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Gon, Monta, and Banana are hiding in the bushes. It's 3 in the morning and they have been taking turns observing this undiscovered species. Currently, Gon is on post, watching a weird lizard-like creature with a stinger on its tail. The creature is flat like a stingray, but has legs and a head of a lizard. One thing Banana discovered a few days ago about these creatures is they are very sound sensitive. Make a big sound and they will scatter. If they are too scared or close enough to the source, they send a sting.
Gon is well adept at hiding his presence and has learned how to walk almost silently, Killua acting as mentor, of course. Currently Monta and Banana are sleeping. You would think Monta would snore, just look at him. His big ol’ bear nose would surely make a sound. But nope! Monta is as silent as ever. It's completely silent, none of the group are snoring, and Gon hasn’t made a sound.
….
That’s until he sneezes. Gon was leaning into the bushes a little too deep, trying to get a better look at the sleeping creature, until a leaf tickled his nose. Gon tries to hold it in, but while attempting to do so, he falls forward and lands his head right next to the creature. Startled, the creature hisses, and using its large stinger, stabs and injects Gon’s side with a non-lethal, but not pleasant venom. The stinger leaves an unsightly wound, about the size of a quarter and 2 cm deep. After leaving its mark, the creature runs away, tail floating over the earth, zipping into the bushes.
“Kyaaaa! Stupid!” Gon rolls onto his uninjured side, sneering in pain, but mainly embarrassed he scared away the specimen.
“If I had just paid more attention it wouldn’t have gotten away…” he mumbles to himself, pressing his hand onto the wound as he struggles to sit up right. He eventually settles for crawling over walking, and makes his way back into the bushes toward Banana and Mon.
In Mon's bag, there are antiseptics and bandages. Gon is able to smell the acidic scent of the antiseptic and locates the first aid kit. Without making too much sound, Gon opens a package of gauze and dumps the antiseptic over it, soaking until it drips down his hand. He then pats the wound down, trying his best to decontaminate it. After struggling, and failing, to take care of the wound, he finds a roll of bandages and wraps up his side. The white bandages go around his waist three or four times before he tucks in the end. The wrapping is poorly done, but Gon can’t tell, too caught up in his own head.
He thinks he’s made the worst mistake of his life. After Kite’s death, he managed to fail his group again and scare away the creature for their current project. He had failed them again. More importantly, he failed Kite again.
Gon can’t bring himself to tell Mon and Banana, and leaves without saying a word. He runs as quickly as possible, his legs moving almost as fast as his thoughts. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. That is all Gon can think. He’s not even worried about the sting that's been inflicted on him moments prior. He knew how hard it was to even locate the creature on its own, and he had no idea how much longer it would take to locate it after it ran away.
“Go-n!" Killua shouts.
Gon is running around the busy streets of Yorknew, going from stall to stall, contemplating purchasing anything that sparks his interest. Killua notices Gon's energy is a little lower than usual, but thinks nothing of it. He probably didn’t get enough rest. Killua groans as Gon pulls him to the next stall.
“Killua, Killua!! Takoyaki!” Gon is pointing at the stall in front of them, a little octopus cut-out pasted to the sign, and turns his head over his shoulder. His eyes are beaming and his smile takes up most of his face. Killua can’t help but grow flushed in the face at the sight of Gon’s smile, and coughs into his shirt to hide his face.
Gon accidentally bumps into a kid next to them, and winces in pain. “Gon? Are you alright? That didn’t look like it could hurt you that bad, what happened? Are you still in pain?”
Killua is shocked to see Gon in pain—he usually hides it—but this time Killua notices before Gon can react to his own reaction.
“Hehe, I’m fine, don’t worry, okay? I, uhh, was just worried about the girl, that’s all! Didn’t want to act too tough... right? Yeah!” Gon sheepishly chuckles and scratches the back of his head. All Gon can think about is diverting Killua’s attention to something else. “Killua! Let’s get takoyaki, I’m sure it’s delicious!”
