Chapter Text
It was a rather gorgeous day out, if Illumi could say so himself. He'd just gotten back from a week-long job and he was more than excited to be back at the estate. Even better, Illumi wasn't in charge of training his siblings at all today. That's right, an entire day of freedom. He was dressed in all-purple and blue, and his outfit cinched at each of his joints and his waist, accentuating his already rather feminine presentation. The fabric was authentic and soft, the wind was a light and steady breeze, and he had absolutely nothing to do. In other words, he was in perfect peace walking outside in the grass.
That is, however, until a familiar buzz disturbed him from his pocket. How unpleasant, Illumi thought, and decided to ignore it for the time being. He didn't want to disrupt this moment of tranquility by checking some silly device.
A few moments passed and there came yet another buzz. Illumi sighed and reached into his pocket to check the phone.
Hisoka 10:01: Are you busy?
Hisoka 10:09: I need help.
Illumi sighed yet again and went to type, but before he could press a single key, the phone buzzed in his hand again, sending a shiver of irritation down his spine.
Hisoka: It's an urgent matter.
Illumi 10:11: What is it? I am occupied.
Hisoka: I do believe this is more important.
Illumi: Why should I trust that?
<Hisoka has sent you his location>
Illumi 10:12: What is this?
Hisoka: I'm waiting.
Illumi's lip twitched and he turned off his cell phone and placed it back in his pocket. Illumi vaguely recognized the address, so he highly doubted Hisoka was in danger of any sort. No, this was probably one of his schemes. He knew Hisoka liked to toy with him to get a reaction. Perhaps he shouldn't take the bait this once.
Buzz.
Illumi ignored it and continued walking, closing his eyes and letting the breeze softly blow his hair.
Buzz.
Buzz.
Buzz.
Buzz. Buzz.
Buzz.
So much for a peaceful day.
He felt another buzz from his pocket and closed his eyes for just a moment to compose himself. Without any further hesitation, he requesed a ride to the disclosed location Hisoka texted him. No one bothered questioning him, but they were all curious as to why Illumi would leave the estate on an off-day. They all knew he liked to have one every so often. Not too many consecutively, though. No, he got bored quickly. Just a single day off every few weeks was more than enough to suffice.
But here he was, meeting his favorite and least favorite clown in the middle of some insignificant town.
The car pulled to the side of the road to let Illumi out. He stepped onto the pavement and leaned down to talk to the driver.
"I don't plan on staying long. I'll call you," Illumi said and upon receiving a nod from the driver, turned around to walk off. Not even 30 seconds went by before Illumi had to snatch a card from the air, just inches from his ear. The corner of the card was caught between his middle and index finger, and it was obviously aimed straight for his head. He turned, unamused, to the source of it just to find Hisoka standing casually among a small crowd walking his way. Hisoka broke away from it and approached Illumi, retrieving the card with his Bungee Gum in the process.
"Hisoka."
"If it isn't my dear Illumi. I was starting to think you wouldn't show," Hisoka said and made the card disappear with the wave of a hand.
"I considered it," Illumi quipped. "Now what did you call me out here for?"
"Lunch," Hisoka smiled, his eyes narrowed. Illumi thought he looked like a cat whenever he did that. A sinister, annoying cat.
"I hope that was a joke."
"I never joke," Hisoka said and took Illumi's sleeve and started walking into the outside dining just in front of them. Illumi walked along with him, deciding that protesting would be more effort than it was worth. There were several wrought iron tables and fancy dining umbrellas to shade them. The ground was concrete shaped into spirals and flower designs. The greenery and pink flowers matched each other very well. It was almost perfect for an impromptu brunch. Of course, Illumi would never admit that.
"You called me out here for a meal," Illumi said plainly, his irritation shown through his hair lifting slightly on its own, and his aura becoming a bit more known to Hisoka. Even some birds feasting on dropped crumbs flew off. A few people turned their heads at the source of such a disturbing presence, but the intensity wasn't nearly enough to scare them off. Yet.
"I called you here for some quality time. After all, I missed my dear friend," Hisoka said and sat them at a table. His eyes closed in a smile but he opened them slightly to make a remark.
"You do know how much I love seeing you angry." Illumi sighed and his hair dropped back down.
"I do," he replied.
"Well, if you really didn't want to be here, you could have declined," Hisoka continued.
"You said it was urgent."
Hisoka chuckled. "Who's to say it isn't? Besides, you knew I wasn't in danger."
"Correct."
"So on your terms of urgent, how urgent did you think it was?"
"Not at all," Illumi admitted.
"So why did you show?" Hisoka smiled like he was a genius. Illumi only stared blankly before sighing, taking out his phone, and calling his chauffeur.
"The clown has called me to a brunch. It shouldn't be long."
"Yes. I am."
"Yes, yes, that's fine."
"Goodbye." Illumi hung up the phone and placed it back in his pocket.
Before either could say another word, a waitress came by and took their drink orders before handing them each a menu. It was a small paper menu which was inconveniently easy to lose in the wind.
They both decided on something very light.
