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First step.
"Ugh— I can't believe you're that stupid to think that you'd be able to make it through!"
Second step.
"I mean, sure! We're all agile and all that, like being flexible, having muscular and cardiovascular endurance, maintaining our strength—gah, I am reciting the components of physical fitness to make a point, but goddamn it that was still so stupid!"
Third step. Fourth step.
"What would I do with you? How can I make you stop? Even I can't even figure that out and I am—"
A low groan. "You're so whiny, Killua!"
Fifth step. Sixth step. Seventh step.
An hour ago, his companion thought it was a good idea to leap from a high ground earlier. This carefree companion of his used Killua's skateboard without permission. And this companion then immediately cried Killua's name when he couldn't stop and let alone balance himself on the aforementioned skateboard—
—that now, the result is at it follows: Gon on Killua's back. Killua's palms beneath Gon's thighs. Gon's arms wrapped around his neck. And since Gon fell from his skateboard, his knees are full of scratches and small wounds. (Killua has no choice but to carry the smaller boy all the way home, and for this, Killua has to leave his skateboard in the park for a while. He just hopes that the other kids from the playground won’t touch it.)
"That's rich, coming from you." Killua simply retorts. He’s fuming hard right now, he's exasperated, he's—
“Jerk!”
The steps come into a halt.
Killua feels his vein pop. Seriously, this guy…
The silver-haired boy cranes his neck slowly to the left to finally glower at Gon – who is still having that pouty face at him, with all the puckered lips and furrowed eyebrows. Ah, of course. Gon the obstinate brat. It makes Killua's blood boil even more. "And you're so goddamn heavy! That's it, I am taking all your portion for dinner. How much cups of rice are you even eating, Gon?!"
Gon blinks – surprised, that Killua finally speaks about his eating habits. Killua anticipates the offended expression to appear on those features, but he's baffled instead. "All of them…?!”
"ALL OF THEM."
And because of that, Gon finally gasps, before finally breaking into a glare as well. "Don't you dare!!"
"Oh I will dare alright."
"Killua, stop being so gluttonous! People need their sustenance!"
"Wooow~ sustenance. Where did you get that word? Do you even know what that means?!"
"It means food! Don't trick me again, I am not as idiotic as you think!"
"Think again."
He feels Gon gripping his clothes tight. "Killua!!"
Killua snarls and returns his gaze to the streets. Damn it, my ears are ringing. Everything is just so noisy and all Killua can hear are their voices. Sure, it's alright, it means that it's only the two of them around the area right now, but he just hates arguing with Gon. It gives him a bad taste on the tip of his tongue.
"I'm losing brain cells when I'm talking to you. Just shut up."
There's a few seconds. Is it possible, Gon is actually listening for once—
—a loud inhale from someone’s mouth.
WOOOSH!
Gon, the amazing and wonderful Gon, blew right into his ear. Killua almost dropped him (thank God he didn't.) But God, those goosebumps!
"WHAT IN THE ACTUAL— Gon, what in hell— "
And the bastard even has the nerve to look away, innocent, despite having the satisfaction plastered on his face. Gon's looking at anything but Killua.
"...Not stupid," is what he whispers, then meets Killua's eyes again. "I'm not stupid, Killua."
Killua knows that, of course. Killua knows that he has a brain that there are times Gon understands some things that Killua can't. There are times that Killua is slow and Gon is able to register and comprehend a situation completely. There are times that Gon can be a little smarter than Killua.
Killua doesn't hide his defeated sigh. He continues his trek.
"…Are you mad at me?"
Killua doesn't reply.
"Killua."
Killua rolls his eyes. " Duh ."
There's a long pause. Then, he feels Gon shift. He can sense that Gon's face is closer, but Killua keeps his eyes on the road.
"Sorry." Killua feels his heart loosen up. "But I don't regret what I did." Nevermind.
"Gee, okay."
Gon chuckles. Killua doesn't really know how Gon's mind works. At least the frog lover is smiling. "Was that sarcastic?"
"Take a guess."
"Mm. Nope. You forgive me, and that's how Killua is."
" Huh ?"
Gon chuckles again. He starts poking Killua's pale cheek with his right hand. "Killua is actually worried for me and is trying to hide it because he's embarrassed." Poke. Poke.
And he's not lying, as much as Killua hates to admit. Killua knows that it's silly for him to be so concerned for Gon's state when Gon only has some mild scratches. He’s alive!
It's a miracle that Gon only has a sprain, and a painful one at that. (Wait, that's not helping at all – but better than fractures or dislocations, yeah?)
Poke. Poke. "Ki-llu-a~"
"Uh-huh, and I'm going to drop you. No joke."
" Rude !"
Killua's lips slowly curve to an amused smile though. Gon won't miss this event, and stops poking him.
"But that's okay. Killua, you know I can walk, right? You don't have to carry me all the way back to the hotel." Ah, yes, Gon's pride. It'll never disappear.
"You do realize that it's another dumb idea, right?"
"I can manage with my two feet just fine! I don't want you to feel like this is some kind of obligation—it's my fault in the first place!"
Killua doesn't have the chance to think on what he's going to say next because it already spills over, "But I want to." Oops, there it is. "I want to."
"Eh?"
Gon is puzzled. He doesn't get it. Killua doesn't get it either. "Just let me do this, Gon. It's also my fault for not teaching you sooner. You're curious about these things and I shouldn't have made you wait."
Another pause. Killua thinks that it'll be the last time that they will talk tonight.