Before Killua can deny the request, he is being dragged to the counter of the stall and forced to order some takoyaki for the two. “Kil, get me some without the fish flakes please!” and of course Killua can’t deny him, so he complies.
“Ehh, can you get me 2 boxes of takoyaki, one without the fish flakes please,” Killua smiles at the owner and pulls Gon closer to him, hand on Gon's shoulder. The owner happily complies and begins to dip the octopus into the sauce, preparing to fry the treat. Gon nuzzles into Killua’s neck and attempts to plant a kiss behind Killua’s ear. Killua though, with his lightning fast reflexes, pushes Gon's face away, palm to forehead and sticks his tongue out at him.
While the boys are waiting for their food to finish cooking, Gon chases Killua around, ultimately to plant a kiss on or flat out embarrass Killua; he isn’t sure, but they will find out soon enough. As Gon is following Killua, he trips over practically nothing and falls to the ground. His right side makes contact with the ground and Gon seethes in pain and instantly curls up. Gon starts coughing and struggles to get up. Killua notices something is off, this isn’t one of Gon's usual coughing fits of sickness. This time it’s obvious something more is going on, and Killua instantly lifts Gon off the ground. A few people nearby are watching the two, eyes locked on.
“Oh dear! I hope you boys are alright. Here is your food, my dear,” the owner of the takoyaki stall says, handing Killua the food.
“Tch. Thanks, ugh, here, take this,” Killua, in a rush to care for Gon, leaves about double the jenny than actually necessary and picks up Gon, carrying him back to Killua’s apartment.
“Killua, I’m fine really! I promise, it was nothi—" Gon begins to say, getting interrupted by his own cough.
“It’s not nothing, Gon! You can hardly say a full sentence!” Killua hisses in response. “I'm taking you home, you can’t convince me otherwise."
The bouncing in Killua's rushed steps causes Gon to cough harder and more frequently, and the unknown venom continues trekking through his bloodstream.
“Killua, I’m fine, really, I don’t need your help.” As Gon pouts and tries to convince Killua of his healthy status, he is ignored. Killua blocks out the sound of Gon's voice and the only thing in his head is the urge to get Gon home safely. He just needs to keep him safe.
Though, Killua is unaware how bad Gon is truly injured, and has never learned how to care for anyone.
Killua sets Gon down outside their front door. Gon’s back is against the apartment wall, and he is resting on the ground. Killua hovers over him, legs on either side of Gon's body, crouched until they are face to face. Killua stabilizes himself over Gon by resting his hand next to Gon’s head.
“How long have you been sick for, Gon? You should have told me! This isn’t your everyday cold, and it’s not the time of year for your seasonal flu, what is going on?”
Killua is upset—not angry—but definitely upset that Gon hid this from him.
“I'm supposed to be protecting you, Gon, so please let me… okay?” Killua slips down to the ground, legs still over Gon’s and still face to face with him, arms now in his lap and hands holding Gon’s. “Please, Gon, please…” Killua and Gon's foreheads are leaning against each other.
Gon is in a sweat now, his breathing is slower and more strained, and he can hardly keep his eyes open. Killua notices the change in Gon's breathing almost right away and stands up. He brushes the dirt off of his shorts, and stretches his arms.
“Up we go, Gon,” Killua lifts Gon up in a hug, and Gon wraps his arms around Killua’s neck, and his Legs around Killua’s waist. Killua’s hands are now supporting Gon's butt and the rest of his body weight as Killua unlocks and opens the front door. As Killua enters their humble apartment, he kicks off his shoes and walks Gon straight to his own bed.
“I’m going to need you to sit up for me for a bit, okay?” Killua asks, his voice more gentle than before. Gon lightly grunts and nods his head. He supports himself, arms at his side.
Killua begins to unzip and unbutton Gon’s jacket. He realizes how close he is, and how intimate this interaction is, and begins to blush. Cheeks bright red, Killua finishes undoing the jacket, then moves on to removing it. Killua sits beside Gon, and with one hand, supports his back, and with the other removes Gon’s arm. Killua gets up and sits along the other side, and repeats the process, being as gentle as possible. He doesn’t want to damage Gon, not while he is in this state.
