Chapter Text
Swardani City was a loud city, full of man-made lights and high buildings. It was around 10:00 a.m. when a flash of light landed on a dark alley, Ging and Gon Freecss appearing with it.
As the Hunter became aware of his surroundings, his nose wrinkled and the taste of his mouth became harsh, it had been a few months since the last time he had gotten the pleasure of tasting the bad smell of any city's smoke. Gon squeezed his hand and a small cough came from him.
Gon was only a few months away from being nine, but he had never been in a city before. Ging thought about how he should have leaved the boy at home, in the safety of San Agustín under the care of one of his friends, but it was too late to regret it now. He had to recharge energy first.
For almost a year, since his son had became aware of where did his father go every couple of months, he had started begging Ging to bring him along, at some point he had been too tired to tell him no and here they were.
–hey, you good?– Gon coughs once again as a response. –You'll get use to it. Let's go.–
They walk away from the alley and towards the crowd of men and women that were too busy running to their jobs or homes to notice the weird, outsiders aura the Freecss had. –¿Papá, me haces de caballito?–
–Too crowded huh.– they stop walking and the brown skinned man looks at his son. –Ok, get on!– he takes Gon by his armpits and places him on his shoulders on a second, it had been a while since doing this, and the weight feelt familiar.
–Woah! The city looks so much better like this!– as he gets confortable on his seat, the boy looks around with amazed, shiny eyes. Everything was so new and big and so loud for him. From the corner of his eye, Gon notices the picture of a beautiful woman with a fancy bottle on her hands, but for a boy who had never seen something like that before, he gasped and decided to caught his father's attention by pulling his hair. Ging just growled at this.
–What?–
–How can that woman be so big dad? And she is standing so still! Is she a gigant?–
A quick laugh comes out of Ging’s mouth at the boy's theory and some random people on the street look weirdly at them. –That's an advertising billboard, Gon. Big companies of perfume or clothes put it around the cities so people know what they are selling.– Is it too early to teach his son about capitalism?
–Woah, the world of the city dwellers is truly impressive!–
They keep walking a few streets more, there is not much sun as one could hope at this time of the day, the smoke made it hard for the light to show. They stop at some traffic lights with Gon being surprised by every little thing, not like Ging could blame him. When it had been his own turn to meet the outside world at the age of twelve, he had been just as surprised as his boy (he had been better at hiding it thought).
The sun skinned boy looks at everything with dazzled eyes and a big smile but suddenly, something catches his attention. Someone, a teenager by the sound of their voice, was a pair of meters besides them, he was holding a cooler box and was trying to catch the passersby attention.
–EEEEEMPANADAS DE CARNEDEQUESODEPOLLODEPABELLÓN COOOOOOMPRE SUS EMPANADAAAS– the boy recognized his first lenguague almost as fast as the teen changed lenguagues. –BUY YOUR EEEEMPANADAS OF MEAT CHEESE CHICKEN PABELLÓN BUUUUUUY THEM HEREEEE.–
Gon looks at the other kid excited, but before being able to ask his dad to buy them some, Ging speaks –No me vengas de antojado, muchacho. I know what you are thinking.–
–But we only eat some bread and eggs at aunt Mito's home! I'm starving.– he tries to enlarge the a in "starving" and makes his eyes look bigger, but his father was already immune to his puppy eyes by this point to even flinch.
Then, a groan is heard coming from Ging's own stomach and the man sighs. –Well, if they have empanadas de pabellón...– Gon celebrates his victory as Ging walks them towards the teen.
The boy must be around sixteen, Gon thinks, his height was the same as Ging's, his skin was even darker than the Freecss' and his own brown eyes shine the moment he sees them aproach. –Good Morning! ¡Buenos días!, my name is Leorio! what can i get for you?– his voice is quick and loud, highlighting from the sounds of the city.
–Hey, one of pabellón and cheese.– Ging says as he takes Gon off his shoulders. –Do you have spicy sauce?–
–You can bet i do, dón!– as Leorio starts looking in his small bag, and Gon pulls his daddy's pants, looking for his attention.
–I want one of pabellón, too.– Ging sighs at him and shakes his head as a sign of no.
