" Leorio barked, his face burning a fresh shade of red as he quickly jogged a couple of steps to catch up. "And my eyes are just—I was reading under bad lighting, alright?! Is it a crime to have a bit of strain in Yorknew now?!"
"Not a crime, no," Kurapika chuckled, the sound light and musical against the crisp afternoon air. "Just highly suspicious for a student who claims to have slept perfectly. Those dark circles suggest your midnight studies were a rather exhausting ordeal."
As they continued their familiar, loud bickering, the frantic noise of the main avenue slowly began to fade behind them. They wandered deeper into the heart of the park, guided by a stone path that wound through towering trees bursting with fresh, green spring leaves.
Eventually, the path opened up to a secluded, quiet lake. The water was remarkably still, reflecting the pale blue of the spring sky like a mirror. A small family of white swans swam elegantly across the glassy surface, leaving faint, V shaped ripples in their wake.
The peaceful atmosphere seemed to soothe the lingering edge of Leorios hangover. Spotting a weathered wooden bench nestled right by the waters edge, he gestured toward it, pulling his hands into his suit pockets to try and look casual.
"Alright, alright, smart guy," Leorio grumbled, though there was no real heat behind it as he guided them over. "Let’s just sit down before my 'anatomy studies' catch up to my legs."
Kurapika offered a soft, genuine smile and followed him, the playful teasing melting away into a comfortable, quiet calm as they took their seats facing the water.
The silence of the lake settled around them, broken only by the gentle splashing of the swans. Leorio shifted on the wooden slats of the bench, clearing his throat as his eyes drifted over to his companion. Up close, the contrast was even more striking, Kurapika looked completely detached from the cutthroat violence of the Yorknew underworld.
"You know," Leorio started, rubbing the back of his neck, his voice dropping into a softer, gentler register. "That sweater really suits you. It’s nice to see you out of that stiff black suit for once. You look... good. Relaxed."
Kurapika blinked, a faint pink hue touching the tips of his ears. He looked down at the soft knit fabric, his expression softening completely. "Thank you, Leorio," he murmured, his voice laced with genuine gratitude. "Truthfully, it is a relief to step away from the formal wear, even if only for a few hours."
Sensing a safe avenue to keep the focus off his own disastrous morning, Leorio leaned back, resting his arm along the top of the bench. "So, how is the bodyguard gig going anyway? Is that rich guys daughter still running you ragged, or are things finally settling down?"
He hoped the question would launch Kurapika into a long, analytical breakdown of the Nostrade family dynamics. Instead, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The gentle, relaxed air around Kurapika vanished, replaced by a sudden, razor sharp focus. He didn't answer the question. Instead, he turned his head, his brilliant eyes locking directly onto Leorios face.
"The job is as demanding as always," Kurapika said quietly, dismissing the topic entirely. "But the conversation quickly changed last night, Leorio. Why did you really call me?"
Leorio froze. The arm he had resting on the back of the bench turned completely rigid.
"You sounded incredibly upset," Kurapika continued, his tone shifting from playful to deeply concerned. "You were determined to see me, yet you were entirely out of it. It didn't sound like you at all."
Kurapikas gaze stayed pinned on Leorio, searching his face for answers. As the silence stretched, the younger boys brows slowly furrowed, his concern deepening by the second.
Leorio felt the air leave his lungs. Every single defense mechanism he had built up over the morning shattered into dust. He looked down at his own polished shoes, letting out a long, heavy sigh, trying to force out all the suffocating anxiety that had been coiled tightly in the pit of his stomach since he first woke up.
He opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. He stuttered at first, his hands clenching into fists inside his suit pockets.
"I wanted..." he began, his voice barely a rough whisper against the spring breeze. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to find the courage he had so easily borrowed from a bottle of cheap sake the night before. He looked up, finally meeting those intense, searching eyes. "I wanted to..."
Leorio stood up quickly, the sudden movement rattling the wooden bench. "I'm starving!" he blurted out, his voice cracking slightly under the pressure. "Are you starving? Why don't I go grab us a snack from a stall nearby? I saw a hotdog cart right by the gate!"
Without waiting for an answer, he turned on his heel, his posture completely rigid as he prepared to make a desperate escape. But before he could take a single step away, a small, firm hand reached out and wrapped around his forearm, stopping him dead in his tracks.
Leorio froze, his heart hammering against his ribs. Slowly, he turned his head to look down.
Kurapika was staring back up at him, but the sharp, analytical gaze of the Nostrade bodyguard was entirely gone. Instead, his eyes held an incredibly soft, patient, and gentle look. He didn't let go of Leorios arm, his grip acting as a steady, grounding weight.
