Chapter Text
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
This is a question Kuroro never expects to overhear.
Concealed behind the end of the corridor, Kuroro has one hand braced against the wall, nearly crushing it with barely-restrained strength. The only thing grounding him is Kurapika gripping his suit jacket from behind, preventing him from walking in and interrupting their conversation.
Before them, Runa is standing by the entrance of the school, in front of the lockers with a boy Kuroro has never seen before. The ribbon on his uniform suggests that he must be Runa's classmate or at least a student in the same year as her.
Runa closes her locker, looking at the boy with a blank expression. "What?"
The boy takes a deep breath, as if to gather all his confidence to ask his most important question in the seven years he’s been alive. “Will you go out with me?"
The wall starts to crumble beneath Kuroro's grip. His aura rises around him with an underlying threat, unrestrained as if he intends to murder someone. It wouldn't be the first time today, especially after crossing paths with the parents of the boy who bothered Runa with rude remarks about their family before, causing her to get in trouble after she punched him in retaliation. They were surprised to discover that Runa’s Papa and Daddy really were two separate people, reaffirming their son’s remarks with a disapproving tone. Kuroro’s unamused stare was enough for them to excuse themselves, intimidated.
Since the school entrance ceremony, rumors have been spreading about Kuroro and Kurapika’s occupations, that they’re celebrities given their handsome appearances. Only now rumors are spreading among the other parents that they’re involved with the mafia, which isn’t untrue considering Kurapika’s line of work. Kuroro doesn’t mind their family having the reputation of a mafia father and a criminal father if it means that their daughter can be unbothered at school, although Kurapika is the one who prefers to keep up appearances, not wanting to prevent Runa from befriending her classmates and being invited to social occasions.
Kurapika pulls him back, urging Kuroro to calm down and recede his aura. But how can he? This boy is one hundred years too early to be asking her for that kind of relationship.
Runa tilts her head to the side. "Go out where?"
The boy's face reddens with her response. "A date!"
“Ah," Runa says in understanding. She closes her locker, slinging her schoolbag over her shoulder. “Sorry. My Papa said that I can’t have a boyfriend unless he’s more handsome than him.”
Kuroro's dangerous aura immediately dissipates at the mention of himself. Without sparing him another glance, Runa ends the conversation there and walks away, as if this is a common everyday scenario for her. The boy just stands there without moving, understandably in shock.
Behind the wall, Kuroro and Kurapika just witnessed everything. Being rejected by their crush is probably one of the most devastating things for children their age, being called ugly even more so, and Kuroro doesn't feel apologetic at all.
“Why would you tell her something like that?” Kurapika whispers heatedly to him. "Our kid just destroyed that poor boy’s self-esteem."
"He didn't even stand a chance," Kuroro agrees with a misplaced sense of pride.
Kurapika looks at him with exasperation. “What’s with your standards?”
Kuroro gives credit to the parenting books he reads in his leisure time, his discussions with the other Spiders on how to protect his family from any unwarranted attention.
But his sense of reassurance doesn't last long. He's about to call out to Runa, when someone else's voice intercepts.
"Princess!"
Their daughter is unexpectedly popular at school.
Another unwelcome presence appears by her side—a boy standing at the same height as her and wearing a similar uniform to the previous one. Only this boy has made some sartorial choices with his uniform, breaking dress code by draping his blazer over his shoulders and wearing a single earring on his pierced ears. He places an arm over Runa's shoulder in greeting, too close for Kuroro’s liking.
Beyond that, the nickname he called her by should only be used by Kuroro himself, but Runa says nothing to refute it. Before he witnesses anything more displeasing, he steps forward with Kurapika following behind him.
“Runa."
She turns around at the sound of his voice. "Papa—are you done with meeting my teachers?"
They spent the day at Runa’s elementary school for Parent’s Day, where parents were invited to observe their children in class and meet with the teachers to discuss their progress. The parent-teacher conference seemed to be especially nerve-wracking for her homeroom teacher, whom Kuroro and Kurapika met before when they were called into the school for Runa’s involvement in school violence. They did their best to rectify their relationship, giving her teacher a lovely plant from their garden and making a good impression as Runa’s parents. As far as the teachers know, Kuroro is a stay-at-home father who enjoys gardening while Kurapika is the one supporting their family as a bodyguard.
