Chapter Text
–and who might you be, little one?–
The stranger has big, unsettling eyes that stare at him for far too long, his smile is wide and there is this strange aura surrounding him, purple and violent, one that is dropped the second he finally blinks. The now friendly air that comes out of him makes the boy's guard down a little.
–My name is Gon. Who are you uh, sir?– he finally says, looking at the suited man with curiosity.
–I am Pariston Hill, Vice Chairman. A pleasure to meet you, Gon.– he says and leans towards him with his right hand on the air. Was he... expecting a handshake? He leans forward and shakes the bigger hand. He notices how Pariston's nails shine in gold. –May i ask why are you here all alone? Where are your parents?– Pariston raises an eyebrow and says after letting Gon go and getting up correctly.
Oh right, his dad. He holds the bag with food in front of the well dressed man and says. –I'm looking for my dad, he is been in a meeting here the whole day and I brought him some food! To eat!—
–Well, surely i would hope for him to do so. Although that is really considerate from you.– he replies kindly. –But i bet that our receptionist in the first floor would have done that for you if asked! What was her name again... Vera, i believe?–
At the memory of that creepy woman, Gon swallows and trembles, the way her aura turned evilish around him was printed on his memory. Hill seems to notice it, as his grin grows bigger. –Oh my, you must have meet her on one of her bad moods. Wise of you to come here by yourself then.–
Gon nods. –I'm looking for room 57, i think it's in this floor but i don't know which corridor, there are too many.–
–Room 57? Let me think...– His hand travels towards his chin in a 'v' like manner and suddenly he claps them. –What a coincidence! That is the same room i am heading to, if you want, I could take you there personally.–
–You would?– the kid says, excited. He doesn't know what a chairman does, even less a vice chairman, although it sounded important. He feels kind of special and smiles back. –Thank you, sir!–
–It's not so far from here, let's go.– he offers his hand which Gon accepts. This was the first person since Leorio left to treat him nice! And he was going to the same meeting room as his dad! Maybe they were friends or something?
Pariston Hill was many things, but he was no fool. The moment he spotted that spiky hair his thoughts went on a straight line to Ging Freecss.
What a shame to meet his sweetheart's child in one of his least favorite suits, thought.
This boy, Gon, who was wrapping his small hand in Pariston's, was a vivid image of Ging at his age, with fearless eyes and an excited posture. This was his beloved's son.
The questions that came along with this realization were obvious; why, who and when. Ging had never expressed a desire of ever having children, an idea that they both agreeded on, kids were too much work and time they could spend on their own careers and projects, plus the fact that as hunters having kids was dangerous, making it a bad idea no matter how you looked at it, so this kid, most likely, had been an accident.
For the other child's parent, well. He had been banging with Ging for years, and even thought their relationship was far from the ideal monogamy, and both of them were free to fuck with whoever they wanted, Pariston wasn't aware of another lover in Ging's life, meaning that it had been a one night thing.
On the when... –So, tell me Gon. How old are you?– he says with a grin and purposely guiding the kid throught the long way towards the meeting room.
–I'm eight, sir!– the boy replies eagerly.
Eight, huh. Years ago, when Pariston had just became the Vice Chairman and Greed Island had only been one year since it's release, he had had a chat with Ging in a small café near this same building. At the time, his lover had said he would not be around as much as he used to for unknown reasons, now he knows why. –Amazing! And what type of toys do you like? At your age I was rather fond of the musical ones.– he asks and Gon seems amussed by his fancy words.
The boy's eyes shine as he replies rapid-fire. –I don't really like toys, but i love my fishing road! Last week i catched a catfish the size of my arm all by my own! Aunt Mito was so impressed and my dad said i was a natural!– he says in a fast and marked accent.
My, was this day full of surprises, Ging had finally made peaces with his family. It was just a matter of time until that flame haired Hunter and the boar found one another, but it was so sudden. A strange feeling grew in his lungs, even when they had chatted in the morning before the meeting, Ging hadn't told him about it.
But he hadn't told Pariston about his son neither, so the topic would have to wait.
–Sir?– Gon says, looking up at Pariston and awakening the blond from his thoughts. –You alright?–
–Oh? Yes, of course Gon.– he smiles. –I just lost myself a bit, What were you saying?–
–I think we are in the right corridor, sir.– the kid says, signing to the number 50 in one of the doors besides him.
–Fantastic! Let's go then, shall we?–
The blonde and the boy walk until the end of the hallway and stand still in front of the meeting room Gon's father was. The boy squeezed the plastic bag where he had been holding the food as Pariston openned the door.