–Those are too big for you, kiddo. Stay with the cheese ones.–
Leorio, who's reason to live right now was nothing but getting enough money, smirked at the father and son exchange, after all those empanadas in question were the most expensives he had. –Well, sir. I don't want to intrude but your son seems like a growing boy, he needs the vitamins!–
How many vitamins can a empanada have anyway? The Hunter thinks.
–Yeah! What he said!– Gon exhales.
–And, i have a offert of two pabellón empanadas plus a big soda.– Leorio searches again in his bag and takes three different sodas from it. –Grape, Orange or lime?–
Ging sighs, when using his nen ability, teleportation, accompanied by another person, he would feel like someone had used him to wash the tires of a car afterwards, with no energy left on his body, he needed the food.
–Orange.–
They eat their food in the sidewalk besides Leorio and, Ging has to admit, the empanadas were pretty good for a fourteen-years-old peddler that looked older than what he really was. But even so Gon, unsurprisingly, leaved his food on the half, forcing Ging to eat it for him. When the time comes to pay the teen, Leorio finds himself surprised by seeing how the traveler gave him more money than what he was supossed to, a lot more.
Should he tell the man? He needed the money but that would surely apply as stealing and he was no thief, thank you very much. He swallows and looks back to the father and the son. –¿Dón? You gave me more than---–
–Keep it.– the man says. –Your food was pretty good, we may come back.–
Leorio nods and smiles, it has been a long time since someone has been nice with him at all.
As they leave, Gon screams a loud –Bye, Leorioooo!– he lengthens the o and waves his hand at him on his dad's shoulders once again.
It's weird the kind of people you can meet in Swardani City.
The hotel is named something something Magnolia and it's white decorated walls were the first thing Gon noticed of it, the second and most important was the enormeous pool in the ceiling.
Their room was in the fifth floor and the view was particulary pretty from there, when the hotel worker, a nice lady with freckles, mentioned the buffet upstairs, his father declined the offer and only then the woman left them.
He runned towards one of the two matrimonial beds and jumped for it, claiming it as his by this simple act. It was soft and it feelt like the mattress hugged him back with the high quality pillows. Behind him, Ging only sighed as he taked his hat and shoes off.
–It's so soft!– the boy says. Gon gets up and starts jumping on it, too excited. Ging walks by, falling upface on his own bed acompannied by a long groan.
–God, i'm so tired.– he helds his arm onto his eyes, covering them and tries to catch a pillow from his bed. Gon smiles and jumps to the other bed as he lends his dad one of his own pillows and sits besides him.
–You'll need a day to recover from our... our you know...– He mutters and looks around the room, looking for the word in the Hunter lenguague he needed. – the thing we do that we go from one place to the other with your magic! How was it named... ¿epa papá como se le decía a eso?–
The hunter, still with his arm on his eyes says–Teleportation.– Gon gasps and a long "aaaaaaah" came from his mouth.
–And then we will go to those ruins you said!–
–Sure thing.–
Gon was a strong kid, not very smart but brave like only a toddler could be. When Ging had agreeded to go to an adventure together the boy had immediately asked for the most dangerous he could think of, obviously ending with the man tricking him to think that the ruins of Varalla, in the North of Swardani City, were dangerous and not one of the most safe and better keeped ruins Ging had found.
He had discovered it when he was just a boy, ruins of the natives from Saherta that could only be reached in a especific time of the year for the fact that it was under the waters, but apart from that they weren't the coolest he had seen, although it holded some good memories, a good start for a kid like Gon.
They were supossed to left in a few days, after Ging's reunion with the Zodiacs they would meet with Kite in a small village close to the city. And yes, it was a matter of playing with fire to bring Gon to the city where Pariston lived, but Cheadle would have his head on a stick if he din't show up and the Varalla ruins would only be there for a few more weeks.
His muscles get confortable on the bed and he sighed, he should get a new mattress for his bed. Besides him, Gon is jumping on his own bed, making it a mess as he jumps and lands effortless on his hands, playing with his own weigh. –Dad, did you saw the pool this place has? It was huge!– he says.
–Let me guess, you want to go?–
–Yes!– a wide grin grows on his face as he stares at his dad. –Can i go? Please?–
He checks the time in their room, it had been some good forty minutes since they eat and the sun is probably in it's highest, and Ging really likes the feeling of the sun on him. And it’s not like Gon was gonna let this go easily, of all the things he had inherit from him, stubborn as hell was the worst.