In the pocket of his suit jacket, is a piece of paper that Kuroro secretly removed from Runa’s portfolio during the parent-teacher conference, full of crayon scribbles of what appears to be a family portrait of Kuroro, Kurapika, and herself. Runa’s art deserves to be displayed in the Louvre—Kuroro will make sure of it.
“Yes, I’m glad you’re doing well in all of your classes,” Kuroro answers, unsurprised to learn that Runa is a model student with good relationships with her classmates for the most part. He decides to get straight to the point. "More importantly, who’s this?”
Realizing their proximity to each other, Runa extricates his arm from her shoulder. “Just a nuisance.”
“A friend,” the boy corrects with a bright smile. “I'm Haruto Morow from class 2-A!”
Morow.
It's a name that Kuroro hasn't heard in nearly a decade.
Kurapika addresses them with a polite smile. "It's nice to see you making friends.”
Runa rolls her eyes. "He's not my friend.”
Kuroro is definitely seeing things.
The boy’s appearance conjures an echo of an enemy from their past. His golden eyes, his blue heart tattooed on his cheek, his black hair reflecting crimson in the light—all of his features are reminiscent of someone from all those years ago.
Kuroro glances at Kurapika, his face betraying none of his thoughts. I killed him on the Black Whale.
Kurapika’s expression is placid as he meets his gaze. They can discern each other’s thoughts with a single glance. I know—I was there.
Haruto beams at him. “Runa’s Papa is just as handsome as she says he is.”
Kuroro gives him a humorless smile. She must have used that line often when rejecting the other boys. “I’m happy that she speaks about me at school.”
“Oh, but you know," Haruto says, feigning thought by resting his chin in his hand. "I think my father is even more handsome.”
"Yeah?" Kuroro asks, his smile stiff on his face.
“He has long shiny hair. It’s even longer than Runa’s!”
“Are your parents here to visit your teachers too?” Kurapika asks, barely suppressing his amusement at their exchange.
“My dad died before I was born,” Haruto explains with a subtle melancholy, “and my other parent is out of town for business.”
Kurapika offers his condolences with a nod of his head. “I see.”
Runa regards him apologetically. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that about your dad.”
Kuroro doesn’t believe that he deserves her concern. If his suspicions about Haruto’s identity are correct, then he needs to separate these children immediately.
Fortunately, a teacher opens the door of the classroom adjacent to them, ending their conversation early.
“Haruto, it’s time for our meeting.”
"Looks like I have to go. See you tomorrow Runa!” Haruto calls out, to which Runa doesn’t respond. “Bye Mr. and Mr. Lucifer!"
Kurapika waves goodbye. “Maybe we can invite him over for dinner some time.”
Kuroro sincerely hopes that he doesn’t mean that. He broods silently as they walk towards the entrance of the school.
“That boy just now...”
Runa stares up at him with a questioning gaze. “Yes?”
Kuroro doesn't know how to ask her, but Kurapika seems to follow his train of thought. “Runa, are there any boys you like at school?”
Runa’s expression turns to one of annoyance. “Boys are useless.”
Her answer takes a weight off of Kuroro’s shoulders. “They sure are.”
“But Papa, you’re a boy?”
“Kurapika and I are always the exception to the rule.”
Runa nods slowly, unsure if she understands completely. She must notice that something is amiss, because she reaches out and closes her hand around Kuroro’s own. Rarely does she ever initiate physical contact towards him. “Is something wrong?”
“My heart won’t be able to take it if you say that you hate me again,” Kuroro tells her, going out of his way to be very dramatic.
Runa blinks in confusion. She ran away from home when she discovered Kuroro’s role in their family history, so who knows what she will do if she learns that Kuroro murdered her classmate’s father as well—no matter his justifications for doing so. She will never forgive him.
“You’re being overdramatic,” Kurapika says with a soft laugh. “Why don’t we stop by the pâtisserie on our way home?”