“Alright, Gon, just a little longer, then you can lay down.” Killua kisses the top of Gon’s head and lightly squeezes Gon's shoulders. Killua then gets up, off of the bed, and kneels down next to Gon’s feet, preparing to take off Gon's shoes.
“Killua, it’s fi—" Gon coughs abruptly, and almost falls to his side. Killua jumps up and catches Gon by his shoulders.
“Gon! You have to be careful! No more talking back to me, okay? I can handle this, and you need me, so… let me be here for you,” Killua pleads, taking Gon by the shoulders and looking him in the eyes. Gon looks at Killua through squinting eyes, and sighs. He nods his head in agreement and starts coughing once again.
“Shhh, you’re alright Gon, just hang in there, I’ll take care of you,” Killua gets back on his knees and unties both of Gon's shoes. Gon kicks them off and falls to his side, tired and hungry. Killua stands up, then sits next to Gon on the bed and places his hand on Gon’s.
“Killua—" Gon groans. “I'm hungry.”
Gon kicks his legs and turns his head to Killua, and lightly giggles before coughing into his elbow.
“Eughh, don’t cough on me, tch,” Killua jokes and affectionately—gently—punches Gon’s shoulder.
“Killua—" Gon complains, louder than before.
“Alright, alright.” Killua smirks and gets up. He looks for the takoyaki they bought earlier, but can’t seem to find it. Killua then realizes he only set the jenny on top of the containers of food, instead of grabbing it, and had run off with Gon. Killua sighs and face-palms.
“Of course I left the food, gosh I’m such an idiot…” Killua’s monologue trails off as he begins to put his shoes back on.
“Mmnhg, where are you going?” Gon musters the energy to say. Well, mumble out, really.
“I never grabbed the takoyaki, the snack you were so excited about? I have to go back and get it, you are hungry, aren’t you?”
“Kil, it's fine, just get me a snack from the fridge.” Gon doesn’t want Killua to leave him, not now. Not ever, he just wants to be at his side always. “Dom’t leab me,” Gon mumbles, hardly louder then the squeaking of a mouse, but Killua can hear it clear as day.
Killua smiles gently and kicks his shoe off, setting the other back down, and walks back over to Gon.
Killua sighs. “I suppose I should get you tucked in, I’ll make you soup later, once we get that cough of yours to settle down. We don’t want you choking on it now do we?”
Killua lifts Gon’s light body and opens the covers of the bed. He lays him down and props up two pillows behind his head. Tucking Gon in, he pokes Gon’s nose and sticks out his tongue.
“Err uhhh, what am I supposed to do?” Killua is mumbling to himself, he doesn’t know how to make soup, let alone fix that cough of Gon's. Killua decides it is in his best interest to call Leorio. Killua knows with his experience in pre-med, and also just growing up in a normal family who wasn’t torturing each other as a means of maturing, he would definitely know how to help Gon with his cough… or at the very least know how to make soup.
Killua finds his phone and begins to dial Leorio’s number, but of course, at a time like this, his phone dies. So, without hesitation Killua runs to grab Gon’s phone to make the call, but with the amount of games Gon is constantly playing, his phone is dead too. Killua begins to panic, he wants to take care of Gon the best he can, but what is he supposed to do? He can’t look it up, he can’t call Leorio, he doesn’t even know the basics of taking care of another person. So that’s it, Killua sucks it up, throwing aside his pride and finally speaks up.
“G-Gon, so, how do you…” He can hardly work up the confidence to ask, his face hot from embarrassment and bright red. “How do you take care of someone…?”
Killua can’t help but stutter the last few words.
“ERR, I MEAN…” Killua takes a deep breath. “How am I supposed to take care of you? ”
Gon can’t help but laugh, coughing a little in between, but the smile never leaves his face.