–Not alone.– he says. –Give me a second to change and then we can go.– a sound of victory comes from Gon and Ging wonders if he is spoiling his son too much.
Gon spends the whole day swimming, he becomes friends with like three children he will probably never see again and gets his eyes red for the chlorine in the water. Ging gets sunburned on one of those long chairs but on the frame of his eyes, where he had his sun glasses on, he drinks enough piñas coladas to keep a mamut sleeping without getting drunk and sleeps for the evening.
By the time the sun is gone they are back in their room and the Hunter can still feel the form of the plastic chair he sleep on tattoed on his back. He asks for room service and they eat pizza for dinner in a never ending conversation, Gon told him about the kids he meet and how many times did he jumped to the pool and how his record to not breath under water had been updated from four minutes with twenty seconds to five minutes with two seconds and they cheered for it.
Ging heard all of it and laughed with him, adding up a few things every now and then so his boy would keep going, it was just, so nice and domestic. He could rarely recall how his life had come from someone that could not stay in one place for more than a week than a father. A father that fucked it up sometimes, obviously, but he could never think about his life without Gon now.
They wash the dishes together with music coming from the hotel tv, and by nine o'clock it was finally Gon's bedtime.
Ging goes to put the boy in his bed, and takes a look around the whole room, looking to how to put the screen off. –Gon, do you know where the tv remote is?–
–What? No!– The brown skinned boy is sitting unaturally straight in his bed, his face looking like a fighting ring, trying to keep his smile undercover and failing miserably.
–You sure?–
–¡Absolutamente!–
Gon's hands are behind his back, with the giggle in his face and the playable look in his eyes it doesn't take a detective to know he has the remote. So Ging plays along.
Doing the dad like show of –Oh dear, where could it be? Whatever shall i do. I don't have the slightest idea where it is!– he starts looking everywhere in their room but in Gon's bed, making the boy's grin grow wider and wider.
Then, in a classic dad turnaround, he snaps him over his shoulder, screaming a playful. –It was YOU!– Gon laughs so hard his stomach hurts as he flies around the room on his dad's shoulder and he feels home.
The youngest Freecss awakes at the sound of a door closing and footsteps on the wooden floor. He opens his eyes and looks around, the bed next to him, the one that belonged to his father, was empty besides for the spreaded sheets and a pair of pillows on the side.
He gets up and puts his feet on the floor, walking around their 'room', which more than a room is a whole apartment, fully equiped with everything they could possibly need, Ging and Gon were not ones for luxury but his dad had made reservations for this one specially because of the localization (and the enormeous pool on the ceiling)
He gets to the hotel's expensive living room, spotting his father almost immediately, sitting on the black couch Ging was mending his mountain black shoes. –Morning...– the boy mumbles, acompannied by a long yawn.
–Morning, kiddo.– Ging replies as he looks at him, his hair, usually spiky and unnaturally up, is weat and long till his shoulders.
–Did you take a shower?– he asks.
–Umh? Oh yeah.– Ging takes a look at his hair before nodding as Gon sits next to him. –I'm heading to the Hunter association now, if i let myself go anytime later one of my coworkers will personally execute me.– this makes Gon laugh, taking the sleep out of him.
Ging gets up and zips his white shirt up as he is followed by his son's gaze. –When are you coming back?– the boy asks.
–no idea, knowing how the Zodiacs are it will take more than a few hours.– the man sighs longly and passes a hand through his hair. –So in case i take too long you'll have to order something on the Room Service.–
–Room Service?–
–Yeah, you take that phone in between our beds.– the Hunter moves and signs the white telephone conected by some cables in the place he said and only now Gon notices he hadn't given a second glance to it before. –You'll ignore the numbers and press on the button that says 'Service'. Someone from the lobby should reply to you, just order whatever you want to eat and i'll pay it when we leave.–
–Whatever... i want?– stars crossed the kid's eyes.
Ging, even thought he wasn't looking at his son right now, must have feelt the tone of his child's voice, he turned around and put a warning finger up. –Don't exaggerate with the candies, i'll know if you do.–
–I wasn't going to!–
–Right.–
They walk towards the door and Ging checks on the whole apartment again, looking for if he missed anything. Lastly, he looked at his son and got closer, Gon din't protest but rather giggled when his father pulled his hair back and placed a kiss on his forehead.