Runa looks up, reminded of her favorite strawberry cake that they always buy her on special occasions. “Are we celebrating something?”
Kurapika gives Kuroro a knowing smile. “We’re cheering up your Papa.”
Their first meeting starts with a punch.
Runa’s fist smashes into the boy’s face with a resounding crunch. The other upperclassman boys flinch as he strikes the ground. Runa raises her gaze, her scarlet eyes burning with silent indignation, as if asking who’s next?
Haruto doesn’t exactly remember the boy’s remarks—something about mocking Haruto for only having one parent. On his first day as a transfer student, it’s more or less what Haruto expected from the other students. Their taunting doesn't bother him enough for him to react, and yet, Runa is furious on his behalf.
He’s heard of her from the others—Runa Lucifer, a demon on the playground. But at this moment, Haruto thinks that she looks like an angel. She must have assumed he was being bullied and came to his rescue without knowing he could handle everything on his own.
The memory makes him smile.
Even if Runa denies their friendship, she still intervened on Haruto’s behalf without knowing who he was. No one has ever stepped in for him like that before.
Unlocking the door to his apartment, Haruto finds an extra pair of slip-on shoes on the doormat. A shadowed figure is waiting for him in the kitchen, sitting at the table with a steaming cup of tea.
“You’re back.”
“Father,” Haruto greets, inclining his head. “It’s been a while.”
Haruto sits himself at the table as his father pours another cup of tea for him. His reflection stares back at him on the surface of the tea, his golden eyes belonging to a father he has never known. Despite appearing bright and outgoing at school, he can’t help but be more reserved in Illumi’s presence, especially when he decided to visit him unannounced.
Illumi takes a sip of his tea. “How do you like your living arrangements?”
His apartment is small and unlived-in, completely unlike the spaciousness of the Zoldyck estate, although it’s only a temporary space for Haruto as he attends school.
“It’s nice and quiet,” Haruto answers. He thinks about meeting Runa and her fathers earlier today—how loving their household must be. No elementary schooler his age would be living by themselves the way he is.
That begs the question—why is she attending school instead of training as Kuroro Lucifer’s successor? From what Haruto remembers, Kalluto was only a few years older than they were when he joined the Spiders.
“Did you know? Today was Parent’s Day at school and I got to meet my classmate’s family—”
“I only allowed you to enroll in school for the sake of your assignment,” Illumi reminds him. “Not for you to spend time making friends and playing with children. I’d like to hear about your progress instead.”
Haruto shuts up immediately. It had taken some effort in convincing Illumi to allow him to live on his own and become a student with the reasoning that he could be closer to his target. After all, he always completes his assignments as swiftly as possible and returns to the estate to continue his training. There’s no good reason he should be living separately from their family, but he was curious about what it meant to have friends—what made his uncle Killua leave the family for good. There were certain things that he couldn't learn and experience unless he decided to leave home.
He wonders what stalls him, given his perfect record of assassinations. It’s unsurprising that Kuroro Lucifer and Kurapika have so many enemies, both of them far too difficult to kill, but when this assignment arrived to assassinate their daughter, Haruto ended up taking it on.
Runa Lucifer might be the daughter of the infamous leader of Phantom Troupe and the head of the Kuruta clan, but she is still vulnerable in her everyday life, especially at school without her fathers to protect her. It would be so easy for him to slit a little girl’s throat. Would the color of her blood be as red as her eyes?
He wonders why he hasn't taken her life already. Wonders why he hasn't fulfilled his mission and realizes—
It’s fun.
Wearing a school uniform, playing with other children his age, making friends like her, sneaking out on the rooftop to have lunch together, rehearsing for their homeroom’s play for the cultural festival. He’s having so much fun, even if he and Runa are pretending to be something that they are not.
“Have you made contact with your target?”
“I have, but...”
“But?” Illumi asks, arching one brow.
Haruto thinks of silver hair spilling over small shoulders. Scarlet eyes as bright as blood. And small hands belying a monstrous strength.
He smiles to himself, deciding to keep a secret from his father for the first time in his life. It’s been a privilege to live a normal life these last few months, and he’s not ready to give it up just yet.
“She’s really pretty.”