“Come closer,” Gon mumbles. Killua follows suit and sits next to him. Killua leans in a little closer and places one arm on the other side of Gon. From Gon's point of view, it’s as if he is being towered over. Gon opens his eyes and sees Killua’s face less than 3 inches away, and he feels the lukewarm breath on his face.
Straining just slightly, Gon leans forward and steals a kiss from Killua. He holds his lips there for as long as he can, before Killua pulls away.
“You are sick, you idiot! Don’t get me sick!” Killua spits the words out, and Gon laughs under him. Killua turns away, blushing, and mumbles about how cute Gon is, how unexpected that stolen kiss was. Killua stretches upwards, and while he is yawning, flicks Gon in the head and jumps up off the bed.
“Oowww my head! My shoulders! My back! I’m in such pain,” Gon says dramatically, laughing a little afterwards, followed by a few coughs. “Massage my back for me, my beloved?”
“Tch, don’t you get embarrassed saying that kinda stuff..." Killua turns his head over his shoulder to look at Gon. Killua, defeated, sighs. “Grrr, I can’t say no to that cute face of yours.”
Killua blushes at the sound of his own words, he didn’t mean to say them out loud. But, when he looked back at Gon’s face, he could tell Gon didn’t hear, his expression hadn’t changed. Gon’s face was peaceful, serene, really; he didn’t look like he was in great pain, but obviously, he had been in some discomfort. Killua can tell his back and shoulders really were in pain, so he lifts Gon up, and sits behind him. Gon tilts his head and releases a tense, held breath. Killua rests his head in the crook of Gon’s titled neck, and, sitting cross legged, presses his chest to Gon’s back.
His arms come around the front, grabbing onto the chest of Gon's shirt. All Killua wants to do is stay like this with Gon forever, breathing in his musk, feeling his body heat radiate off him. And while Gon also plenty enjoys this, he’s tense. He doesn’t want Killua to find his injury, and so he has to get Killua moving again. He bops Killua's head with his, signaling to him he wants that massage.
Killua, sighing with discontent, not wanting to move, reluctantly agrees. But before moving, he plants a small kiss on Gon’s neck, nudging his head with his own; like cats do to signal their love for someone. He knows he has to take care of him, and only after, could he guiltlessly indulge in the comfort of Gon.
He continues to rest his head at the back of Gon's neck, while leaning forwards, stretching Gon’s back, and massaging his mid-back. His hands rotate in small circles, gently, but not too gently that it does nothing. It’s while Killua reaches up to grab Gon's shoulders that Gon moves his head and his body collapses backwards into Killua’s lap.
Gon's breathing is ragged and he’s grown weaker, to the point he can hardly say anything. Killua hugs and coos him, comforting Gon. Moreso to comfort and calm himself than actually assist Gon. He begins to pet and stroke Gon's hair, but when he feels his forehead, it’s burning up. His temperature all over his body had raised exponentially within the last few minutes, and Killua just now had noticed.
Killua lifts Gon’s delicate body and sits next to him. Out of instinct, he grabs Gon's hand.
“Gon! You’re burning up and you never told me how to take care of you,” Killua pouts, indistinguishable from a little cat, barring the ears and tail. Gon lets out a small chuckle, and Killua blushes in response.
“…owl…"
“What? What are the birds outside going to do?”
“…old… owl…”
“An old owl? Gon, you are sick and I need to take care of you not some old ow—"
Gon pats his forehead.
“OH! Cold towel! I need to get a cold towel?” Killua sneers, embarrassed, and he goes flush, digging his face into the pile of hands on the bed. Lifting his head and leaning backwards, Killua’s nose to the ceiling, he sighs. Killua lightly squeezes Gon's hand and he stands up walking away. His hand slips away leaving Gon with a silent cry. All he wanted was Killua's cool touch and radiating warmth.
In the kitchen, Killua locates the cupboard holding washcloths and towels, and grabs a medium-sized washcloth. He folds it into thirds, and soaks with cold tap water from the kitchen sink. He wrings out the towel, making sure no excess water is still hidden in the fibers, ready to drip onto the hardwood floors.