–Pórtate bien, try not to do anything that could get us kicked out from here. I leave some emergency money in the counter, take it with you just i case.– he says. –And don't leave the hotel without me.–
Ging smiles and with a fast 'i love you' he goes through the door, leaving Gon all alone.
He goes to the pool on the ceiling and stays up there for the morning, Gon loved the water, he could stay hours swimming and never get bored. It was obviously far more fun on the sea or a lake, where he could also go fishing and look for treasures on the deeps of the water, the only treasures he found in the pool where three glazed tiles from the walls and a pair of sun glasses a woman had asked him to help her get back.
Even thought the lack of pearls and fish in the deeps of the chlorine water, he found himself busy, there were other children in the pool around his age who became fast friends with him. Gon was a fun kid and he had tons of friends in his home island or wherever he went, but none of them managed to actually 'stick' with him. None of them actually get him. He was okay with that thought, he was a weird boy who could stay more than 5 minutes without breathing underwater and whose father could teleportate, he would find someone as weird as him one day, probably.
Gon stays in the pool until his friends have to leave, their parents calling them for lunch. Only then Gon realizes he hadn't eaten anything since that same morning when he had eaten what was left of pizza from the other night.
He leaves the pool and gets dry with the white hotel's towel he brough with him that had the logo of the place, a big eyed fish with a crown of flowers and bubbles on their side.
The elevator of the hotel is big and two ladies that were holding hands enter with him, they are chating about some tv show they both like but Gon is more interested in the panel with the red numbers showing which floor they are going to. They finally stop in the seventh floor and the ladies walk towards what he believes is the buffet, he thinks of going behind them but notices that he is still on his wet clothes.
The button of his floor is too high for him to reach so he jumps, pressing his fingers on the fifth button, he waits for a minute and then he is back on his floor. The moment he gets into his room Gon freezzes the socks he doesn't have on, the air conditioner is on and working just perfectly. He covers on the towel and runs towards the bathroom.
He takes a shower and Gon has to admit, although the water in San Agustín was warm and he also had no problem with the cold water of lakes, the shower he takes with the boiling water in the best and most relaxing he ever had.
Half an hour later and he is besides his bed, which was not messy anymore thanks to the hotel staff apparently, luckily his dad had told him about that the day before, in any other case he would have been afraid someone had broked in. He takes the white phone and does as his father told him, calling the room service.
It takes less than a second to anyone to pick up, and a young man sounds on the other side.
–Room Service, what can i do today for you, sir?– a sing song voice says.
–Umh, hello? I wanted to eat lunch, sir.– he is not so sure about what he is supossed to say to be honest.
the guy on the other side seems a bit surprised to hear someone so young on the line but his tone is the same. –Well, our menú is very varied, sir. But i would recommend our lobster, the best in the country.–
Gon had no idea what lobster meant in the Hunter lenguague but if it was the best in the country it was for a reason. –Yeah... that would do, thanks mister.–
–And what would you like to drink, sir?–
–A soda, please.– and the call ended.
Fifteen minutes later someone knocked the door and a pretty lady in an uniform entered. She helped him get in the table and even put the tv on for him with a generic smile, the moment his food was revealed the look in his face must have been too obvious, the girl noticed and asked if something was wrong, Gon only denied and smiled at her.
–I just din't know that a lobster was a.. well, langosta.–
She din't seem to understand but still tried to help. –We can still change it if you want, sir.–
–No it's okay!– he assured. –thank you, anyways.–
He eated the whole thing and by the time the same lady came for his plate he could not move from his place.
The clock of the lobby said 3:17 p.m. and Gon had been there for at least an hour now, sitting in front of one of the hotel's windows, waiting for his dad to show up like an abandonned puppy (he wasn't, but his eyes looked like if that were the case). Every now and then someone from the staff would show up and ask if he was okay or if he din't know how to go back to his room, only to be rejected shortly after.
He sighed and looked at the whole street again, his dad had leave around eight in the morning and to this moment he was still out. It was true that Ging had said he din't know how long the meeting could take, but Gon had still been hoping for him to return for lunch or at least before the sun fell.
