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“Hey, Killua,” said Gon, leaning back from where he was sitting at the edge of the pier, legs swinging out over the water in a gentle but excited rhythm, to look up at Killua. “What do you want to eat when we get there?”
Killua’s forehead wrinkled as he frowned in confusion. “What do you mean? Isn’t it your birthday celebration? Shouldn’t you be the one choosing the menu?”
Gon laughed lightly and shook his head. “Nah, I don’t really have a say in what we get to eat. I was just curious what you would want to eat and was going to ask Mito if she could sneak some in for you. And besides, it’s not exactly a normal birthday celebration. It’s my coming of age.”
Killua rolled his eyes at the clarification. “What’s the difference? It’s for your thirteenth birthday isn’t it?”
Gon smiled softly and he hummed lightly. “Mn. Yeah, I guess. But technically I should have had it last year when I caught the Master of the Swamp, Lord of the Lakes.”
Killua frowned again, still lost. “I don’t get it.”
Gon rolled his eyes. “On Whale Island when we hit thirteen we have our coming of age ceremonies, to mark us as being officially grown up, because that’s usually when kids start going out on their own to fish. It’s shifted a little in recent years, since there aren’t as many kids and not all of us want to be fishermen when we grow up, but we still celebrate on our thirteenth birthdays. The thing is, it’s a coming of age ceremony so we have to do something to prove ourselves, right? And Mito wouldn’t let me go to the Hunter Exam until I caught the Master of the Swamp, Lord of the Lakes, because of a promise I made her when I was younger.”
“Yeah…” said Killua, drawing the word out into two syllables. “So? Was that supposed to be your…what, proof of being able to take care of yourself?”
Gon smiled brightly at Killua. “Yep! Or well, I mean…there’s really nothing that can quite top that on Whale Island. The Master of the Swamp is like THE biggest fish around that someone can catch. So even though I caught it a year early, it should still qualify. And it does! I asked Mito about it. But we never had a coming of age ceremony because I had to rush off to make the Hunter Exam in time so the village talked it over and they decided to host one this year. You know, now that I’m well…able to.”
Killua’s eyes darkened at the reminder of what happened in the wake of the Chimera Ants and nodded his understanding. Not wanting to dwell on it further, he asked lightly, “So what does this have to do with food? And why don’t you get to choose what you want to eat?”
Gon laughed. “It has everything to do with food! It’s one large party, basically, that goes on for three days and nights. I don’t have any say in the food because it’s for the whole village. It’s not just me and Mito and grandma. It’s everyone! And usually that means lots of roasted, baked, stewed, you-name-it-we’ve-got it types of fish dishes. We’ve got poached white fish with fennel, honey glazed salmon with chives, sushi, a couple of seafood stir fry and chowders—they always change depending on time of year and who’s in charge of the cooking—sometimes we get lobster and crab too!”
Killua blinked in surprise. “Is it all just…fish and other seafood?” he asked tentatively.
Gon shook his head. “Nah, we’ve got lots of vegetables and sometimes we even have chicken. Plus there’s usually tons of desserts! But the main centerpiece is usually some sort of fish, yeah. We’re a fishing village after all.”
Killua smiled. “I’m sure whatever is there, I will enjoy, Gon. It’s your birthday, your coming of age ceremony. It’s bound to be good.”
Gon smiled softly, taking Killua’s hand in his briefly before letting go. Killua shifted from foot to foot then sat down next to Gon on the pier, leaning his head against Gon’s shoulder.
“I’ve never had a coming of age ceremony,” murmured Killua. “We don’t really do that in my family. And birthdays aren’t…well they aren’t the best. Illumi’s gotten me a couple of things before. And Alluka tries, but for the most part it’s ‘oh, you’re a year older, here have another assignment.’”
Gon’s hand fisted at his side, and Killua could feel him tense and then forcibly make himself relax. When he spoke it was calm, but wound tight with anger. “You’ve never had a birthday celebration? A proper one? With food and presents? A party?”
Killua shook his head slightly. “There wasn’t really a point? My parents get me and my siblings everything we want whenever we want it usually, so presents weren’t really a big deal. It’s not like I had any friends to invite over for a party until I met you anyways, Gon. Illumi did make sure that we went out for good food on the way back from a few assignments, but that’s about it?”
Gon stared at Killua until Killua lifted his head from his shoulder. “That’s not the point, Killua. Did you not spend even one birthday with your family where the day was just about you?”
Killua rolled his eyes. “Gon, you have to remember, most of the time my parents are constantly hounding me to do things. They think I’m the future of the family. Everything is about me.” Even when I wish it wasn’t.
Gon shook his head firmly, eyes wide and determined. “That’s not what I meant. Your birthday is supposed to be what you want. To focus solely on you and celebrating the fact that you’re alive. Did you ever get to do anything you wanted on your birthday?”
Killua blinked, not sure how to respond. “I mean…yes? To an extent? I got to choose what we ate for dinner?” After he had successfully assassinated several high profile politicians. And after Illumi had had to point out that “today is Kil’s birthday and what do you mean dinner isn’t done yet, Kil needs to eat, go make him whatever he wants to eat NOW.” So yes…he had gotten to choose what they all ate for dinner that time. He had chosen a delicious pork barbecue, fried rice, bubble tea and mochi on his seventh birthday; last year, for his twelfth, he’d chosen a medium-rare steak, creamy mushrooms, asparagus and a slab of ice cream cake. Now that he thought about it…Illumi seemed rather invested in making sure some wish of Killua’s was always taken care of on his birthday, usually related to food. Huh. Good to know.
Gon watched Killua’s face flit through multiple expressions before landing on bemused. Sighing, he got to his feet, tugging Killua up with him as their ship to Whale Island came into sight. “Come on then, Killua. We’ll make this a joint celebration instead. What do you want to eat?”
Killua snapped back into the present and rolled his eyes. “It’s okay, Gon. I just realized Illumi was always there to make sure I got what I wanted to eat. I just…hadn’t realized it before because he’s always overbearing. Ugh, he’s always after me to do better, but is also like, ridiculously overprotective? It’s so hard to tell with him. Like does he want to protect me or control me? Does he care or doesn’t he? But he always made sure I got something special on my birthdays. Whatever we eat at your celebration will be good enough for me.”
Gon started to frown again and went to interrupt when Killua squeezed his hand gently. “It’ll be more than enough, Gon. You’ll be with me.” Which is all I’ve ever wanted…to be with friends on my birthday. But Killua couldn’t tell Gon that, it was way too sappy. And sad. No, Killua was definitely never telling Gon that. Besides, by the way Gon was looking at him…he already knew.