"Leorio," Kurapika said softly, his voice cutting through the panic. "You can tell me. Take as long as you need to get it out, but please don’t walk away. Running from it will only make it harder for you to explain why you are feeling so upset."
The sheer sincerity in Kurapikas voice melted the last of Leorios flight instincts. His shoulders sagged. Defeated by the kindness in those gray eyes, Leorio slowly sat back down on the weathered wooden bench, keeping his eyes constantly fixed on Kurapika.
He didn't speak right away. He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply, holding the crisp spring air in his lungs, and then letting it out. He repeated the cycle a couple of times, desperately trying to steady the frantic rhythm of his heart. When he finally opened his eyes, the heavy emotional weight from the night before resurfaced, though the alcoholic bravado was entirely gone.
"Last night... I was talking to Zepile," Leorio began, his voice rough and uncharacteristically quiet as he stared intensely at Kurapikas face. He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, trying to find the words to rephrase the raw confession he'd made to the appraiser. "I was a complete mess, obviously. But I told him... I told him it feels like theres some kind of manufacturing defect in my heart."
He paused, his chest tightening as he saw Kurapikas expression soften even further.
"I didn't mean it like a medical thing," Leorio clarified slowly, his eyes locked onto Kurapikas, trying to hint at his true feelings without completely shattering from the vulnerability. "It’s just... no matter how hard I try to focus on my exams, or how busy I get with school... theres this constant, broken ache inside me. Like something is permanently missing. And the truth is, Kurapika... it's because you're not around anymore. I can’t fix it, I can’t ignore it, and last night, it all finally came out."
He let out a nervous, airy giggle that sounded completely out of place against the quiet lake, but once the dam broke, he couldn't stop the words from spilling out.
"I mean, honestly, its been like that ever since we first met on that stupid boat," Leorio ranted, his hands gesturing vaguely in the air as his voice gained a frantic momentum. "Every time you walk away to go chase down some dangerous lead, I just feel totally lost without you there. I’m constantly looking at my phone, just waiting, and I’m always worried sick that you’re going to push yourself too hard or get hurt by those mafia lunatics. Heck, do you even know what your contact name is in my phone? It’s Sunshine. Yeah, seriously! Because when you're actually around, it's like the lights finally turn on, and when you're gone, everything just feels completely gray and—"
Leorio froze.
The weight of his own words finally registered in his frantic brain, hitting him like a bucket of ice water. He had said too much. Way too much. The alcohol wasn't there to shield him anymore, leaving his deepest, most embarrassing secrets completely exposed in the bright spring afternoon.
His face burned a brilliant, radiant shade of crimson. His mouth snapped shut so fast his teeth clicked, his jaw clenching tightly as he desperately tried to swallow the rest of his rambling thoughts. He felt completely naked under the open sky.
Shifting his eyes downward, he stole a glance at Kurapikas face.
A noticeable pink tint had rushed up Kurapikas cheeks, contrasting sharply with his usual pale complexion.
Before Leorio could pull away or offer a panicked apology, the bench shifted. Kurapika slid closer, narrowing the distance between them until Leorio could feel the faint warmth radiating from the cream knit sweater. His grip on Leorios forearm tightened slightly, refusing to let go, his knuckles turning pale against the dark fabric of the navy suit jacket as he prepared to speak.
A sudden wave of panic override his embarrassment. He had messed up. He must have made Kurapika feel incredibly uncomfortable, crossing a line by blurting out all those raw, deeply personal thoughts so quickly.
Desperate to control the situation, Leorio frantically opened his mouth to apologize.
"I—I'm so sorry, Kurapika! I didn't mean to just dump all that on you, seriously! Thank you for—"
But right halfway through his frantic thank you, the strained tension in Kurapikas face suddenly snapped. A soft, airy giggle escaped his lips, a sound so unexpectedly light and genuine that Leorios words cut off entirely.
"Sunshine?" Kurapika asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners as his giggle subsided into an amused smile. He tilted his head, the pink tint still painting his cheeks as he locked eyes with the taller teen. "You truly registered me under such a sentimental name? I had no idea you viewed my presence in such a... luminous light, Leorio."
Leorios brain completely short-circuited. His jaw slacked, and he immediately began to stutter. "I—well—it’s just a—it was a joke! A placeholder! You know how it is, I just—"
"And to hear that you worry about me so extensively," Kurapika continued smoothly, completely ignoring Leorios desperate sputtering. He slid just a fraction closer on the wooden bench, his grip on Leorios forearm loosening into a softer, warmer hold. A deeply fond, almost mischievous glint entered his eyes as he tilted his head up to meet Leorios panicked gaze.