He sighs and looks around once again, the streets had started to grow lonely, most people were home or at work right now but one of the passersby catches his eyes, familiar spiky brown hair and a cooler box in hand are enough for him to recognize Leorio, standing on the other side of the street while chatting with a lady, probably talking his way into getting the woman to buy him anything. He smiles, happy to see a kind of familiar face and thinks of going out to say hi, but the eyes of the staff on him are too obvious to try anything.
He waits for a few minutes there, still looking at the teen and at the lady leaving him to count his money and hid it in his pockets, he tries to think of a plan when a big man enters the hotel, his expensive suite and rather loud voice being the distraction he needs to get out. As usual, without thinking it twice that is, he runs behind the man and finds himself outside in the street, he checks both sides of the street as his dad had taught him hours before and runs to the other side with a giggle.
–Leoriooooo!— the extension of the 'o' becoming an habit by this point
Leorio looks up and blinks exactly three times at the sigh of the kid. –Gon?!– he yelps. –What are you doing here?– even thought the teen's tone is surprised, he can see the smile growing on his cheeks. –Where's your pops?–
–Hes on a meeting right now!– Gon exhales, giggling at the way Leorio razed his hand through his hair. –I was waiting for him on that hotel's door when i saw you!–
–That hotel?– the teenager says, Gon nods and signs at the glamorous building on the other side of the street. Leorio's jab drops, just a little.
Leorio had a dream, a dream where he lived in a big house with a medicine degree hanging on the wall, with a fancy car in his garage that would take him everyday to his own clinic, the clinic where he could tell parents that the surgery of their childrens had already been paid, that there was nothing to worry about. He wanted a confortable life, but he was sure that not even in his squanderest fantasies he would ever spent a penny in such a pretentious looking place. –So that is the height of luxury, huh. The lack of security disturbes me, thought.– how did this child get out?
Then he turns at Gon, hands on his hips. –But still, Kiddo! You should not be here all by your own!– the few passersby in the area look at Leorio with a raised eyebrow as his voice became louder and louder. –Din't your dad tell you anything about it?–
–Well, i mean...– Gon muttered, looking anywhere but Leorio and suddendly feeling like if it were Ging or Mito the ones lecturing him. His father had told him, several times since they'd left his home island, to not go anywhere without him, he was just meeting the world and he had a lot to learn yet. –Maybe, i must have forgotten.–
–Right.– Leorio said, with that tone that meant that he din't buy it. –Don't try that with me kid, i memorized every trick in the book thanks to my siblings.–
–Wait, what?– At the new information, the boy glanzed at the oldest. –You have siblings Leorio?–
–More than i could prefer, but i love them guts.– he says, a sparkle in his eyes being born at the mention of his siblings. –I have, between my mom and dad, and listen closely, eight siblings, i'm the oldest. Plus my four cousins that my mom practically adopted and my brother who is not exactly my brother but lives with us but also has another dad.–
–that would be... twelve siblings!?– the kid said.
–fourteen, but that was pretty close.– he corrected, before noticing where their conversation have gone to.–hey! Don't change the subject! I'm taking you back to where you are staying.– the dirty looks of the city dwellers were enough for him, he couldn't afford to lose a kid like Gon with a father who could pay a place like that. Plus he was kinda grateful with mister Ging for giving him a tip the other day.
–Oh, come on! Let me stick around for a bit! I promise i'll behave!– the kid begged, puppy eyes on his face, Leorio did not even flinch, so many little siblings meant he was inmune to that kind of act, while Gon questioned his own abilities. –Can we at least chat?–
–so you are that bored, little man?– Leorio said as a joke, but when Gon nodded excited he only sighed. –Alright.– a groan growing on his throat.
Gon cheered and the minute Leorio sat on the <span;>sidewalk he acompannied him and started talking. –So what were you doing?–
–Doing for a living, I imagine. I was just selling some good lunches to a lady on a hurry, probably the lasts for today so i have an hour free before going back home.–
–You go home so early? I don't know how is the life of the people in the city, but back in San Agustín we would only go back home after the sun fell.–
–Well, if i want to be back home before midnight i have to get to the train first. It's a long way back home, almost three hours.–
–so you dont live here?– the boy asks.
