Archive of Our Own ^beta

Gon closes the third envelope and takes a deep breath, a big smile taking up his face. Leorio Paradinight. Kite Reina. Ging Freecs.

“Killua, I’m going to the village for a sec!”

His boyf- his fiance waves his hand, lollypop in his mouth, probably nothing but the stick at this point. He’s typing something on the computer, and Gon is definitely not taking advantage of how busy Killua is with the last preparations for the wedding. Not at all. That’s not the reason Gon is doing this. 

“OkaybyeIloveyou!”

*

“So let me get this straight-” Zushi says, as Alluka looks at him worriedly through the rearview mirror. “You invited your dad to the wedding.”

“Yup.”

“Gon,” Alluka says slowly. Gon can see how she’s gripping the wheel tighter. “You don’t know who your dad is.”

“No, no, wait,” Gon says excitedly. “I was cleaning the attic earlier, you know, for the guests, and I found this…”

“A diary?”

“Mito’s old diary.” He grins. “And it’s dated around the time I arrived at the island!”

Zushi and Alluka share a nervous look.

“And I’m guessing you didn’t tell your aunt.”

“Or my brother,” Alluka sighs.

“No. Listen,” Gon whines. “Aunt Mito would go crazy, there’s certainly some, uh- interesting stories here. And Killua wouldn’t understand it.”

“Gon…”

“He doesn’t get it Alluka, his family sucks-no offense-”

“None taken.”

“But he doesn’t know what it feels like growing up without knowing who your father is…” His fingers trail over the diary. “Just- listen.”

“Is it really okay though?” Zushi says, turning back to look at him and gripping the backrest. “Isn’t it a violation of privacy?”

“Well, nobody would tell me anything so I deserve to know!” Gon huffs. “It’s my dad.”

“And your mom?”

“Huh?”

“Does it say anything about your mom?”

“I don’t care about my mom,” Gon grumbles. “Aunt Mito is my only mom.”

They do that again, the whole look at each other and speak through their eyes thing, and Gon can’t take it, so he clears his throat and opens the diary.

“June 17th. What a night!” he reads. “A sailor I had never met came to the island and…”

“I don’t know if I want to hear this…” Zushi mumbles.

“Wait, Mito liked someone? Keep reading Gon!” 

“His name is Kite, and he rowed me over to the little island,” Gon pauses. ”That’s here! That’s Whale Island! We danced on the beach, and we kissed on the beach, and dot, dot, dot.”

“What does that mean?”

“Well, you know.” Gon grimaces. “Dot, dot dot..”

“ Wait,” Zushi says with a pitched voice. “Isn’t Mito your Aunt?!”

“That’s what I thought too, but she was so young…” Gon mumbles. “Bisky told me once when she was very drunk that she was sure Mito had said she was my aunt cause she was, you know… too young. And people on the island wouldn’t have accepted it.”

“So do you think this Kite guy…”

Gon holds a finger. “Nope. The plot thickens,” he smirks. “All this time, Kite’s been saying he wants to travel the world with me, but now my cousin Ging called and said that he has room for one more person on this crazy expedition. And Kite knows it’s my dream, but the jerk is going instead! Who does he think he is? So when he left I didn’t cry or anything. He can get lost. I’m never going to see him again, and I’m definitely okay with that. It was only a summer anyway, who’s so foolish as to fall in love in a summer.”

“Ow,” Alluka pouts. “Poor Mito.”

“There’s more. September 4th. What a night! This new med student called Leorio came to the island, he’s working down at the port. He took me roaming and he barely could do it in the first place, but I thought it was sweet he tried. My friends love him. One thing led to another and, well-” Gon grins. “Dot, dot, dot!”

“Holy shit, ” Zushi says, mouth on the floor. “Doctor?! He might be rich now!”

“That’s not what Gon cares about, Zushi!” Alluka pouts. “So you have 2 possible dads?”

“Wait until you hear about this,” Gon sighs. “It’s of June of the next year: I can’t believe my cousin! How dare he show his face on the island after 12 years! And with a newborn nonetheless! Can you imagine that? Ging of all people a father?! He even said that he wasn’t emotionally ready to keep it. Of course he isn’t! So I did what I had to do.” Gon takes a breath. “And… end.”

“And she leaves it there?!” Zushi yells.

“And you think that’s you?” Alluka asks, stopping the old car abruptly. She turns back with wide eyes. “That could be you! So Ging could be your father!”

“All of them could be!” Zushi says, and Gon nods, twisting the handle to pull the window down.

“I don’t know! The diary ends there, and I’ve never met Mito’s cousin. The baby could be a distant cousin, or…”

“It could be you and that Ging guy is your dad!” 

“That’d make him a terrible one though,” Alluka says. “Maybe my brother is right, and it’s better to never know.”

“I’d rather know,” Gon insists with a frown, stretching his arm out until the letters are inside the mailbox. “Whatever the truth is, there’s only one way to find out, and I want to know it.”

“But wait,” Alluka squints. “They are all coming to the wedding?”

“You invited them?” Zushi gasps. ”This can’t possibly end well.”

“Not me. What do you write to a total stranger? ‘Come to my wedding in two weeks, you might be my Dad?’ No-” Gon shakes his head. “They think Aunt Mito sent the invitations-and after what’s in the diary, I hope they say yes!”

Gon fastens his seatbelt again and pats Alluka’s seat. She turns the key, and the car rumbles its way up the hill again. “Gon, are you sure about this?”

“Yes! I want the perfect wedding and I want my Dad to be there.”

Zushi sighs. “Let’s hope it’s a wide aisle...”

“Ah! I also need your help to keep Aunt Mito out of the picture. She can’t know what I’ve done.”

“She’ll see them sooner or later,” Alluka grimaces.

“Not if we do this right,” Gon says. “I really don’t want her frightening them off before I’ve had a chance to get to know them. With any luck, I’ll know my Dad straight away!”

“What if you don’t?” Zushi asks, mouth twisted. “I don’t look anything like my parents.”

“Well, then I’ll have twenty-four hours to find out!”

*

Mito sighs, crossing her arms with a fond smile as the ferry from the mainland gets close enough for her to see the people inside.

Melody is holding for dear life onto her wide-brimmed sun hat, hair everywhere, and Kurapika’s big sunglasses take up half of his face and the rest is hidden behind a book, but she’d recognise them anywhere.

“Guys!”

They both look up and she waves at them excitedly. Mito walks quickly to them, grin stretching wide as her friends get down, Kurapika with his elegant traveling bag and Melody pulling a suitcase behind her. She opens her arms and pulls them both in with a big sigh.