"How sweet," Kurapika teased softly, his voice dropping into a gentle, rhythmic cadence that sent a whole new wave of heat rushing straight to Leorios ears. "I must admit, it is rather comforting to know I have such a dedicated guardian angel keeping watch over my wellbeing from a university library."
Leorio completely melted. The affectionate teasing was the final blow to his already fragile defenses, and his entire face was bright red, so bright it looked physically painful. He wanted the ground to swallow him whole. Yet, true to his loud-mouthed nature, his stubborn pride refused to let him stay quiet, and he desperately tried to bark back defensively.
"I—you—guardian angel?! Who’s a—I am a medical student, Kurapika! I don't do... luminous placeholders! You're just... its a completely logical... flibber-gibber... safety feature!"
It was absolute gibberish. The words tumbled out of his mouth in a frantic, uncoordinated scramble, his voice cracking twice as he completely lost control of his own vocabulary.
This only made Kurapika laugh a little more. The sound was bright and clear, echoing softly over the quiet spring lake. He didn't interrupt, simply leaning back slightly to enjoy the sheer spectacle, letting Leorio hopelessly scramble to cook up a believable lie that was never going to come.
After a couple of moments, the frantic energy finally burned itself out. Leorio slumped back against the wooden slats of the bench, letting out a defeated, breathless sigh as his mouth finally shut. The park was incredibly peaceful, the silence settling over them like a heavy blanket. Yet, the closeness between them remained unbroken, Kurapika was still holding onto Leorios forearm, his fingers resting warmly against the dark fabric of the navy suit.
Then, the light, playful atmosphere shifted.
Kurapikas laughter faded, and his gaze drifted away from Leorios face, landing instead on the elegant white swans gliding across the glassy water. When he spoke next, his voice dropped into a much softer, sadder tone, the lightheartedness completely draining away to reveal a raw vulnerability.
"Truthfully, Leorio..." Kurapika began slowly, taking his time as if searching for the right words in a language he rarely spoke. "That broken ache you described... that feeling of being completely lost... it is not entirely one-sided."
He paused, his grip on Leorio's arm tightening just a fraction.
"When we parted ways after the auction, I found myself experiencing things I didn't quite understand," Kurapika explained, his voice heavily weighed down by a profound, quiet sadness. "Every time I thought of you, my chest would tighten. The underworld is a dark, suffocating place, but the memory of your voice, your loud, stubborn kindness... it became the only thing that could break through the fog. It frightened me."
He took a slow, deliberate breath, his shoulders dropping under the weight of the confession.
"I didn't know what those feelings meant, and the deeper I fell into this bodyguard work, the more I realized how dangerous my life truly is. I began to think that... if I stayed away, if I simply threw myself into my work and kept my distance, those confusing feelings would eventually just go away on their own. I was terrified that if I reached out, or if I let you see how much I was struggling to stay anchored... I would end up ruining the friendship we had built. I thought isolating myself was the only way to protect what we had."
Kurapika slowly turned his head, his brilliant eyes finally meeting Leorios gaze again. There was a fragile, guarded look in his expression, as if he were bracing himself for rejection or a reprimand for pushing his friends away for so long.
Leorio didn't hesitate for even a single second. The moment he saw that lingering fear in Kurapikas eyes, all his own embarrassment and nerves vanished completely, replaced by that fierce, unwavering protectiveness that defined him.
Moving instinctively, Leorio slipped his other hand out of his pocket and placed it gently over Kurapikas hand, which was still holding onto his forearm.
"Hey, look at me," Leorio began, his voice dropping into a deep, incredibly steady tone that was entirely devoid of its usual loud bluster. "Listen to me, Kurapika. You could never, ever ruin the friendship we have. It doesn't matter how long you stay away, or how deep into the dark you think you’ve fallen. You're stuck with me."
He gave Kurapikas hand a firm, grounding squeeze, letting the warmth of his touch emphasize his words.
"I don't care if those feelings are confusing, and I don't care how dangerous your job gets. The bond we built on that ship? Its not some fragile glass ornament thats going to shatter just because things get complicated or because you needed time to figure things out. You're an idiot if you think a little distance could make me walk away from you. If you're struggling to stay anchored, then lean on me! Thats what I'm here for."
A soft, breathless laugh escaped Leorios lips, his eyes softening completely as he looked down at the blonde boy in the cream sweater.
