Work Text:
It was a slow day, probably mid-afternoon, the sky was a light grey and the clouds relatively thin, and a slight drizzle started to wet the concrete and dirt outside of Hisoka’s house.
“Illu, you’ve been rather quiet today,” Hisoka said as he leaned back onto the kitchen table “you hungry?”
His tone was rather mute and flat, definitely not the way he usually talked. Maybe it was the weather but that never seemed to bother him too much. Maybe the reason his speech had turned less dynamic was boredom, you never know.
“Yes, a bit. What are you planning on making?” Illumi said looking up from the tv and turning the volume down. Illumi had been in a trance of sorts, clearly, Hisoka speaking to him had snapped him out of it
“I was thinking about making some soup, does that strike your fancy?” Hisoka said standing at the counter looking back into the living room at Illumi
“That sounds nice, if you want I could help you make some bread to go with it if you wouldn’t mind” illumi got up from the couch and walked over to the kitchen
“That sounds delightful!” Hisoka said as a smile spread across his face, and his dynamic tone returned. He was happy to do things for illumi.
A few minutes pass and the ingredients had gone into the pot and were now simmering, the house smelled of warm chicken broth. It was a comforting scent
“Hisoka do you want me to start the bread?” illumi looked up at Hisoka and asked, his mood seemed to be improving, and he was acting less emotionless than he usually tried to when out and about.
“Sure, ill grab the ingredients and warm up some water for you, one moment” Hisoka walked across the kitchen floor and retrieved the ingredients from the cupboards
Fast forward like half an hour the bread is resting and they are sitting at the table drinking tea, there is a neutral grey light shining through the window above the sink, brightening the room a bit.
“This tea is good illu- what kind is it?” Hisoka looked across the table at illumi, to notice he had been gazing at his face for a little while now apparently.
“Uh, oh it’s chai. Nothing much. I did let it steep a little longer though.” illumi said as Hisoka smiled and continued trying to make eye contact, he liked being ogled at by illumi. He painted it as amusing.
“I caught you staring...” Hisoka uttered causing a faint pink color start to paint Illumis’s pale face.
“You are so obnoxious,” illumi said clearly flustered, clearly not wanting to admit he had actually been looking. “oh trust me- I know,” Hisoka said this like it was definitely not new to him. *ahem machi*
“The bread is probably close to done rising by now, do you wanna turn the tv back on and wait? I’ll bring out tea mugs over” illumi tried to change the subject, Hisoka however knew this but nodded and went along with it anyway.
“So illumi is my face intriguing to you??” Hisoka said looking over at illumi, seeing a slight bit of frustration show on his face.
“Hisoka. We are not talking about this right now” his face started to get noticeably redder than before. Hisoka found this even more amusing, even shocking. He had known illumi for a while and this was one of the first times he had shown much vulnerability, which was oddly comforting to him.
Looking back over at Hisoka he said “Why do you even care so much I’m not even doing anything.” the irritation could still be heard in his voice even if his face had returned to its usual state.
“I thought it was cute-” Hisoka said moving closer to illumi and resting his chin on his shoulder, though he seemed to come off less innocent than previously intended.
“Hisoka, what are you doing,” illumi said suspiciously as he studies Hisoka’s face, trying to understand what his intentions were. In the back of his mind, he already knew but wasn’t ready to admit it to himself.
“Nothing. I’m going up to see if the dough is ready” Hisoka said still sounding mischievous, he always liked doing this. Illumi wasn’t quite sure what his fascination with stirring up trouble was, but that was part of the charm
“Thought so.” illumi too, got up to check the bread. He looked in the bowl, approving that it had risen, and so they put it into the oven to bake.
“Oh I almost forgot about the soup, it should be about done by now. Ill open the top and let it cool for a few minutes” Hisoka said, then preceding to take the top off. The steam and comforting scent of the spices and chicken made the place feel a little less gloomy.
“How long do you think I should let it cool for? I’m not sure what temperature you like your soup at.” Hisoka inquired, hovering a ladle over the bowl waiting for instructions.
“Probably about as hot as I like my tea, maybe a bit hotter.” illumi turned the volume on the tv back up and continued watching.
These instructions were a lot easier to follow, Hisoka made Illumi tea all the time, however it was never as good as how Illumi made it. Hisoka found it quite odd, you wouldn’t expect a trained assassin to be good at making tea but then again, he didn’t know very much about how illumi was raised other than the general things.
Hisoka slowly poured soup from the ladle to the bowl, allowing the steam to begin to die down.
They both sat back down on the couch waiting for the soup to cool, and the room returned to its gloomy, neutral environment. They must have both spaced off because as soon as Hisoka had sat down it was as if the timer for the bread went off.
They both had a tendency to space off, it never felt uncomfy being alone in a room together. They had a mutual unspoken understanding of how they both worked, making it less uneasy.
Hisoka got up to go take the bread out and fix up the food, but that was probably the furthest thing from his mind at the moment.
Was illumi doing ok?
It was funny how he found himself almost not in control of his body, cutting the bread and placing it on the plates, without much thought or will.