Killua returns to Gon's side, towel in hand, and smiles lovingly at the boy. His small frame is being cradled perfectly by the blankets around him, and Killua can see the silhouette of his feet at the end of the blanket. He studies Gon's face, and notices a drop of water on his cheek. It’s unclear if it is a tear or sweat, but nonetheless, Killua wipes away the droplet. Kissing Gon on the forehead, Killua then places the cold, damp towel there. Killua sits beside Gon, his legs dangling off the bed. He stares; worried and longing glances escape Killua’s collected demeanor.
Gon can hardly think straight, he can only grimace in pain every time Killua shifts on the bed and jostles him. Or when he comes back from a quick gander to the next room and sits beside him. Opening his eyes to look at Killua makes his head spin. The ceiling looks like a white ocean. Speaking makes him choke on his tongue and dry out his mouth. When he salivates to remoisten his mouth, the only sensation he can register is the urge to vomit up his last meal.
Killua pats Gon's thigh and stands up.
In an almost silent whisper Gon tries to call out, he doesn’t want him to leave. He needs him. He can’t make it through this without him at his side. Killua, on the other hand, is lost in thought. He is aware the towel drying up and losing its effect won’t help Gon, but leaving every 5 minutes to refresh the towel leaves Gon in an intensely vulnerable and lonely state. Killua walks to the bathroom and digs around for a bucket.
All Gon can do is cry, tears streaming down his face as he tries to cry out Killua’s name. The anguish of Killua leaving his side hurts more than any injury he has experienced. Why can’t he hear him?
Water is rushing from the tub’s spout, and Killua taps his foot impatiently. The water isn’t moving fast enough.
Gon's voice cracks and comes back.
“—lua—KILLUA—"
He interrupts himself with sobbing cries. He just wants him. He needs him.
The sound of Gon crying echoes through the house, and before Gon can even finish saying his name, he has dropped the bucket into the tub. He turns off the water, dries his hands, and runs into his room. He is at the edge of his bed where Gon is curled in a ball. His hand is outstretched and looks like it's reaching for something. Someone. Tears and snot are falling across the right side of his face. His tank top has shifted, scrunched at the top, and the poorly wrapped bandage on his side is revealed. Killua pays it no mind. Not while Gon is like this.
“Gon, it’s okay. I’m here,” Killua whispers, and sets his hand on Gon's. Gon's hand immediately grips his hand and his nails dig into Killua. He is shaking, his breathing is sporadic, but his tears and sobs have slowed down.
Killua grabs at Gon’s side to lean him upright when he notices. The bandage is soaked in a single, circular spot, mainly with blood, and a little bit of yellow pus. Killua can immediately tell this sting was from something venomous. Killua sighs, anger clouding over his worry.
“Gon! Why didn’t you tell me!? You could be dead by now! This is a big sting and it's obviously venomous, how long have you had this? God, it must have been over 3 days at least, I’m glad it wasn’t fatal, you’re such a dumbass!”
Killua wipes the tears from Gon's face, kisses his cheek and scoops him up. Gon was hesitant to release Killua’s hand, but the embrace was better than just having his hand. The towel falls off Gon's head and onto the floor.
Gon is still curled up. His head is resting in Killua’s chest, and his hands are gripping the shirt Killua wears. His nose gets wiped onto the shirt, but neither notice, not yet at least. Killua walks with gentle steps, his feet not making a sound, and his body gliding smoothly, no bobbing or bumping. The only thing Gon can think of now is how close he is with Killua, how, if this were the other way around, Killua would most definitely tell him this is embarrassing.
But how can love like this be embarrassing? How are the intimacies of illness and caretaking embarrassing? Why doesn’t he just admit it?
It feels so special. The red on his cheeks and the heat in his face isn’t from embarrassment, it’s from joy. But of course, thinking too long on serious subject matter including love and Killua in the same thought can only make his brain smoke.