–With how expensive the rent is? Nah, i live in a small town down the train road. This is the nearest place with people that have enough money to actually buy the food my mom makes.–
–Your...mom?–
The question gets Leorio out of his own thoughts, to look at the boy with big eyes besides him. –umm yeah. You know, this woman that lives and takes care of you.–he says, surprised to even have to explain this to the kid.– you know what a mom is, right?–
Of course Gon knew what a mom was, he had just never needed one in his life. By the way some of his friends would talk about them he knew he wasn't missing much; if he needed someone to clean his tears his dad was there, if he needed help to study or just to make him feel better his dad would just appear from nowhere, if he needed something and couldn't find it dad would just make it magically appear from the most obvious place possible.
–i think so, but i dont have a mom. Back home is just dad and me, most recently my aunt Mito but i actually just meet her.–
–Aunt Mito?– Leorio found himself asking at the odd name.
–Yeah! She is my dad's cousin and she is the best!– the boy cheered.– She knows the name of so many plants and their uses and makes the best cake ever and swims super fast!– he recalled their week together and smiled, he had made so many good memories and couldn't wait to do it again. – she can also make fire from her hands and fire comes out of her head when she gets angry!–
–Hey! Just like my own mom!– Leorio did not know what kind of magic trick Gon's aunt used to do that but he wasn't going to let the oportunity to make a pun slip so easily.
Gon seemed to ignore him, still talking about what Mito could do. – She also knows how to make one of the bests lasagnas ever! It can't beat my dad's but it's still pretty good.–
–Bet so, little man.– he let's it sink and then opened his eyes surprised. –Hold on, your dad knows how to cook?–
–Yes! I'm too young to learn yet so he makes most meals back home. But he promised to teach me by the end of the year!–
Gon's smile is big and excited and Leorio can't help but to smile back. This boy in front of him had the eyes of someone who was not aware of the cruelty of the world, he was simple minded; saying what he meant and meaning what he said. Being raised in a happy environment did that to people, Leorio guessed.
–For someone with such a pissed off face like him, your dad seems pretty cool.–
–Pissed off?– he asks, and Leorio takes a moment to notice that more than asking what did he meant by that he was asking what did those words mean.
–Enojado, pues. Like if he din't wanted to be here at all.–
–Oh! You mean this face?– He changes expressions, making a frown that it's so similar to Ging's that Leorio starts thinking if he looks that much like his own father. More than looking like his son, Gon looked like Ging's clone. They laugh at the boy antics and Gon notices Leorio looks far younger when he laughs. –It's not that he is angry or anything, he is just shy to be arround new people.–
–Shy?–
–Yeah, he gets kinda weird when there is too much people around him. I don't really get why.– maybe it was because Gon and Leorio were both extroverts or Ging's own weirdness but the teen din't get it either. When he was around new people he got excited and started to talk a lot, trying to look cool, one of his brothers would always tell him he practically started to shine, Gon was not different apparently.
–i'm relieved, then. I thought that he was angry with me or something.–
–And what about you dad Leorio?–
–My dad?– the teen asked.
–Yeah, you said you had one remember? How is he?–
–Well... surely not like yours, Gon.– the brown skinned teen says, an arm behind his neck. –My mom does everything at home, she raised us and made sure we all stay feed, even children that are not her own. My older little siblings and I always try to help her, that's why i'm on the streets.– he says, but the light in his eyes suddenly goes off. –But my dad... besides sitting on the couch seeing television the whole day.– and beating him up. –He does nothing. Not all parents are as cool as yours, kiddo.–
–My dad doesn't do much either. We clean the house in the mornings, he makes food and at evenings we go fishing, he just comes here every three or four months to have meetings, and i usually stay home.–
–What was different this time?– he asks.
–For the last year i've been insisting on coming with him so we could go have an adventure together! He said we would go to some ruins he found before i was born, they are not so far from this city.–
Wait, meetings and ruins? The numbers don't add up. –What does your dad work on, anyway?– he asks. –You said he was in a meeting but he doesn't exactly look like a business man or anything.–
–Dad's a Hunter, silly!– the boy says with a giggle and looks at him with big dark eyes. In any other moment, one where Leorio wasn't as shocked as he is right now, he would have noticed Gon's eyes, far different from Ging's.
–A... a Hunter?!– His jaw drops as he kicks himself internally. He should have known for Ging's strange vibes and aura, his second sister who was into witchcraft and La Santa Muerte would beat him up for not noticing.
–Yeah, and he's in the Hunter association right now!–
–Dang, now it makes more sense why you guys staying in that fancy hotel.– he said. –he must be rich.– he mutters the end but Gon's good hearing catchs up, making boy gasp.