“I’m so glad you could make it.”

“We wouldn’t miss Gon’s wedding for anything in the world,” Kurapika smiles. 

“So how’s the mother of the groom?” Senritsu asks sweetly. 

Mito rolls her eyes. “Much better after seeing the two of you. How long has it been- God, Kurapika-”

He sighs. “I know. I’m really sorry. It’s just been one undercover mission after another.”

“Look at you,” she says, shaking her head. “And I’ve been chained to this place. In a constant battle with the bank-manager.” 

“You brought Gon up all on your own,” he says. “It’s certainly commendable.”

“Don’t play yourself down, Mito,” Melody chastises with a frown. “Now, do we really have to go in donkey like last time-”

“No,” Mito snorts. “Here, I asked someone to drive us. Well, it’s my future in law, actually.”

Right in time, Alluka’s pink car comes into view, but it’s Killua behind the wheel. Gon gets down, waving excitedly.

“Kurapika! Melody!”

He closes the door and Killua probably protests about being careful, but he ignores him and comes running to hug them and help them with the luggage, loading it into the trunk. Alluka’s car is so small that Gon has to fold up his legs to pull his seat all the way to leave them leg room behind. Not that he’s very tall in the first place. He always doing things like this, her thoughtful boy. 

“I’m so happy to see you both!” Gon says excitedly.

“Gon, seatbell.”

“Ah, and this is Killua, my fiance..”

“My pleasure,” Kurapika and Melody both say.

“Likewise,” Killua smiles, sparing them a glance in the rearview mirror.

“He’s the leading man at tomorrow’s shindig,” Mito says, flourishing her hand.

Killua shakes his head with a small grin. “You must be Kurapika. The violinist?”

“I am,” his friend nods.

“And you must be Melody, the flautist?”

“Yes,” she smiles. “You’ve told the kids about our stage days?”

“Of course she did!” Gon says, unable to contain his excitement. “And I’ve been meaning to ask you… would you please play at our wedding?”

“Will you look at my baby-” Mito says, stretching his hand until she can pinch Gon’s cheek. “ Wedding. His whole life ahead of him…”

“Aunt Mito, I’m getting married, not joining the army.”

“Well, in my day, you just didn’t get married at twenty…”

“In our day we didn’t get married, period,” Kurapika says, and Melody chuckles.

“A huge white wedding. Can you believe this?” she says, shaking her head. “I don’t know where he gets it from.”

“Don’t blame me,” Killua mutters. “It wasn’t my idea.”

Gon rolls his eyes. “As if you didn’t cry when I proposed.”

“That doesn’t-” Killua splutters, cheeks coloring pink. Gon smiles fondly. “Don’t say stuff like that!”

“You’re aware I have vows ready, right? And that’ll be reading them in front of a bunch of people? Like, tomorrow?”

“Stop.”

“You have your vows too, right?”

“Of course I have my fucking vows, Gon,” he mumbles, taking a brusque turn. Mito is used to his reckless driving, but she can see Kurapika’s wide eyes and his hand grabbing the handle tightly over his head. “Had them for a real long time now…”

When they finally make it to the villa, Melody hums, letting the breeze play with her long hair. She smiles. “This is beautiful Mito.”

“Ah, yes, I know,” she answers, dusting off her hands on her dress. “You’ve got to thank Killua and Alluka for that.”

“Alluka?”

Killua smiles. “My sister.”

“The maid of honour!” Gon smiles.

“Oh, but the villa has been here for a while. I remember it,” Melody says. “And you haven’t been here that long, have you?”

“Well. No-” Killua says, arms over his head and leaning on them. “I took a break from stocks and my family. And never went back.”

“Why? If it’s okay to ask,” Kurapika can’t help but say.

“I’d had enough. I’d been dealing in the world, but I’d never seen the world.” Killua kicks a rock. Gon grabs his hand. Killua lets his arms fall down. “My family and I used to come here for the holidays and that’s how I met Gon,” he says with a soft smile. Gon swings their arms. “They were bigots and assholes in general, but once I had enough money from my grandad’s inheritance I told them to fuck off and left with Alluka. After a while I came back here and well, the rest is history.”

Kurapika nods. “Well done.”

Mito rushes in to change the subject. “... well, you should see what he’s done to our world! He’s got us on-line, e-mailed, wired-up and knuckled-down.”

“You have to move with the times, Mito,” he says, and Gon nods. “No more coins under the mattress.”

“Next that we now we’ll be having machines that make beds.”

“If they did, you’d be going along behind it, making them again,” Gon chuckles. Mito rolls her eyes, but kisses his cheek. “You’ll show them around?”

“Yeah, you two go have fun, shoo.” She crosses her arms as she watches them leave, disappearing upstairs. She sighs.

“So, when are the lovebirds flying the nest?” Melody asks, taking off her hat.

“Oh, God! Who knows?” She sighs. “I don’t know what is going on in that child’s head sometimes,” she says, opening the door and letting them inside. “He wants a big white wedding, and he and Killua are making all kinds of plans for the hotel…” She frowns. “Sometimes I think they’ll never leave.”

“Yeah, but do you really want him to?” Senritsu asks, a hand on Mito’s arm. 

She bites her lip. “Well, I want what’s best for him.”

*

Leorio eyes the taxi driver anxiously, begging him to push the pedal further, to go faster, trying to make it before the ferry inevitably left. But of course he isn’t quick enough. “Fuck,” he mutters to himself through gritted teeth. “Uh, it’s okay, we couldn’t have done anything with the traffic,” he tells the driver as he hands him the money.

“I can take you back to the town? I don’t think there’s another ferry today.”

“No, it’s okay, I’ll find a way,” he says, getting out, stretching his legs. “Anyway, thanks a lot!”

“You’re welcome. Have fun at the wedding!”

Leorio sighs, his trusty doctor’s bag in hand. He thrusts his hands in his pockets and reluctantly walks to the little ticket booth.

“Excuse me, is there another ferry to Whale Island today?”

“I’m afraid that was the only one sir,” the woman says, looking ready to close the booth. “But there’s one tomorrow, first thing in the morning.”

“Okay, thanks,” Leorio says, scowling. He kicks a pebble, tracing with his eyes how it bounces on the wooden pier until it falls on the water. “I don’t have time for this,” he mumbles, sitting on the pier.

“Need any help?”

He looks behind him, and then up, at a man hanging from a rope. Better said, hanging onto a boat’s rope, steading the sail.