There is eleven people in this room, adults with weird clothes and bored faces. The moment Gon enters along side Mr. Hill almost all of them turn around and that weird, dark feeling grows in his lungs at it, did everyone in this place had to do that all the time?
–Everyone, I'm back!– Pariston voice is as nice as before, like if he never changed tones, or couldn't change it. The boy hides a bit behind the blonde man's long legs as the pressure of the room keeps crushing him, it was something he had never done before. He was usually the first to start conversation or just ignore all tension in every room he entered, but this people's auras let something he couldn't place but din't like.
Just as fast as it came, is over, and ten heads look at them surprised. A green haired lady is the first to speak. –I can't bear the fact that you probably abducted a child in your 10 minute recess, can't say I'd be surprised either.–
What did "abducted" mean? He asks himself. Wasn't that what aliens did to cows in those old movies his dad likes? He would ask Ging later.
Speaking of Ging. Gon remembers why's he here and steps out Pariston's shadow, a few gasps coming with it. What they were gasping at? He thinks when he clears his throat, before asking for his father he had to remember his manners. –¡Buenas!– did that word had a translation to the Hunter lenguage? –Is Ging Freec----–
From the corner of the table, a chair that had remained in silence let a small mutter leave, for the rest of the hunters in room it sounded like a weird noise, but Gon recognized the –Maldita sea– quickly. The chair turns around, with Ging Freecss sitting on it. Judging from his eyes, he had been sleeping for a while.
–Gon Alejandro Freecss, me puedes explicar que estas haciendo aquí.– It was not a question, but rather a demand to know. He passes a hand through his face and presses the bridge of his nose.
–¿Te traje el almuerzo?– he says and now everyone was looking at the exchange. –Me dijiste que no ibas a comer acá y se hizo tarde así que...–
–¿¡Decidiste desobedecer la primera regla que te dí!? ¿¡Viniendo para acá solo!?– the man's voice grew louder and Gon's already weak smile fell.
–¡No vine solo! Leorio me acompañó.– he said, in an attempt to defend himself.
–¿¡Cuál Leorio... el de las empanadas!?–
–¿Sí?–
The man's eye twiched for a moment and then he closed his eyes and passed a hand on his face again. He breaths and then exhales from his mouth with a stressed groan, Pariston stares the whole time. –Cuando volvamos al hotel hablamos.– Ging says.
–bueno...– he was so getting yell tonight, dang.
Gon looks at the floor and an eternity, that was probably just two minutes, passes before anyone dared to speak up, all eyes are on them.
–...So what did you brough?– the father says, breaking the silence. Gon looks up and walks towards the table, he can barely reach the top of it with his head so with his right hand and tilting his feet up, he puts the plastic bag in front of his dad.
–¡Pabellón! Leorio's mom made it!– he says as he hears the plastic move when Ging opens it, e takes from it a white plastic little box with the food inside that is warm to the touch, besides it a plastic fork, knife and spoon laid.
Ging opens the can filled with food and digs on it with the utensils, the black beans are the correct bit of spicy and the tajadas seems to have been fried. It's pretty good. He looks back at the boy, noticing Gon has nowhere to sit, he puts the spoon down and takes the small boy by the armpits sitting him on his left knee as he eats with his right hand, the child seems to take it naturally. No one says a thing, they just stare.
–What?– Ging says after swallowing. –Nothing to look at here, keep up with the meeting.– he sounds annoyed as he takes another bite of his lunch.
–Nah I think I want to hear of this first.– the horse zodiac, Saccho says from tge bak of te table with an raised eyebrow and a smug smile. –Who's the kid?– he asks, other hunters on the meeting expecting an answer.
–My personal life is no ones problem, man. Mind your own business.– he replies with a groan.
The room erupts into a discussion and later to screams, Ging just eats with an annoyed look as he hands his soda to his boy. –we are gonna be here for a while so drink.–
–Right!–
Only then the father looks at his right. Pariston Hill is giving him a look that would make anyone piss on their pants, Ging looks back.
–What ya looking at?– the brown skinned Hunter asks.
–Just you being so... well, parental I believe?– he laughs as he always does, in an annoying way, just for Ging. –It's a sigh you don't get every day.–
–Don't----
–Zodiacs.– a voice raises from the crowd, feminine and comanding Cheadle Yorkshire. –As much as I despise to ever agree with Ging on absoluty anything, he is right. We have no right to get into his private life.– she says politely. –And... we all are making the boy unconfortable.–
Now, the room is silent but all eyes are on Gon, who is just drinking his soda.