"You're my 'Sunshine,' remember? No matter how gray things get, you can't just block out the sun permanently. So stop trying to handle everything by yourself, and stop worrying about ruining what we have. Its not going anywhere. I'm not going anywhere."
Kurapikas cheeks heated up instantly, a vibrant pink rush coloring his face at the repetition of the nickname. He quickly looked away, staring intensely at the ripples on the water before he became entirely too embarrassed to look at Leorio anymore.
Leorio giggled slightly to himself, the sound deep and incredibly fond as he continued to look down at the blonde boy. The sheer contrast between the fearsome, dangerous underworld bodyguard and this flustered teen in a cream knit sweater was almost too much for his heart to take.
A few moments later, the tense, self-conscious distance between them dissolved. Kurapika slowly shifted on the wooden slats, leaning into Leorio and resting his body entirely against him. He let out a soft, almost imperceptible sigh, slightly nuzzling his head against Leorios shoulder, seeking the steady warmth of the navy suit jacket.
The sudden, intimate contact made Leorio’s spine shiver with a chaotic mix of intense nervousness and pure, unadulterated happiness. He went completely rigid for a split second, his breath catching in his throat, before his muscles slowly relaxed. He adjusted his arm, pulling Kurapika just a fraction closer against his side.
They sat there for a long while, the busy noise of Yorknew City entirely blocked out by the peaceful spring oasis of the park. Neither of them spoke, content to simply enjoy each others touch, a lingering, comforting warmth bleeding through their layers of clothing and settling deep into their chests. For the first time in months, the broken ache in Leorios heart felt entirely filled.
Eventually, the burning curiosity in his mind got the better of him. Breaking the comfortable quiet, Leorio cleared his throat, his voice dropping into a slow, slightly confused tone.
"Hey, Kurapika?" he murmured, staring down at the golden hair resting against his collarbone. "Does... does this mean what I think it means? Are our feelings... actually mutual?"
Kurapika didn't pull away. Instead, he nuzzled just a bit closer against Leorios shoulder, his fingers tightening softly against the fabric of his sleeve.
"Yes, Leorio," Kurapika responded softly, his voice carrying a quiet, unwavering certainty that sent a fresh wave of butterflies straight to Leorio's stomach. "They are."
Leorio stared down at the golden hair pressed against his shoulder, his brain stalling for a brief second before a massive, goofy grin broke across his face. The overwhelming emotional weight that had been crushing him all morning instantly vanished, replaced by an intoxicating surge of relief. True to form, he couldn't let a perfectly tender moment pass without trying to ease the lingering tension with his usual loud mouthed charm.
"Well, thank god for that," Leorio joked, a soft chuckle vibrating through his chest. "Because if you had rejected me after I spilled my guts, I would've had to throw myself right into this lake. And trust me, these shoes are brand new, drowning in them would be a tragic waste of good leather."
Kurapika let out another light, musical laugh, his fingers tightening affectionately against the sleeve of Leorio's navy suit. "Always thinking about your wardrobe, Leorio. I assure you, your shoes are perfectly safe."
The playful banter broke the last of their reservations, but it didn't shatter the mood. Instead, the romantic warmth between them deepened, stretching out comfortably as the spring afternoon drifted by. They remained right there on the weathered wooden bench, watching the swans glide across the glassy water, completely wrapped up in each others presence. Every time Kurapika shifted against him, or whenever the spring breeze caused them to press just a little bit closer for warmth, Leorio felt an overwhelming rush of happiness.
As they sat together in the peaceful quiet, Leorio’s mind drifted back to the absolute chaos of his morning. He thought about waking up on the sofa with a splitting headache, frantically tearing into the cushions to find his phone, and the pure, unadulterated dread he had felt upon seeing that outgoing call timestamped from the early hours of the morning.
A sudden, sharp shiver of excitement ran straight down his spine.
Unbelievable, he thought to himself, a helpless smile tugging at his lips. Getting entirely plastered and blindly speed dialing Kurapika in the middle of the night might actually be the single greatest thing I have ever done in my life. If he hadn't been completely reckless, he would still be buried in his anatomy textbooks, suffocating under the weight of his own unsaid feelings, and Kurapika would still be isolating himself in the dark corners of the Yorknew underworld.
Clasping his hand firmly over Kurapikas, Leorio made a mental note to himself. The absolute very second he got back to his apartment, he was going to text Zepile. He didn't care how much the smug appraiser teased him or brought up the "high quality opaque timber" joke again, the man had hauled him home and practically forced him to face reality. He owed Zepile a massive, genuine thank you.
But for now, Leorio closed his eyes, leaning his head down against Kurapikas soft, golden hair and letting the rest of the world melt away.