“It depends, is that your boat?”

“Well, yes,” he says, expression unreadable. “Why?”

“I really need to get to an island as soon as possible-”

“Oh, sorry,” he says, lips curled in a grimace. “I have an important event to attend.”

“Wait. event? Is it a wedding?” Leorio says, taking the invitation out of his chest pocket. “Gon Freecs’ wedding?”

“Yeah?”

“Me too!” He scrambles to stand up immediately. “I’ll pay you. Whatever it takes.”

“No need for that,” the man says, lifting his hand. “Get in. I was just getting ready to leave,” Leorio beams, and crosses the small walk the best he can without tumbling. He takes a seat on the floor as the other man finishes picking everything up, when Leorio catches sight of the name of the boat.

“Wait, Crazy Slot?” he mumbles out loud. “I know you! You are Kite Reina, the explorer!”

“Ah,” he says, blinking. “That’d be me.”

“You know, your books are a godsend on slow hours at the hospital.”

“Oh, yes, I was told I had sold a copy somewhere,” Kite says with a small smile, and Leorio chuckles.

“Now, I may not look like it, but in reality, I’m trekking across some remote corner of the planet,” Leorio says, loosening his tie. “Or love’d too, anyway.”

“You should try it for real sometime,” Kite says as he pulls on the sail and they finally start moving.

“No, too much work at the hospital,” Leorio says, waving his hand. “But what are you doing here? You’re a close friend of Mito?”

The sailor looks up, seeming lost for a minute. “No,” he ends up saying. “I haven’t heard from her in 20 years, actually.”

“Really?” Leorio whistles. “You know, that’s a coincidence, I haven’t heard from here since… well, for a while too.”

Kite hums. “How did you meet her?”

“Well,” Leorio says, leaning on his arms. “Before starting my undergrad, around 20 years ago I came to Whale Island for a summer and we became fast friends. Quite spontaneous of me if you ask me. I even ended up going out with one of her best friends...” he scratches his neck. “We were together for years, but life happens, you know- we made our decisions and eventually broke it off. So we lost contact over the years. And then this invite, out of the blue.”

*

Two men come through the front door as Gon finishes cleaning the counter, and he smiles at them. “Hi! May I help you?”

“Sure, we’re here for the wedding,” the one in a suit says. Gon squints his eyes, trying to figure out if it’s a friend of Killua’s or something.

“I’m Kite Reina.”

Huh?

“And I’m Leorio Paradinight.”

“I believe you were expecting us?”

“Oh, oh . Yes!” Gon says excitedly. It’s them! Oh my god it’s them!

“Aren’t you Mito’s son?”

Leorio snaps his fingers. “Yeah! I thought you looked familiar!”

“Ah, yes! I’m Gon Freecs.”

“ Gon Freecs?” Kite muses out loud. “That’s certainly a familiar name.”

Gon’s eyes shine. “Is it?”

“Hm,” Kite nods. “Very similar to my mentor’s.”

“Ah, Gon,” Leorio says, clearing his throat. “Would you mind if we see our rooms before we see your mother?”

“Yeah! Sure.” Gon nods, thinking quickly where to put them. “Follow me this way, please.”

“It’s just that I’d quite like to freshen up before seeing anybody…” Leorio says, pointing at his suit. “Should have bough other clothes.”

“Hah, yes, it’s very warm in here. But you get used to it...” Gon says excitedly. He bites his lip, containing his smile. “Come this way!”

The villa is big, but has still a lot of work to do. There're more cracks that Gon can honestly count, half the bathrooms don’t have water yet, and they are severely understaffed. Right now, even calling it a motel would be generous . Alluka had written it was ‘quaint’ and ‘rural’ in the guide, and well, while their villa is certainly quaint, Gon doesn’t like to lie.

Not if he can avoid it.

“Uh… just one thing,” he says, as he climbs the stairs with the two men—his possible father—he thinks of Aunt Mito. “It’d be great if you two could… stay here? And not look for my aunt?”

“Huh, why?” Leorio says, as Kite stops, hand on the rail.

“What do you mean Gon?”

“... well, you’re a secret! I sent the invitations,” he smiles, scratching his neck. “She doesn’t actually know…”

Kite frowns. “But why...?”

“Hm, she’s always talking about her friends from the old days! About the summer before I came into her life… And I thought she’d be thrilled if I invited you all!”

“That’s cute and all, but did you happen to invite any other of her friends?” Leorio asks, grabbing his tie. “Cause that’d be… uncomfortable. Hah.”

“Oh, yes, there’s two others,” Gon answers dismissively. “But really, please don’t tell her anything? She’s got herself in such a state about this wedding… mention unexpected guests and she’ll hyper-ventilate.”

“You mean she didn’t invite us,” Kite says.

Gon shakes his head. “She didn’t. So pretend you’re here for a holiday? She’ll get a lovely surprise when she sees you at my wedding! And then we can let her in on the secret.”

Both men look at each other. Leorio clears his throat. “Uh, Gon... I think this was very sweet of you-”

“But a mistake.” Kite nods. Gon frowns, unable to contain his pout. “She won’t be happy to see- well, at least me. I was very rude last time we saw each other. Not to talk about the disciple of-”

“It’s okay!” Gon says, grabbing both of their hands. “Please? For me? It’s my wedding, and I’d love to have both of you here.”

Leorio blinks. “You hardly know us.”

“Why?” Kite asks, quirking a brow.

“Because-” Because one of you could be my father! “Uh, because it’s my wedding. And I want us all to be friends.”

Leorio looks at him, then smiles. “You’re just a little min, aren’t you. Worse than Mito,” he chuckles. “I’ve come all this way anyway,” he shrugs. “If he wants us to be here what can we do?”

Kite scowls, mouth slightly twisted. “Okay, I guess.”

“Thanks a lot! You won’t regret it!” Gon says, bumping the railing. It rattles, and he cringes. “I shouldn’t do that… well! I’ll show you all to your rooms now-”

Before he could turn and continue their way up the rooms to one of the doors opens and Aunt Mito comes out, hands filled with laundry. 

She stops dead in her tracks, eyes taking them in, first Leorio and his slouched posture, who grins and waves his hand, then Kite, who grimaces and lifts his hat, and then to Gon, who gives her his best innocent smile.

“Mito!” Leorio exlaims.

“Leorio?”

“Long time no see Mito,” Kite nods.

“ Kite?!”

The laundry hits the floor before Gon can catch it.