–Let's continue, shall we?– The dog woman declares. –Vice-Chairman, the papers you were looking for? I presume you got them, unless you are just as an airhead as some say and forgot to bring them.–
–Oh Cheadle, you flatter me way too much!– Pariston stands up and starts saying something super important about the meeting.
Ging never gives it attention, he doesn't really care that much about this type of meetings, where they just discuss about some country's political issues and how to use dialogue to make peace or whatever. He only keep the whole Zodiac thing these days for the privileges that come with it and the ground missions that he is always glad to do. Right now his only job is to disagree with Pariston as much as he can and try not to fall asleep with Cheadle on the room.
He sits there while eating and hearing the dog and the rat's voices as background noise for a while, from the corner of his eye he sees the clock, an hour has gone by when he is done with his food.
Gon looks at the windows, only to see clouds. He looks at the white ceiling and then at the colorful yet stoic hunters in the room, he was bored out of his mind. It was better than waiting in the hotel? Yeah, Ging was here after all, he din't have to worry about him no more, but it din't change how he feelt, he was way too young and way too full of energy to stay put, so he looks around once again.
The walls, ceiling and floor are white, the windows are still cloudy and getting darker as night approaches. On his right is Mr. Hill, who was talking with difficult words and long sentences to the green haired lady and the man with a cow helmet. On his left there is a lady, in blue outlandish clothes and feathers, she seems to resemblance a bird.
He thinks about what kind of bird for a moment when it comes all to him. When he was seven, Kite had gifted him a book with animals from all the world, one of these animals was a bird from Padokea, a sea peacock. Did that mean this lady had seen one? That was so cool!
The woman in question must have noticed his gaze on her, she looks down at him with a raised eyebrow. –Do you need something?– she says. Her voice seems glamorous but way too loud.
–Your dress is really pretty, ma'am!– he says.
The lady wasn't expecting that, she stares at him with surprise and then smiles proudly. –Of course it is, boy. I made it myself!–
–Really! You are very talented!– he replies.
–I don't need a small child's praise to know so!... but thank you.–
–was it inspired on the sea peacocks? The feather pattern on your hair is very similar to them, and so are the colors!– he says, eyes shinning.
–I see that Freecss taught you well. It is, and if you look closely you'll see the patterns of my shoes resemblance their claws.–
–You know a lot of things about this, Miss... umm..– he asks back, lowering his voice a bit to not take too much attention.
–Cluck.– The lady says. – And yes, i do. I learned it from my mother, she used to make dresses for rich people and taught me when i was little.–
A man in yellow chuckles from besides Cluck. –Oh kid, you have no idea what you just started. Cluck right here will have you listening for the next hour about costure or whatever.–
–Shut up! Who asked for your opinion, huh?!– she replies squeezing her fist on the table and looking at the man who resembled a monkey.
The chat grows into a small fight between Zodiacs and before they can help it the sheep Zodiac, Ginta, had to intervene. Somehow they all end up chatting about the lack of green zones in many capital cities until half of the table were taking part on it, all of them delighted on the boy's natural charm and kind words.
Cheadle ends the meeting for the day when seeing half of the Zodiacs being too busy talking to the boy to hear Pariston's and her own arguments, she is too tired for this right now actually. As some gather their things and leave the place, Pariston doesn't make a move, he is just sitting there watching. When Ging starts getting up the blond coughs and looks at the brown skinned man.
–Ging, a word?– the ruins Hunter knows what that means, he sighs and looks back at his boy.
–Gon, wait for me outside. Pariston and I need to talk.– he says. A small 'ok' is said by the boy as he walks away, talking with Mizaiston. The remaining Zodiacs in the room make a run for it, not wanting to stay around them when they start being gross as usual. Little do they know, that's far from what's gonna happen that night.
Kanzai is the last to leave, closing the door from behind him and letting them be. The click of the lock sounds around the quiet room as they interlock sighs.
–A child.– Pariston says, smiling. It was weird of him to get straight to the point, he must feel troubled. –Who would say you'd be the parental type?–
–Pariston...– Ging's voice is not it's usual calm, this topic was not one he planned nor wanted to discuss with Pariston.
–And you know what funny little thing he told me? Back when I was bringing him to you?– he continuous. – He is eight years old! So that's what you were talking about that fine evening when you took a vacation!– he laughs and Ging swallows. He doesn't like it when Pariston laughs like this, it's like the laughtrack of a sitcom, unrealistic and calculated, it usually leads to someone's death.
–Yeah, i have a kid. What about it?– he says.
–First of all, I'm surprised you never told me. I thought we were close, beloved.–Pariston gets up from his chair and walks towards Ging, slow and dangerous. –Second... a surprise such as this one makes you wonder who's the lucky one that helped create such a wonderful kid, don't you think?–
–What, jealous?–
–My goodness, no. Just curiosity.–
–curiosity killed the cat.– Ging says.