–Why would you think we are?–
–Because being a Hunter is the best payed job in the world?!– he yelped loudly and for a moment Gon was afraid that someone on the hotel would hear it, notice him and then drag him back. –With a Hunter license you can enter to almost every country, and use their public services for free! 60 of the 100 richest people in the world are Hunters! There is no better deal than that!–
–then dad and aunt Mito must have lots of money, right?–
–Your aunt is also a Hunter?!–
Before Gon can reply, an electronic sound interrupts him. Leorio searches his pocket and takes out a plastic clock with pictures of cars around it, he makes a face of tiredness and sighs. –It's four o'clock kid, time to go back to your room, i gotta go.–
–Aww, but my dad isn't even back yet!–
–You'll have to wait in your room for him then.– he answers, getting up and trying to take the dust out of his clothes. –Sorry, little man.–
Gon nods, a bit sad at the idea to go back to the hotel and wait in that window for who knows how long more, when the teen muttered under his breath. –Shit.–
–What is it?– he asks.
–I just remembered that i din't sell the last lunch i had in my bag, if i come back home with this my dad is gonna be far from happy.– the teen says. –Are you hungry, Gon? If you have money i could sell it to you. That would really save my ass.–
–Actually i already eat, and i'm not really hungry...– the boy said. –Sorry.–
–Don't be dumb, it's my fault.– Leorio takes a hand on his hair like earlier and smiles genuinely.
–But...wait! I have an idea!– Gon snapped of his place and went along side Leorio. –My dad has been out since this morning, he eat breakfast but i bet he hasn't eaten anything for lunch. Maybe we could take it to him!–
The teen lifted his hand towards his chin and made a funny face as he thinked. –It's... it's not a bad plan but do you have how to pay me? We may be buds but i can't get home empty handed.–
–i have some emergency money with me, would this be enough?– it was Gon's turn to search in his pocket, taking out a few bills and some coins, Leorio took it and started counting, finally giving Gon his exchange.
–Well, here you go kid.– He takes a small plastic box out of his cooler box, it was already cold but there should have at least one microwave in the Hunter association building.–Come on, kiddo. I'll take you there.–
–But what about your train!–
–Igual lo tengo de camino, so chill.–
They walk together for a few blocks, Gon filling the silence with his stories and Leorio replying with his owns. When they are passing besides a park the teenager stops and signs the place. –I have to take some stuff from here, it will just take a moment.–
The park is obviously green and Gon feels relieved to see something of his favorite color for the first time in hours, not the dark green blankets in his room but something alive, familiar. Leorio just walks throught it and stops in front of a tree, he looks all ways possible and then climbs it, he does it with some difficulty but when he is back on the ground he is holding something else. A small, brown and old bag is on his hands, he opens it for a moment and takes in the money Gon gave him a few minutes prior, but what takes the kid's attention is the small notebook on it, that in difference of Leorio's clothes or the bag itself, it's very clean and almost seems new.
The teen seems to notice Gon's gaze as he puts his things in the bag and places it on his shoulder. –That's my notebook, i use it when i come to the city.–
–Why do you need one? To keep track of your sellings?– Gon asks.
–Well...– Leorio says, suddenly shy. –It's kind of a secret but lets say that there is another reason why i stay in Swardani for so long.–
As they walk away and towards the Hunter association, Leorio opens up the notebook for Gon to see it. –You see, i want to become a doctor one day, and this city has one of the best med universities in the world. I usually sneak in to watch classes in secret or to read books about it in the public library. In this notebook is where i write everything i learn.
–That is so incredible, Leorio!– He exhales. –I'm sure you are going to be the best doctor in the world!–
A laugh comes from Leorio, a small blush on his cheeks at the cheesy comments of the boy. –I'm not sure if i'll be the best doctor ever, but i want to help those who can't afford hospitals.–
–Can you tell me about your classes?–
–YES.–
Seeing Leorio talk about something he is passionate about is fun and time passed faster by the time they are in front of the association.
–Thanks for everything, Leorio!–
–no problem, kid.– he says. –take care and tell your dad i said hi. Who knows? Maybe next time we see each other i'll be Doctor Paladiknight!–
–I have no doubt!– he waves goodbye until the teen is out of his sigh, he looks up at the building and smiles wildly before setting a foot in.