“Gon!” Shit. Act natural. Killua doesn’t know either. “Gon where the hell are you?! I need help down at the beach!”

He gives them all a small smile and gets out the window, waving down at a grumpy-looking Killua. “I’m coming! Give me a minute!”

“Uh-” Mito says, mouth still hanging open. “Gon-”

“They are the last minute guests I told you about? I was about to show them their rooms but-” He climbs on the window. “Killua needs me! You can do it right? I’ll be right back!”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” she says, nodding as he disappears down the window. “We have a door Gon!”

*

She screams after him, but it’s useless, he’s already climbing down the vine and grabbing Killua’s hand to run down to the beach. “This kid, I swear,” she sighs.

“He certainly reminds me of someone,” Kite says, and she turns, frowning, at his stupid, smug face. He isn’t really arrogant, it’s just his default serious face, as if nothing can ever rattle him, with that dumb small smile that irks her. 

“I’m dreaming, aren’t I? What are you even doing here?”

Leorio laughs. She smiles fondly. She has missed his boisterous laugh. “You want me to pinch you?”

She snorts, batting his long arms away. “You keep your hands to yourself!”

He snickers, but lifts his hands up in surrender. She can’t say she hasn’t missed him.

“For real,” she says, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “What are any of you doing here?”

“Huh, I’m here for a holiday!” Leorio says quickly. She turns to look at Kite, crossing her arms.

“I’m writing a new book,” he finally says. “And I thought I’d just drop in and say hi.” She narrows her eyes at him, then decides she mustn’t let him upset her. “You know it meant a lot to me.”

She scoffs. “Oh, dear-what a shame… we don’t have any rooms. It’s that time of year…”

“Good that I booked ahead, then!” Leorio grins. “He can bunk down with me if they’re really full.”

“This is so- inconvenient!” 

“Why?” Kite asks, and she makes a face. Always had to be the fucking smartest in every room. Just like my stupid cousin. No wonder they were fucking besties.

“Because... there’s a wedding tomorrow, and I just don’t have the staff to cope with you. I assure you’d be so much more comfortable on the mainland.”

“Not at all,” Kite shakes his head, little smirk painting on his face as he crosses his arms, leaning on the wall. She really hates him. “I’m used to sleeping in worse places and the doctor here’s the last word in spontaneous.”

“Isn’t that great,” she musses, deciding to ignore him, and busying herself with picking up the sheets. She still has to make Kurapika and Melody’s beds- oh shit. Kurapika. She has to tell him.

“Well! I’d love to stop and chew over old times, but I have to go and ... clean out my purse.” What a fucking stupid excuse! She cries to herself as she runs down the stairs.

Leorio hums. “And here I was expecting a frumpy housewife…” he laughs. “She looks exactly the same!”

Kite nods, a small smile on his face, looking at the floor as he uncrosses his arms and steps into the narrow hallway. “Still the same Mito.”

*

“So, are we done here? Cause I’ve got to...” Gon says one they are done with the boat. He wiping the sweat off his face with his t-shirt. “What?”

Killua is looking at him funny, fair skin dusted pink in a way Gon knows is not because piling up boxes on the boat.

“Nothing, juts admiring my boyfriend.”

“Fiance,” Gon singsongs, smirking, and walking to him. 

Killua rolls his eyes. But let’s Gon pull him closer by the waistband of his swimsuit. “You’re such a fuck boy, anybody told you that? All stereotypical,” Killua says, taking off his green cap and throwing it to the sand.

“What? Not at all!” Gon whines, and Killua kisses the pout away. “I’m like, the lovable kid that was too much into bugs.”

“Does that make me a bug?”

“The prettiest of them all!”

Killua laughs, shaking his head and letting his forehead rest against Gon’s shoulder. He has to bend a little, but Gon’s worth every single neck pain he’ll have for the rest of his life.

“You sure you want to do this?” he mutters. “We can still-”

“Killua, do you ?” Gon says, tilting his chin up. Killua lets him, turning his palm and kissing the inside of it.

“Of course I do. I’ve been dreaming of marrying you since I met you.” He’s only brave enough to say these things because they are alone. And it’s worth it, every single time, to see Gon’s honey eyes melt, small and sweet smile with his lower lip all chapped from biting it. 

Killua kisses him. “If it were up to me, we would wait a little -” Gon whines. “But if it’s what you want…”

“It is,” he nods quickly. 

“In that case, I’ll tell the guys that I’m still on for tonight.” Gon frowns and Killua grins. “You know, the thing Ikalgo planned for my last night of freedom?”

Gon snorts. “Last night of freedom.”

“Of course I don’t see it like that,” Killua whispers in the space between their lips. “It’s the last night before the biggest adventure of my life…”

Gon chuckles, shaking his head, and his spiky hair tickles Killua’s chin. Gon pulls him closer. “Just come here.”

Killua has been kissing his best friend for five years now, but he knows he won’t ever grow tired of it. And even if it’s a little early, he knows he can’t possibly regret marrying him.

*

Kurapika watches as Melody unpacks her clothes and folds them neatly in the small wardrobe. He eyes her flute, resting on the case in all its delicate elegance. He looks at his own bag and thinks of the violin resting inside.

“You’re not carrying a lot of luggage,” Melody notes, as if she’s heard his thoughts. She’s always been like this. Kurapika smiles.

“Just this and the wedding suit.”

“Oh!” she says, clasping her hands together softly. “Let’s see what you’re wearing for the wedding!”

He sighs, opening the backpack and holds up a pair of battered, baggy pants and a shirt.

“Kurapika,” she chastises. “You have to be joking.”

He shrugs. “We’ll have to ask Gon for a spare one…” she says, shaking her head. “Mito will kill you if you show up to her son’s wedding in that.”

He laughs, and finally takes out the real outfit, a clean, simple black suit. She sighs relieved. “I could be making a statement on the tyranny of wedlock, though,” he says, and she rolls her eyes.

“You’ll meet a man that can keep up with you one day and maybe you’ll think differently.”

“I have. I did…” he says, laying the suit over the bed. “And all he wanted was to settle down and have kids when he graduated,” he sighs. “No thanks. I had my own ambitions.”

“Yeah,” Melody nods, understanding. She knows perfectly well about ambitions, Kurapika is aware. After all, she was the only one out of the three of them who actually pursued a career in music. “You say that, but then you never know... I mean, who’d have thought that Mito, the icon of female independence, would have a son getting married at twenty.”

“Him and Killua seem to be really in love, though,” Kurapika smiles. “And I heard weddings are trendy. If anything, the tax benefits make it worth it.”