“Gon, I have no idea what you could be thinking about so hard that you’re smoking while I carry you, but knock it off or I’ll make you walk to the bathroom yourself,” Killua snarls. He thinks Gon is thinking something dirty, but then realizes it is only himself thinking those things, Gon could never. He is a dog. An innocent golden retriever of a boy. Gon was probably thinking about how to excuse his injuries to him. Yeah, that seems correct. Killua nods his head, accepting that idea.
“Alright Gon, I’m gonna set you down on the counter, then I’m gonna dig underneath the sink for our first aid kit.”
“Mhhmm,” Gon grunts, acknowledging Killua’s words.
Killua sets Gon down on the counter of the bathroom, and while supporting Gon’s head with one hand, uses the other to grab a towel from the rack behind them to act as a pillow.
“Now rest your head here, okay, Gon?”
Killua lays Gon’s head down gently and brushes the hair out of his face. Killua stares at Gon's strenuous expression, his eyebrows angle down, and an upturned frown crosses his face.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be gone for long, I’ll just be down here, out of your sight, but still here." He gives Gon a little hand squeeze. He moves his hands to the edge of the counter, supporting his weight as he kneels down to look below the sink.
“Kill... ua..." Gon groans. He is scared, he can’t feel Killua touching him anywhere, for all he knows he could be alone again. Lost in the woods, getting attacked by a motherly fox bear, but this time, no one comes to his rescue. He is alone. Kite is gone. He is dead. Gon can’t fight, Gon can’t make friends with this fox bear, she doesn’t like him. He is a threat to her cub. But he can’t hurt her, she is taking care of her baby, he is helpless, he is in pain, he is scared, he can only cry.
“Gon, GON!”
Killua grabs Gon’s hands, squeezing them tight.
“It’s okay, I’m right here, I never left. I never will.”
Gon’s breathing calms, his mismatched memory of his first encounter with danger fades. The fox bear mother has calmed, and fallen asleep. Gon awakes; his hands feel warm and he can hear a distant voice.
“Killua…” he whispers.
“Yes, yes, Gon, it’s me, it's me, I'm right here." Killua rests their foreheads together and sighs, relieved. “I'm never gonna leave you, so just keep holding my hand.”
He grabs Gon's hand and kisses it softly before using his other hand to support him while he kneels down to grab the first aid box. Gon begins to sob, but Killua can tell they aren’t sad tears. Killua just watches Gon's face, forgetting he needs to bandage up his side until Gon begins to grimace.
“Don’t ever let go…” Killua says, silently, no sound actually escaping his lips.
“There! We should be all patched up and ready to go!'' Killua lightly pats the bandage. His mouth curls up on either side and his eyes appear to squint, his cat-smirk coming to fruition; he is proud of his bandage work. Especially since he did this with one hand, his other still gripped by Gon's.
Killua strokes back Gon's hair starting from his hairline, lets out a pent up breath and squeezes Gon's hand. A mutual signal they have developed for when they want to end a hug or holding hands; almost a polite and subtle goodbye from one hand to the next.
“Up we go,” Killua says, removing his hand from Gon's, he scoops the boy with the smaller, more fragile frame into his arms, bridal style. Gon is fairly skinny, his arms and legs are boney, but he is visibly healthy nonetheless. Gon grunts in discomfort at having to move, but complies and wraps his arms around Killua’s neck.
His footsteps are soft but quick, matching the beats of Gon’s heart, an unintentional but subconscious addition to Killua’s step as he feels Gon's heart pounding on his chest.
He finally reaches his room and sits down on the edge of the bed. He turns his whole upper body, along with Gon in his arms, to the right, and places Gon on the bed, 2 medium-sized pillows, stacked to help support Gon. The angle helps keep his airways as open as possible. Killua then crawls off the bed to tuck Gon in before crawling right back up and laying next to him, on top of the sheets. He kisses the top of Gon's head and begins to doze, but he is awakened by the feeling of Gon’s head falling to his shoulder, and his hand outstretched to Killua’s lap. Killua takes Gon’s hand and cuddles up close, tossing his closest arm over Gon’s shoulders, and embracing him, before they both doze off, asleep on one another. Gon's warm forehead cools against Killua's icy skin.
End