–But satisfaction brought it back! You, of all people should know that, dearest.– Pariston replies.
–Fine, knock yourself out!– Ging let's out, the blonde giggles a bit. –I... don't remember, It was a few days before we meet in that excavation. He was quite handsome.–
–Handsome enough to make you forget safety or even get a name? Oh dear, you surprise me.– Pariston buys it, he knows that's not the whole truth but let's it slide. He can't remember any type of marks when meeting Ging that day.
But it was eight years ago, and he is only human. He's probably mistaken, or this misterious man was not a bitter, who knows.
Ging can feel the bitter taste of lie on his mouth as he goes back to the hotel with his child on hand.
It's eight of the night and the Freecss pair walk under the lights of the city, a sea of people surrounding them, as they walk back to the hotel. Gon doesn't say a thing on their way home, he can feel his father's anger and decides not to push his luck. He smiles slightly when seeing the park where Leorio hided his bag that day.
They chech-in at with the receptionist and go into the elevator, when reaching their floor they walk out.
The room had been cleaned once again, it smelled nice and steady as they walk in. Ging falls on his bed with a growl, burying his face on the white pillows without even taking his shoes off.
–Dad...?– his voice is small and worried. Tinted on guilt, even.
–Gon--- Not now. Please.– he says, not looking at the boy standing on his bedside. –Ask for dinner on Room Service.–
–What about you? Aren't you gonna eat?– he asks.
–I... don't think I can right now. 'Night.– he closes his eyes and falls asleep in seconds.
And yet, he doesn't get a heck of rest that night. His dreams haunted by blonde hair and the weight of his actions.
The next morning, when Ging wakes up, he senses the smell of bread, It's faint and nice and only then he remembers the hotel has a kitchen.
Why is someone using the kitchen?
He gets up, presses a hand over his eyes and slids it over his face. He felt even more tired than when he fell asleep. He gets up from his bed to see Gon's empty, he walks towards the smell to finally meet the kitchen of their hotel room.
It's walls were white and the ceramic floor was of a orangeish kind of color, the kitchen itself was beautiful and it had everything you'd need for a quick meal if ever used. In front of it and with a wooden stool was his son, still on pijamas and with a putty knife in hand.
He walks closer, Gon is singing on low volume a tune he remembers, the one that is always on the radio. He was making sandwichs of what seemed to be cheese and salami? Those were his favorites.
–Gon?–
–Go sit on the table! It'll be done in a minute!–
He raises an eyebrow but does as he is told, he sits on the dark wooden table and waits. Three minutes pass by and Gon lefts the small chair he used to get to the kitchen, a plate in hand with three sandwichs and a orange juice in his other hand.
–umh Bon a petite?– he says. –Eat it! I spend te morning on it!– he says, a if sandwichs were a very difficult meal to make, he appreciates it anyway.
–Thank you, but why did you make this? Was the Room Service not working?–
–No! It's just... umh... Miss Lara from the bakery back home always says that; the best way to make an apology is with food! So I made some!– he says with resolve and his hands on his hips, then he looks down and crosses his hands behind him. –I'm really sorry for misbehaving and not following your instructions yesterday, I din't mean to make you mad.–
Ging sighs at the boy in front of him, so he leans to his right and takes a chair from the table, aiming for the boy to sit on it. Without looking at him in the eye he does as he is told, a grimace on his lips.
–Kiddo, I understand that you were concerned about me yesterday, and that your intentions were good. But going to the city by yourself was not the answer. – Ging says as Gon looks at him. –God knows there are lots of bad people out there that wouldn't have been kind with you, you are lucky to have found Leorio but in another situation something could have happened to you.–
–But dad, I--–
–No buts. Gon, do you have the slightest idea of what I would have done if anything had happened to you? I would have gone nuts!– he says. –You are a very strong, smart and brave kid, but yesterday, you broke my trust on you when you left this place after I told you to not do so.– he says, and stays silent, giving Gon time to speak for himself.
–I... I understand, and I'm really, really sorry.– Gon says.
... he sighs.– When apologizing to someone, there is a rule we always must follow, do you know it?–
–No, what is it?–
–You have to promise to do things differently next time, and keep that promise.– the brown skinned man says. –No matter what!–
The boy looks at him with big eyes before smiling wildly. –Got it, I promise!– he says and Ging tries to ignore the was his son's eyes darkness and from where did he took that as he smiles. –Can I hug you so we can make amends?–
–after I finish my breakfast.–
He hugs him anyway.