As they laugh together, Mito bursts into the room.

“Oh thank god you’re here,” she says in a rushed exhale, hanging from the doorknob. It creaks, and next thing they know it’s on her hand. “Fuck!”

“Don’t let Gon hear you swear,” Melody grimaces.

“I don’t care about that!” she says, throwing her hands up, doorknob falling to the floor with a clank. “Guess who just showed up at my literal door.”

Kurapika frowns. “The police?”

“Worse!”

“Your cousin?”

“Close enough,” Mito whines, plopping on the bed. “Kite.”

“Kite?!” Melody gasps. “First love you never actually got over him Kite ?”

“Oh, also Leorio.”

“Leorio?!” Kurapika yells, standing up. “That can’t be!”

“Well, you tell him yourself cause he’s getting cozy in one of the guest rooms right now.”

“Where’s my Loveboat?” Melody whines, throwing a hand over her head. Mito rolls her eyes. “Get over yourselves you two. You’re too old to be having this crisis over two exes.”

Mito groans, and Kurapika follows, face in his hands. “What are they even doing here ?”

“Ruin Gon’s wedding, that’s what.”

“That’s an exaggeration,” Melody tries, brushing her hair back.

“What else would Ging’s disciple , be doing here?” she says, lifting her head pitifully. 

“What if Ging is going to show up?”

“As if he would show his face on this island,” Mito huffs. “No. He somehow heard about this and like- sent Kite to stop the wedding or something. That has to be it.”

“But how do you explain Leorio?” Kurapika asks, rubbing his eyes. “He hated Ging.”

“Oh, that’s true,” Mito says, before bursting out laughing. “Remember when he punched him?”

“I wasn’t there, but I’ve heard that story a million times,” he says fondly, throwing his head back. “Ah, how I wish there were phones back then.”

“ Leorio might be a coincidence, but Kite can’t be,” Mito nods.

“It could be fate!” Melody says, and both of her friends groan. “Listen, listen. Gon and Killua’s love is so big that it didn’t fit this island and it poured over the sea…”

“And drugged our failed romances and somehow convinced them to come here?” Kurapika grimaced.

“I was thinking more of a like, siren song.”

“Melody, I thought your hippie phase ended back in the 80s.”

“Flower power baby,” she whispers, and he bursts out laughing. Mito tries to hold it, but she ends up laughing too. Melody is normally too serious for this, but she’s clearly trying to cheer them up. Always the best to keep the calm out of three of them. That¡s why they worked so well as a group for so many years.

*

Gon has made sure Alluka is keeping Mito busy and Zushi has managed to somehow cry enough to Ikalgo to get himself invited to the bachelor party. Gon had assured everyone he had plans, and well, it wasn’t a lie.

He was on his way to them right now.

“Hey!”

Leorio and Kite are by the pier, about to get into Kite’s boat. They look up and he rushes down the last few meters until he’s next to them.

“Are you guys going out sailing?”

“Well, someone ,” Leorio says, ruffling Gon’s hair. “Told us to make ourself scarce and Kite proposed to show me around with the boat so…”

“Can I come?!” Gon rushes out.

The men blink. “Aren’t you know… busy?” Kite asks. “With your wedding being tomorrow and all that?”

“Oh not at all!” Gon laughs off. “Killua and my aunt have that covered.”

“And you’d rather spend time… with us?” Leorio asks.

“Well, I invited you, didn’t I?” They look at each other with a grimace. “You are coming, right?”

“Gon…” Leorio starts, but Kite coughs.

“We are,” he interrupts. “If that’s what you want. But there must be a reason for it. Mito surely wasn’t too happy about seeing us.”

“Hey talk about yourself-” Leorio mutters. “It’s not her I’m worried about.”

“In any case,” Kite says, smiling a little. “We’re going sailing, you really want to come?”

“Sure!”

Gon jumps in, and helps Kite with the sails. It’s pretty easy, he’s been in boats all his life, after all. Working hand in hand with Kite without nearly needing any words, he feels a connection. He can’t help the giddy feeling taking over him. When they are well into the sea and starting their way around the island, Kite goes inside to fetch some food. Gon sits next to Leorio, who’s scribbling some notes on an old notebook.

“Oh hey!” Gon cries out. That’s Mito’s diary! “Mito has a notebook just like that one!”

“Oh, yes…” Leorio chuckles. “We bought it in the same place, after all. They were going to be our adventure notebooks.”

Gon’s heart clenches. “You planned a lot of adventures together?”

“Well, not really?” he says, scratching his neck. “We met in Yorknew, waiting for a train, and we both bought the notebooks. We said we would fill them with adventures,” he says with a fond smile. “This island was the first thing we wrote about. And well, I’ve been to some places, but life happened. Certainly haven’t filled it”

“Oh, I see.” He does. “Killua wants to travel, too. And honestly, so do I. But we have to stay, you know? The hotel is going to be a lot of work and-”

“It’s never too late,” Kite says, head peeking from the ground. Gon chuckles. “Do you want some watermelon?”

They accept it, and Gon is busy eating the fruit and lost in his head that he doesn’t realize how Kite is looking at him. The man clears his throat. “You don’t want to leave Mito alone.” Gon scowls. “I get that. But you’re young. You deserve to live a life of your own. Regrets are a heavy thing to live with.”

They spend the evening like everything Gon has ever dreamed. Kite teaches him some of his tricks for the boat, and Gon makes Leorio jump into the water and swim with him. He listens to their stories, to who they are, to what they do with their lives. He imagines himself in them.

*

It’s almost sundown by the time they make it back to the beach, and Gon is too distracted helping them secure the boat to the pier that he doesn’t realise Killua, Alluka and Zushi are there.

“Oh shit,” he mutters, and Leorio turns to look at him.

“Call me meddler but aren’t you supposed to be happy to see your fiance?” Leorio says. “I’m not your father or anything kid-” Gon’s stomach twists. “But I don’t know if anybody has told you- it’s not the end of the world. You can call this off.”

“What the fuck are you saying old man?!” Killua yells. 

“Killua-”

“Oh no-” he growls, grabbing his arm. “You and I have to talk .”

Gon whines. “Did you two tell him?!”

“You know he can get very scary!” Zushi says, and Alluka offers him a weak smile.

“I knew something was off…” Killua mutters. “I knew it and still went on with this!” 

“Killua, there’s an explanation-” Gon says, looking behind him, trying to think of a way to have this conversation without Kite and Leorio listening. 