The Hunter Association's building was pristine white, with red fancy chairs and people with murder in their eyes. Gon walked into it with the bag of food on his hand, trying not to take too much attention from the people in the place, to quickly find out that no one actually cared.
He spotted the secretary's desk in the middle of the room and decided that would be a good start, on the other side of the table there was a blonde lady with big lips and bags under her eyes, she was tapping on her computer as fast as light and her eyes din't seem to focus on one place.
–hi ma'am I want---–
–If you lost your mom or dad go sit on one of those couchs. I'm busy, dear.– she said, never looking at him nor stopping tapping her computer.
Gon stayed stupidly there for a moment, he was looking for his dad, he wasn't lost, then why was she so mean?
He noticed someone coming towards them, a tall chubby man on Padokian clothes. –Good evening.– the manly voice said and the girl looked at him with a smile immediately.
–Good evening, sir. What could i help you with?– she almost looked happy to be talking with that man, then why was she so mean with him?
–I have a meeting with Mizaiston, in floor three.– he said, giving the girl a small paper that made her nod. Gon realized then that he should not be hearing this, by the look the man gave him, but the name Mizai seemed too familiar and he wasn't done with the receptionist.
–Of course, sir. Just a second.– she tapped wildly on her computer for a moment and then looked back. –Mizai is busy with another meeting right now, go to room 15 in floor three and wait for him if you may.– her voice was polite as she gave the man a small card and his paper back.
–Alright, thank you.– he said and then leaved, going towards the elevators.
When they were alone again, the boy decided to try one more time, maybe to use her good humor and-- nevermind she looked stressed again.
–Ma'am, please i need--–
–Go. To. The. Couchs.– she said and a strange yet dangerous aura started to come out of her, he feelt paralyzed as the woman's gaze settle on him. –I will not repeat myself.– she looked back to her computer like if nothing had happened and the dangerous sense was gone, but he still wanted to be as away as possible from that woman from now on.
Well, it wasn't the end of the world, he could just figure out in which room was his papá or try calling him, somehow.
Just in that moment a small, green little thing dressed in a black suit appeared from the door, they were holding some papers and looked like if they were in a hurry. The mean woman on the desk noticed them and quickly straighten up in her chair, a fake smile on her cheeks.
–Mister Beans! What a pleasure!– she said. –What would you need today?–
–Hey, Vera. Did they changed the room the Zodiacs were having their meeting today?– he asked and the moment Gon heared Zodiacs he knew he hitted jackpot, he din't know what that phrase exactly meant but it must be good.
–Yes, Chairman Netero asked so.– she replied.
–I see, he din't tell me anything.– he said and god, did he look tired. –Ok, i'll need to know which room is, i have some papers for Cheadle.–
–Of course, sir. Room 57 on the seventh floor.– she said, tapping on the computer for a moment.
–Thank you, and tell Reiki to bring them coffee.–
–Yes, sir.–
He leaved and Gon feelt like if there was really a god watching them, and somehow he became it's favorite. He waits a few minutes after the Bean guy is gone, as he walks towards one of the elevators.
–You again, where are you going?– Vera said, behind him with the most, how had Leorio said? Pissed off face he had ever seen and that peculiar aura once again. –I told you to stay in the couch.–
–Yeah, you see, ma'am...– he tries to explain, but no explanation will work with this lady at this point so he goes by the first thing that crosses his mind. –My dad is calling me and he is up here so...–
–Oh really? And who is your dad, little brat?–
Well, he might as well say the truth by this point. –Ging Freecss.–
Her eyes open in a second and her jaw drops, almost like Leorio's, she takes one hand to her cheek and the other to her mouth, like if she couldn't believe it. –Fr-Freecss...?!–
She seems distracted enough now, taking his shot Gon runs towards the elevator carefully enough to not drop the food and presses the seventh button repeatedly.
When he is finally there, in the seventh floor, he notices the lots of corridors and rooms that are numbered from the 40 to the 60, he goes through every one, looking for the number 57 where his dad was. When he is in his fifth corridor, a door is opened behind him and someone stares holes on his back.
The man is blonde and his suit is of a pretty shade of purple and has a matching tie with it, his eyes reflect Gon's and he feels like the air escapes his lungs.
–and who might you be, little one?–