The only thing truly occupying his thoughts was what could be bothering illumi, he didn’t really ever open up to much so he couldn’t be too sure. He was a manipulator, it wasn’t unusual to him that he wouldn’t open up to anyone other than his family.
What could it be then? Illumi may seem like he was relatively simple but he didn’t grow up in the same manner an average person did, he might as well ask.
He took a deep breath and went for it “illumi, has something been bothering you? You seem a little different than usual,” it felt nice to finally say it, but now he had to wait for the response.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed a singular tear travel down Illumi’s face, something he had seen not many times before. Not often did he see Illumi’s almost unbreakable composure finally fail, it was almost an honor.
Illumi stayed silent. Hisoka sat down on the couch, looked into Illumi’s eyes, opened his arms, and in maybe a second illumi had fallen into his chest. He could feel the cold from Illumi’s tears soak through his shirt, but he didn’t mind.
Illumi didn’t necessarily cry like other people did, he didn’t make any noise. You could just see a copious amount of tears flood down his face, and his expression softens, but not much.
Somehow he knew he had to just, let him cry. Vulnerability didn’t come very naturally to illumi, so when he started crying you had to just let it happen, or else it was hard for him to be able to start again.
Hisoka could sort of feel how illumi was feeling, just by having him in his arms.
A few minutes of crying had gone past and Illumi’s profuse crying had caused Hisoka’s shirt to be stained a slightly darker color “oh, sorry about that.” illumi said, oddly his voice still stayed its same monotone self. He was good at hiding how he felt clearly.
“So, do you wanna say anything to me? What was that about?” Hisoka said, his slightly mischievous tone dispersed, and he sounded much more caring than you would expect for well, Hisoka.
“It’s just- it’s kinda hard to talk about,” illumi said looking down into his palms and breathing deeply. “I guess, it’s weird to have someone take care of me, or do like. Anything for me.”
Hisoka grasped Illumi’s cold hands and said “ill always listen” this sentence alone made illumi tear up again, but he continued attempting to talk
“I was raised under the opinion, I wasn’t wanted. I was there as a weapon. And i wasn’t normal. I was a monster.” there was a long pause and Illumi took a sharp shuttering breath, and he continued.
“I didn’t think I would ever be cared about or wanted by anyone. It’s weird to have someone actually express concern for me,” Illumi leaned onto Hisoka’s shoulders, implying he wanted to be held again.
Hisoka willingly wrapped his arms around Illumi, and he continued speaking “I really believed all of these things they told me, I still sorta do but having you is, odd. It’s like they were either right and your just really weird or, maybe I’m not so different?” Hisoka wiped the tears from his face and started talking
“Well, I am definitely not average, you could gather that but, I think you’re just misunderstood illu. I for one, think you are very pleasant” Hisoka said trying to brighten the mood
“Don’t lie” illumi said, the tears had stopped and he sounded slightly frustrated.
“I’m not lying, You’re a great cuddler. I wouldn’t expect it from you, but still.” Hisoka hugged him even tighter
“Hisoka please you are literally crushing me,” Illumi said, sounding slightly winded “Oh, sorry about that” Hisoka loosened his grip, and Illumi was able to breathe again
Illumi adjusted on the couch a bit, laying his back on Hisoka’s chest and stretching his legs out.
Thankfully, Hisoka thought this would have happened and brought the lunch he had made over to the small coffee table in front of the couch so he didn’t have to move illumi. Like when a dog sits on your lap and you can’t move it because it would be a crime, that.
“Do you wanna eat your food now? I think it cooled down just enough, the bread you made was really nice illumi” Hisoka smiled and passed Illumi’s food over, “Thank you Hisoka, this smells good”
Seeing illumi this happy for once was so, refreshing.
The tv continued still, to hum in the background, and the rain now poured down onto the roof of the house.
Illumi finished his lunch and placed his bowl and plate down on the table, and Hisoka did as well. Not many words were exchanged, Illumi just laid there, his hair falling off the side of the couch, his breathing steady, and his eyes relaxed.
It was nice.
“Illumi, your hair is kinda getting all over the place, I wouldn’t want to tangle it. Do you want me to braid it for you?” Hisoka asked, Illumi’s head shifted up a bit and he nodded.
“Here, go sit at the table it will be easier for me to do it” illumi got up from the couch and walked over to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
Hisoka walked over, and asked “how do you want it braided?” illumi looked back and thought for a moment, “I really like the one with the small sections, it looks pretty”
“Coming right up : )” Hisoka parted Illumi’s hair and started braiding it, folding the segments over each other. It took maybe 20 minutes for Hisoka to finish, but it was gorgeous.
“Wow, look at you. Rapunzel is angry your gonna steal her brand,” illumi smiled, a really rare sight for Hisoka. If crying was rare then this was even rarer.
“I like it when you smile,” Hisoka said sitting down at the table next to illumi
“You should do it more” Hisoka brushed Illumi’s face with his hand, and illumi grabbed it.
He had a surprisingly tight grip, for just holding hands.
Hisoka edged his chair closer to Illumi’s, and illumi rested his head on Hisoka’s shoulders again.
“I love you, Hisoka.” “I love you too”