“Oh, I’m updated on the explanation.” Killua grimaces. “You invited these guys, and you didn’t think of tell me?” 

“I know I messed up-”

“Gon. Is that what this whole wedding is about?” Killua asks, eyes downcast. “You finding your dad?”

“No. No!”

“I wanted to take a boat to the Yorknew with a couple of witnesses. Maybe my sister and your aunt,” he mutters to the wooden floor. “But you insisted on this sodding circus so you could play Happy Families. ”

“It’s about knowing who I am!” Gon says frustrated. “I love you. I want to marry you. But I wanted to get married knowing who I am!”

“That doesn’t come from finding your father, that comes from finding yourself,” Killua says.

“In that, he’s right,” Kite says.

“ Shut up! ” Killua snarls, and Leorio grabs Kite and pushes him back.

“Killua…”

“And the irony is, I was travelling to find myself.” Killua laughs. “I put everything on hold for you. Because I loved you and I wanted what you wanted,” Killua says. “Now, I don’t know.”

“You don’t know if you love me?”

“Of course I love you,” Killua sighs, tired, and Gon stretches a hand to him, but Killua is turning away before he can reach him. “I just wish you’d told me.”

Killua leaves, and Gon can only stare as he retreats.

*

Mito has turned the island upside down looking for Gon. He hadn’t set foot in the house for hours now and she could feel something was off. Kurapika and Melody had just joined her down the village, confirming what she suspected. He hasn’t been seen all day.

She’s about to call the police when he sees Alluka and Killua.

“Guys!” she shouts, and they stop, turning to look at her. Killua frowns. “Have you seen G-”

“He’s down at the beach,” he cuts her. “With your friends. ”

“Oh. Shit.”

Killua huffs, and Alluka waves goodbye as she takes her brother by the hand and disappears down the street. It looks that there isn’t going to be much of a party after all.

“I knew they were here to ruin it!” Mito growls, and makes her way down to the pier, Kurapika and Melody hot on her heels.

Gon is easy enough to find, surrounded by people as he is. Before he can ask them, her friends are dealing with the two men talking to her son. Kurapika grabs Leorio by the shirt and drags him away before the poor guy can know what got him, and Zushi offers Melody and Kite a tour around the village.

“...Gon?” she says, taking a seat next to him. He’s crouched down, head between his knees. “Honey, are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m fine,” he mumbles, not looking at her.

“I just saw Killua.” Gon flinches. “... What happened?”

Gon shakes his head. “Tell me. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

She grimaces. “Baby. You don’t have to do anything,” she reassures. “It’s not too late, I can still call off the wedding.” She brushes his hair softly. “Everybody will understand.”

“Call... Call off the wedding?”

“Isn’t that what you want?”

“No!” Gon says, coming out of his shell with a deep frown. “No, that’s what you want.”

“Gon!” 

“You just... You have no idea,” he mutters angrily. “You never had a wedding. You never did the marriage-and-babies thing. You just did the baby thing.” 

“You know, I don’t know why you’re going off on me now! I really don’t!”

“Because I… God! I love Killua, and I want to be with him!”

“Good! Great!” 

“And I don’t want my children growing up not knowing who their father is!” Gon says, standing up. “Because it’s just... It’s crap!”

He leaves, and she’s left speechless, looking at the waves crashing against the shore.

She fucked up.

*

Even though Leorio has dreamed with this moment for the past 10 years, it might as well be one of the most uncomfortable moments in his life.

“So…” Leorio clears his throat as they approach the beach. Kurapika takes off his shoes. “Gon invited me because he thought I was his dad?”

“I guess.”

Leorio rushes behind him, taking off his dressing shoes, too. Why did he think it was a good idea to bring that to an island, he doesn’t know. “How did he even reach that conclusion? Can’t he remember we dated for like, 10 solid years?”

Kurapika chuckles. “He was little,” he shrugs. “And we didn’t visit that often.”

“Yeah,” Leorio whispers. “We could have visited more.”

Kurapika hums.

“We could have done a lot more things,” Leorio says. “Have you noticed we were his age when we met?”

“Huh?” Kurapika blinks, and Leorio chuckles He’s always loved catching him by surprise. “That’s… we were that young?”

“It seems like a lifetime ago,” Leorio says. “I miss it.”

Kurapika’s hand brushes his, and Leorio feels a chill down his spine. He turns, and Kurapika is looking at him with eyes so familiar Leorio can’t help but dream. 

“I miss it too,” Kurapika says softly.

*

Gon throws the door open and Killua jumps on the stool he’s sitting on, beer bottle falling to the floor.

“Aw man, I have to clean it now,” Ikalgo groans.

“Killua!” he roars, and Killua’s heart is beating inside his ribcage. Gon walks the few steps to him confidently. “I need to talk to you!”

“It’s the boy’s last night-” Meleoron starts, but Killua stands up.

“It’s okay. Be right back guys,” he says, hands in his pockets and following Gon outside.

“Well, what are you looking at?” he can hear Allura shout. “I need another beer!”

Gon walks in silence, and Killua follows, unsure of their destination. The fairy lights they hanged for tomorrow are already shining, and Killua feels a pang in his heart.

“Mito thought I wanted to call off the wedding,” he says, and Killua stops.

“Is that what you want?” he whispers, and Gon looks at him over his shoulder, eyes rimmed with tears. Killua gulps down the knot on his throat.

“I don’t know…” he says, and Killua’s hand is cupping his cheek and brushing them away before he can stop himself. Gon shudders. “I know I love you. Of that I don’t have a single doubt in my mind…”

“But you still have plenty of other doubts. I get it,” Killua says, and Gon nods.

“Well, I don’t want to point out the obvious, but…” he takes a breath. “None of them can possibly be your father.”

Gon pouts. “Why!”

“They are both over 6 feet!” Killua throws his hands in the air. “And well, Leorio has a pass, he has black hair too, but Kite? I’m sorry Gon there’s just no way he’s your biological father.”

Gon crosses his arms.

“But the thing is that you don’t need a biological father. For the looks of it, it might have been the third one, Mito’s cousin,” he says, remembering what Alluka and Zushi told him. “And he couldn’t bother to even show up . You’re better off without him,” he says, taking a reluctant Gon in his arms, letting him finally cry on his chest. “He doesn’t deserve you. And you already have a family here. A real one. And you even got two dads out of all this mess.”

Gon chuckles, but it comes out wet and Killua closes his eyes, holding Gon tighter. He hates seeing Gon cry.

“I love you, you know that, right?” Gon mutters, and Killua melts as his arms come around Killua’s waist. “More than anything.”