"So how long will it take to get you to admit you came because you wanted to," Hisoka said and leaned forward onto his elbows. Illumi, across the table, crossed his arms.
"I came because you asked me to. That is all."
"Mhmm..." Hisoka said and smiled. "Very well." He must have been satisfied with that answer. Strange, Illumi thought. He didn't think it would end there. But it was getting unsettling how much eye contact Hisoka was trying to make.
"Why do you stare at me?" Illumi asked, words laced with distaste.
"I just think you are pretty," Hisoka admitted with a smirk. He was up to something. "You remind me of the moon. Cold and beautiful. Purple really is your color, you know," Hisoka continued.
"You are trying to flatter me," Illumi replied. His face was slightly pinker than it was before, but not enough so that anyone would notice without looking closely. Unluckily for him though, Hisoka was, in fact, looking closely.
"Is it working?" Hisoka asked, his smirk growing. He knew what he was doing.
"I have no comment."
"I'll have no choice but to take that as a yes, then."
When their food came, they ate in near-silence but there was enough being said between them without words. With every glance Hisoka gave, a glare was received. Something he took great pleasure in. Illumi was a hardened assassin with years of training in hiding his emotions. Any little thing Hisoka could do to make him crack was a victory in his book. Every glare, smile, frown, whatever. He saw it as a game. A game he was greatly interested in winning.
"Your staring is uncomfortable. I am eating."
"My bad, it's just too hard to look away." Hisoka licked his lips.
"Try harder, then," Illumi said bluntly and took a finishing bite of his food. Hisoka dramatically grabbed his own chest.
"So cold. So mean."
"I am no such thing," Illumi protested quietly.
"You disagree? I would expect you to bask in that label."
"I have never treated you unkindly. I would argue that you are quite mean at times."
"Me? Never," Hisoka denied, faking offense.
"You enjoy my discomfort too much to be considered nice," Illumi explained.
"That I do," Hisoka chuckled and put his hands up. "Guilty as charged."
When the waitress came up to give them their checks, Hisoka was already prepared to pay for the both of them.
"I can cover my own expenses," Illumi said.
"Oh, but I've already bothered you enough by calling you here. It's my treat," Hisoka explained. Illumi had a hard time believing the sincerity of that. Illumi looked at the waitress with his hand up.
"I will cover the expenses. Do not listen to him."
While the sentence was harmless enough, Illumi's intimidating pulsing aura and vacant expression was enough to make her nod and accept payment from him without even considering Hisoka's wishes.
"So terribly heartless. Here I was trying to treat you," Hisoka pouted.
"I do not fall for your games," Illumi replied.
"We'll see." Hisoka stood up and walked over to Illumi, who also went to stand, just to be gently pushed back down again. Hisoka whipped his cell out and turned the camera on, framing them both in as he leaned down.
"What are you doing?" Illumi asked and looked at Hisoka.
"It's a selfie. To capture the moment. Otherwise I will think it was all a dream." Hisoka was joking, of course, but Illumi didn't seem to pick up on it.
"What do you do?"
"Just smile. See? Just like a picture." Hisoka grinned at the camera.
"I see," Illumi said and smiled. Hisoka was caught off guard and snapped the picture of his surprise and Illumi's smile. It was a sweet smile and a small glimmer in his eyes made it that much sweeter. The wind was gently blowing his hair to the side, but it still framed his face nicely. It was so uncharacteristic that Hisoka had to freeze for a moment to comprehend what had happened before turning his phone off and lowering it.
"What? Why did you stop?" Illumi asked, and looked at the magician with confusion.
Hisoka was silent, but his own smile grew quickly.
"Yes?" Illumi replied, suddenly feeling a hint of insecurity.
"You should do that more often," Hisoka said.
A light blush showed on the assassin's cheeks.
Illumi would have glared at him but he got the feeling that this was genuine excitement from the clown and not one of his typical ruses to gauge a reaction. And he caught himself smiling again.
"I will do no such thing."
"We'll change that," Hisoka joked and stood back up fully.
"I have business to attend to. I assume you will need to go back to the estate?" Hisoka questioned, despite knowing the answer. Illumi nodded and rose from his seat.
"Right. Thank you for showing up. I don't know what I would have done without you," the magician thanked dramatically, voice dripping with his usual sarcasm and flair before turning around.
"Hisoka..."
"Hm?" the clown turned back around.
"Let's do this again sometime."
Hisoka was yet again caught off guard, evident in his widened eyes, but he soon smiled with closed eyes and waved.
"I'll give you a call."
And with that, Hisoka sauntered away. Illumi was unsure what business he had to attend to, but knowing him, it was probably for the best.
Illumi watched him with a smile until he was out of view, and then made his way back to his ride.
"Master Illumi, you look quite happy," the chauffeur greeted as he got in.
"Yes. I was told I should do this more often."
"Back home?"
"Yes."
"Very well then."
And Illumi couldn't fight off his hint of a smile the entire way back home.
Buzz.
It was from Hisoka.
Hisoka 11:45: Can't wait to see this again.
<1 file attached>
It was their selfie.
Illumi: You are a menace.
Hisoka: How sweet *^_^v