"It… it actually really feels nice…" Gon abruptly begins, his voice small. Killua still doesn't look in his direction. Feels nice what? “Being carried and cared for like this.”
Oh . Aunt Mito and his grandmother are affectionate people, after all, so… "Yeah." Now Killua gets it, of course being pampered is—
"It feels really nice when it's Killua."
Killua almost tenses at that. When it's him? Why ? Does that mean—? (Killua tries to shove the thought when he realizes that his cheeks are steaming again.)
"Gon," he calls out. He waits for a hum before continuing. Change topic, change topic. "Why did you even try to use my skateboard anyway? And pull those tricks. I get that you're reckless, but—"
"Because it really seemed cool," Gon firmly answers. "Well, minus the injuries… it looked better in my imagination."
Killua rolls his eyes (but with fondness), "That's so typical of you."
They don't talk again for another two minutes.
"...Are you tired?"
"Not really." His feet are seriously killing him from walking too much today and now, tonight; his arms are sore from basketball practice earlier, and he badly wants to sleep because—
"Mm. You're lying."
"So? We need to go home, Gon. We just can't take a little detour. We need to patch you up as quickly as we can." Killua remarks. He doesn't want Gon to get infected or worse. And more importantly, he wants Gon to rest, too. "You can sleep, you know. I will wake you up once we've arrived."
"But I don't want Killua to be alone." Gon says, and he feels Gon inching closer to his neck.
" Idiot , you're here with me."
"You know what I mean."
"…Yeah, I guess I do. Alright, then. Suit yourself."
There's another silence before Gon speaks up again.
"I actually feel guilty now."
"What for?" Killua blows a raspberry. "For being cool?"
Gon shakes his head. "I was trying to impress you." Then, he giggles lightly. "But it backfired."
Killua makes a sound akin to confusion and shock. He feels his heart beat skip a little faster. He doesn't know why Gon is trying to impress Killua when he doesn't even have to.
Keep your guard up. "It's – it’s alright." Great job.
Gon tilts his head. "Huh?"
"You are awesome, Gon. You don't have to try that risky stuff, really." Killua then adds, "And I am saying this right now because it’s true and I won't repeat it again."
And he completes it with: "Just be yourself." As a cherry on top.
Because, you know, that’s already enough for me to be so starstruck with you.
Gon then hides his face on Killua's section where the neck meets the shoulder. He feels Gon's lips curve into a wide smile. Killua feels that the temperature suddenly rose. Or is it just him?
"You're doing it again."
Killua lifts a brow. "Doing what exactly?"
"Killua being really supportive and making me warm all over… I'm not used to it." Gon confesses, and this time, Killua's eyes grow wide.
Thump. Thump.
"What's – what's that supposed to mean?" Killua halts in his tracks for the second time that night. He glances at Gon, and Gon raises his head. They stare at each other – amber versus blue, bemused versus determined.
"Killua compliments rarely."
"That's because it's embarrassing and gross!"
"It's not! Being honest is not embarrassing or gross! Just tell me everything you want to say, Killua!"
" Ugh you're so headstrong it physically hurts me. You want to be praised so badly, don’t you?"
Gon blinks again. Surprisingly, small blushes decorate his cheeks and Killua is speechless – now that's a rare sight. Gon then laughs. He doesn't even try to hide it, damn it.
And god, that's so cute— oh no, Killua. You shouldn't go there.
"Well, what if I am?" Gon childishly mutters.
"Figured."
First step.
Second step.
Third step.
Killua continues his journey again.
"The moon really looks beautiful tonight, huh, Killua?"
He doesn't take this time to stargaze or moon gaze for that matter – but maybe it won't hurt. He did grow a strange interest when it involved astronomy now. Killua knows that this probably originated back in Whale Island, where he and Gon just conversed , and talked about their goals . Everything was just so perfect.
But two years have passed since then, and they’ll have to prepare for the next challenge that they’ll have to face: growing up.
Yet as of the moment, can Killua call this time they're spending together right now… perfect, as well?
Killua raises his head a little. He smiles. "…Yeah." But his gaze returns to the pavement again. He needs to watch the road or else he may worsen Gon's injuries. It’s better to avoid that. "Yeah."
Another silence.
"Hey, Killua."
"Hm?"
"Good night."
Killua snickers. "I thought you didn't want me to be alone—"
"But I'm here with you," Gon whispers in his ear. Killua's breath hitches. "And I will always be… so good night, Killua. I will talk to you later."
Gon makes himself comfortable. He leans closer to Killua if possible. Killua doesn't say anything.
…Fifteenth step.
Sixteenth step.
Seventeenth step.
Gon's arms loosen a bit.
Thirty-fifth step.
Fortieth step.
Forty-fifth step.
Gon's breathing finally calms.
Sixtieth step.
Seventieth step.
Eighty-seventh step.
Ninetieth step.
Killua finally stops in front of a door made with dark, polished wood. With elegance, he manages to twist the doorknob and make his way in without any disturbance.
Killua can still hear Gon's small snores, and he smiles softly. As much as he dislikes the idea of being away from him, he puts Gon gently on the bed anyway.
They’ll be meeting up with the other students and teachers soon. This trip is about to end anyway.
Killua saunters to the other side of the room to grab the first aid kit from Gon's backpack, and returns to Gon's side.
Peaceful and beautiful, Killua thinks as he examines Gon's face, and he just sighs. I really have it bad, huh?
To restrain himself further, Killua finally wakes him up. When glossy browns peer up at him, Killua reveals the bandages that he’s about to apply.
“…Killua?”
"We made it. Get up, Gon."