“I love you too.”

*

Gon wakes up that morning with the sun filtering through the broken shutters, and he groans. The beginnings of a hangover are telling him to get up and have something to eat before it settles, and he drags himself downstairs to get some breakfast.

He brushes Abe’s portrait in the kitchen and opens the fridge lazily, taking some milk for his coffee, stopping in his tracks when he sees Mito entering.

“Hi,” she says, a strained smile on her face.

“Good morning,” he nods. “Coffee?”

“Yeah, thank you.” 

She leaves what she was carrying on top of the counter, dishes. Dishes for my wedding. She hasn’t called it off . And he pours the rest of the coffee into her favorite mug.

“Gon, honey, I’m sorry-”

“I’m sorry for what I said yesterday, Aunt Mito,” Gon interrupts. She sighs, smiling. “It was horrible.”

“But it was true,” she admits, mouth twisted. “I’m sorry about all that. Do you really want to know so badly?”

This is it, he thinks. The truth.

“Yes, please,” Gon says, gulping down. 

“Well, for the record, I did have a huge crush on Kite so it wasn’t so far-fetched…” she begins, combing a hand through her hair. It’s messy. “Leorio though? He and Kurapika dated for 10 years. I would have been a horrible friend-”

“So it’s Ging.” 

She nods. “It’s Ging.”

“And he hasn’t come,” he mutters, looking at his hands. She sighs. 

“He hasn’t come,” she parrots, and he chuckles. But it’s not funny.

“You were right,” he admits, the ugly truth tasting sour on his tongue. “You were all right.”

“It’s okay, honey.” She’s by his side in seconds, pulling him a tight hug. And he’s always known, hasn’t he? That her love was more than enough. “He’s an idiot. You don’t need him. I assure you.”

“Okay,” Gon says with a wobbly smile. “Will you help me get ready? I kind of have a wedding to attend in a couple hours.”

She nods, a soft smile on her tired face. He will help her get ready, too. He’s seen the beautiful dress she has just finished fixing in her closet, and he knows how much she has worked on it. She deserves to have a good day today too.

*

By the time they are done, Gon has helped her with her hair, and chosen her make-up. She has sent him off to Alluka, who wanted to help too, claiming it was the maid of honor’s duty. Mito sighs, dusting her hands on her apron as she watches Gon leave down the walk to the village. She shakes her head, opening the door to the shed to look for some spare table cloths and finish getting all the tables ready. 

Dust flies up in the old hut as she walks in, shining with the rays of light that go through the poorly shut wooden windows. She can’t remember the last time she entered here, but as she moves boxes and coughs on her elbow, a token reminds her.

“I see you kept my old tachi,” Mito huffs, grabbing the sword hastily and handing it back to his owner.

“Here catching dust with the rest of the junk,” she smiles. She grabs the box with the table clothes and pushes past him.

“Do you need help?”

“No,” she laughs.

“Mito. I want to talk.”

“Can’t. Have a minor matter of a wedding in my hands right now and all that.”

Kite follows her into the house, and she ignores him, filling the washing machine and closing it with more strength than necessary, his shadow looming over her.

“What do you want, Kite?”

“Are you happy here?”

How dare he ask- “Am I happy here?” she mutters.

“You always said you wanted to travel, but I can’t imagine with Gon growing up and well… this place seems like it has given you a lot of work.”

“No Kite,” she says bitterly. “I couldn’t afford to go off on a grand adventure with a kid in my care. So, this is my reality. Hard work and a crippling mortgage.”

He, because of course he does, stays quiet. “Would you like me to take a look at that roof?”

She pinches her nose bridge, taking a deep breath. “No Kite, thank you.”

“It won’t last through the winter,” he says, face impassive.

“I’ll fix my own damn roof!”

He scowls, mouth pinched at the corners. “I know it’s hard for you, doing it on your own. I just want to hel-”

“Don’t you dare patronize me. I love doing it on my own- every morning I wake up and thank Christ I haven’t got some middle-aged, menopausal man to bother me-I’m single, I’m free, and it’s great!”

Kite snaps his mouth shut, but his wide eyes finally give some emotion away. 

“But if you want to be of any help-” she says before she can help herself. “Get your mentor’s ass here. His son would love to fucking know him, at the very least.”

“Mito,” he says, just a tad too late, as she climbs up the stairs. “Mito. Please.”

She grabs the rail, steadying herself. Ah, this brings me back . This wasn’t the first time they were like this, her hiding on the first floor and him begging for a chance to explain at the end of the stairs. 

“What,” she says, because she’s not 17 anymore.

“You deserved an apology. All this time,” he says, gulping down. “I’m sorry Ging asked me to go with him and ditched you. I should have refused-”

“ That’s what happened?” she mutters, and he straightens up, hair flowing behind him.

“You didn’t know?”

“No!” she says, climbing down. “I thought you just left!”

He blinks, mouth open and closing slightly. “I was head over heels for you. I couldn’t have possibly left you just like that.”

Her breath hitches at the sincerity behind his blunt words and his dark eyes. She always loved that about him, didn’t she, how straight the point he was. No hidden emotions and no mind games.

“How are you even friends with my cousin.”

“He’s a better man than you give him credit for,” he says, and it earns him a punch on the arm. “Not a family man, most certainly, and not the father Gon deserves by a long stretch, but still not as bad as you think he is.”

She shakes her head, strands of hair falling off her bun. She sees his hand flinch, and she’s brought back again to their last summer, to entire evenings spent at the beach, to his fingers combing her hair into messy braids.

“Can I be there?” he whispers, and she smiles, sighing. “In his name?”

“Be in your name,” she shrugs. “You are his godfather after all.”

Kite blinks. And she goes for a smile.

“Surprise?”

*

Kurapika wakes up to someone pounding on the door. He groans, but tries to stand up, only to be stopped by the death weight burrowed on his chest. He looks down, squinting his eyes at what can only be Leorio sound asleep over him.

There’s not enough light in the bedroom to actually recognise him, but Kurapika hasn’t been able to sleep with anybody since him. In the few and spare one-night stands he had between jobs he always left when his partner was asleep. Dick move but he appreciated the little sleep he got too much to sacrifice it to long nights staring at random people’s ceilings just to be polite.

He sighs, disentangling his hand from the pillows and sheets to brush Leorio’s hair. Kurapika always thought he would bald with age, but he looks just as good as he did 20 years ago when they met on this very same island.

Here in the quiet of this dark room, he can’t help but entertain the idea of everything they could have been. Of everything he gave up for his job, for not getting the love of his life tangled up in Kurapika’s messy life.

Another pound. “Kurapika?” He hums, knowing that Melody’s gifted ears will pick it up. “Are you with Leorio?” He hums again, and the doctor shifts, starting to wake up. He always took a while. “Good, can you two please look at the time? We kind of have a wedding to attend.”

“Shit!” He yells, pushing Leorio off him, who falls to the floor. “Leorio! Up! Gon’s wedding!”

“ My son’s wedding?!”

That earns him a kick on the side.

Leorio laughs.

And Kurapika has to bite off a smile.

“Don’t make me laugh. We’re in a rush,” he says, getting up to open the shutters.

“If you ever gave me the time of the day is because I made you laugh,” Leorio grunts as he stands up, stretching. 

Kurapika grabs his red earring, and Leorio watches him fondly.

“That’s a beautiful earring,” he says, holding it delicately. His hands brush Kurapika’s neck. “Goes well with your eyes.”

“Yeah,” he nods, smirking. “The person who bought it had excellent taste in jewellery.”

“Must have been completely, thoroughly, utterly, intensely in love with you,” Leorio says. “Something like that can’t be cheap.”

“So I recall,” Kurapika laughs, turning to search for his suit. “Worth a doctor’s first entire salary.”

Leorio shrugs and walks towards the door. “I’ll go get dressed too.”

“See you at the chapel,” Kurapika says over his shoulder, adjusting his tie. Leorio gifts him one last smile before closing the door behind him.

*

By the time she’s finished the last touches, Mito gets into her dress quickly and rushes all the way up to the chapel, cursing Gon the entire way for choosing the tallest place on the island to get married. She can see the last people entering the chapel now, and she ditches her shoes to sprint the rest of the way up. Zushi is there with Gon, and so are Killua and Alluka. She takes a moment to breathe.

“So,” she says, catching her breath. “Who’s first?”

“We can go first?” Alluka offers. “Gon seems to be struggling a little with the whole delivery thing.”

“Which is stupid-”

Alluka drags her brother inside before he can stick his foot on his mouth more , and Zushi gives her a grateful smile before following them inside.

Gon takes her hand, and they enter the chapel with a smile. He lets her sit in the front row just next to Melody and Kurapika. When the priest begins, she looks behind them subtly, searching for Kite, who, of course, is slouched over a wall with his arms crossed. At least he’s in a suit.

“Welcome to Gon and Killua, and to all your friends who have gathered together this evening,” the priest goes on. “And welcome, especially, to Mito, who represents the parents. All… the parents.” She nods with a polite smile. “We are all here together in this glorious…”

“And welcome to…” She stands up, interrupting the priest, and sheepishly turning to Gon. “To Gon’s Godfather.” 

Gon’s eyes widen, and she clears her throat. “Well. He’s here. You kinda invited him.”

“Oh, my God.”

Kite moves from his corner and approaches slowly, and Gon beams. 

“It is no excuse, but I didn’t know until a few hours ago,” Kite musses. “But if you would accept me… turns out I’m your godfather. I’ll do this, if you want.”

“What? But how-”

“How else?” someone says, and they all turn towards the door. “Because I asked him to be. Use your head kiddo.”

Killua groans. “ Now you appear.”

“Ging?!” Mito yells.

“‘sup,” her cousin has the guts to wave at them, and takes a seat at the end of the chapel. “Don’t mind me! Go on, kiddo.”

Gon blinks, several times, but Killua coughs and they lock eyes, having a silent conversation with their eyes. Kite stays there, awkwardly standing next to the aisle until Gon smiles.

“Thanks Kite!” Gon says, grabbing his arm and squeezing him between Mito and Melody. “Of course!” He looks up, searching for someone else, and Mito smiles. “Leorio! You too! Please come sit in the family pew!

Leorio stands up, walking down the aisle with a furious blush on his face, and sits next to a smug Kurapika.

“What about…” he mutters, and Gon shrugs.

“You want to stay there, Ging?!”

“Yeah, yeah,” he says, crossing his arm. “Priest go! I have places to be!”

The priest clears his throat, staring down at all of them. “Dearly beloved…”

“You know, with Kite and Leorio here I don’t even care about my hole dad thing. Even when he’s right there.” Gon turns to stare at Killua again, eyes soft. “Now, I know what I really want.”

Killua’s eyes glint, but he grimaces. “Why do I feel like I know what you’re about to say.”

“Let’s just not get married yet,” Gon smiles. Killua shakes his head.

“What?” the priest says.

Gon ignores him. “You never wanted this anyway,” he insists, taking both of Killua’s hands in his. “I know that. Let’s just get off this island and just see the world. Okay? All right?”

“Thank god, ” Killua whines, hiding his face in his hands. “I definitely wasn’t ready for that.”

“Then why did you say yes?”

“I would have said yes if you asked when we were 14!” Killua yells. “I’ve loved you since then and I’d do anything to make you happy. But that doesn’t mean I think we should be getting married at 20 .”

Gon sighs. “You should have said something.”

“That’s true I guess.” He shrugs. “I love you,” Killua whispers, and Gon hugs him, leaving the chapel silent. 

The priest sighs. “Mito, do I take it the wedding is cancelled?”

She laughs nervously. “I’m not entirely sure what’s happening right now.”

“Hang on,” Leorio says suddenly. “Why waste a good wedding?”

Kurapika visibly pales. Leorio stands up. “How about it?” 

“Are you nuts?” he deadpans. “I rejected you the first time you proposed, you can’t have possible forgiven-”

“Well, I am. Nuts, that is, cause I did forgive you.” Leorio shrugs. “Of course I’ve forgiven you- I’ve loved you for 20 years.”

Kurapika blushes, and Mito and Melody squeak, pushing their friend to stand up. 

“Come on, Kurapika,” Leorio grins. “It’s only the rest of your life.”

“Live a little!” Melody shouts. And Kurapika blurts out laughing, taking Leorio’s hand.

“Why the hell not,” he says, shaking his hand, and Gon and Killua take a step back for them. “I’ll marry you.”

The priest sighs, but waits until they are next to him, and begins his spiel again. Melody cries when they improvise the vows. Gon whistles, while sitting on the steps with an arm thrown over Killua’s shoulders. “I now pronounce you husbands.”

Gon is the first to clap, and the chapel erupts in shouting and laughter, as Leorio leans down to kiss Kurapika. She’ll think about the rest later. For now she needs to get wasted.

*